Gobelo Marketplace
Aug 15, 2024
When your day ends - and after much exploration at Gwango and in Hwange National Park, you’ll have built up quite an appetite. That’s when there’s nothing better than a bush dinner, and it’s why we built Gobelo Marketplace, a venue, for not only our guests, but also for friends passing through for a day stop or short trip into the park. Here it’s not just about eating. At the table you share stories, catch up with new friends and there’s always a surprise in the surroundings that make this part of the world so special.
We still remember the first meal we ever served here. Just like the resort, we hadn’t planned to turn Gobelo into a fully fledged restaurant - but people kept dropping by, asking if we had a cold drink and any food they could buy. Gobelo kinda just happened naturally. At first our kitchen was a tiny space where we now have stairs leading to the new upstairs dining area. Eventually we built a second kitchen on one end of the round thatched dining area where most of our guests have their meals today. It all literally started with picnic tables and Kalahari sand beneath your feet. We didn’t even have the perimeter wall back then, so elephants would walk right up to the tables… (YES… they really did!). The only thing that hasn’t changed is the magical teak trees that frame the space.. So as we said - it’s not just about a meal.. when you eat with us, you’re part of something bigger. You’re living the journey of Gwango..!
And.. there’s more that makes Gobelo a special place. The name, Gobelo, is from the local tribal language and it means gathering place. So when you visit us for a meal, you’re sitting at a table (that’s usually hand crafted by a local artisan) and sharing the experience. If you’re lucky, as you wait in anticipation of something delicious - you’ll hear the soft rumble of elephants gathering at the waterhole, just a few metres away. They’re our regular dinner guests! And though they may not pull up a chair, they make sure we know they’re there. We can never know when they’ll come as they have a huge forest to forage, but they always do stop by for a drink (day and night) as you enjoy yours.
Our menu has grown as organically as the restaurant itself. Whether you fancy a plate of pesto linguine, a Bushman’s steak, or some farm grown pulled pork - everything is lovingly prepared using farm-fresh ingredients. We have something for everyone. And if you’re lucky, you might just catch one of our traditional dinners, where we sample the flavours of our culture, and dance under the open African sky. It’s a night you won’t soon forget (though we’ll leave the dancing part to you).
Gobelo Marketplace is located at Gwango Heritage Resort, it’s right where you’ll be staying, whether you book a Bush Chalet, a campsite or a Deluxe Chalet. We’ve come a long way from the early days when tourists would pass by asking for a cold Coke. We now cater to all sorts of groups, families and even at times.. honeymooners looking to escape to the wild! Private dining can also be arranged if you’re just looking for a bit of peace and quiet. And yes, we have a bar and every night there’s a nice fire for those evenings when the conversations go long. We might even throw in a story or two of our own. So, whether you're a guest at Gwango or just passing through, join us at Gobelo Marketplace and discover what dining in the bush is all about. The wild has a way of making every meal taste better - and we want to make sure it’s every bit as memorable as it is satisfying for you.
For more information on our dining options or to plan a special occasion, just drop us an email or give us a call. We can’t wait to serve you at Gobelo Marketplace.