Zimbabwe - A World of Wonders

  • by Jacqueline van Strijp
  • 09 Nov, 2022

Tucked between the mighty Zambezi and the rolling Limpopo River, Zimbabwe is best known for the magnificent spectacle of the Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe derives its name from the spectacular stone structures of the Great Zimbabwe ruins, a World Heritage Site with a mysterious origin. The country is home to another four World Heritage sites, including the rugged granite outcrops of the Matobo Hills, the spectacular conservation area of Mana Pools and the magnificent Victoria Falls.

Our Johane was fortunate enough to be hosted by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority for a familiarization trip to the Eastern Highlands before attending the annual Sanganai Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo. As Habeeb Akande once said:  "All work and no play will make you sad and grey!"

The first leg of our journey to the Eastern Highlands started at the Rainbows Towers Hotel & International Conference Center in Harare. During dinner, we were introduced to ‘Sadza’ - Sadza is a traditional porridge originating from Zimbabwe, consisting of cornmeal and water. The name sadza means meal, and, in accordance, it can be served at any time of the day, whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

The following day began with an exploration of Mount Nyangani located within the breathtakingly scenic forests of the Nyanga National Park. Mount Nyangani, the highest mountain in Zimbabwe at 2,592 metres  encouraged us to dig deeper on all levels and a few of us reached the summit. The climb on the way up is tough, but the views and satisfaction you gain from conquering this sacred mountain is indescribable.

Our journey continued to Nyanga Trout Farm, one of the oldest and pioneering trout farms in Zimbabwe. The farm, which has been in a single family hands for over 20 years, has a unique fish farming skills set – combining aquaculture experience with qualified aquaculture staff. Our guide taught us more about the Rainbow and Brown Trout indigenous to the area and a hike down to the Nyangome Falls a cascading waterfall on the western tip of the Nyanga National Park ended our day on an absolute high!

Troutbeck Resort hosted our second night of this thrilling trip through the Eastern Highlands and the tranquillity and serenity of this resort will leave any traveller relaxed and rejuvenated. Upon entering the reception area, we were welcomed by the crackling of a fireplace, this famous log fire has never been put out since it was lit at the hotel opening in 1947.

The next day we set out to explore the Honde Valley region that extends from the eastern border of Zimbabwe into Mozambique.  We stopped at SkyDeck Mountain Retreat perched on the edge of the Honde Valley escarpment, nestled in the afro-montane forests overlooking Mount Nyangani before we made our way down to Mutarazi Falls the second highest waterfall in Africa, for a jaw-dropping adventure activity that allows observers a never-before-seen perspective of this beautiful waterfall. 

The 'sky-walk' enabled us to ‘sky-walk’ across the 762m high chasm, observing the falls head on, providing a 360 degree perspective of which has never been possible up until now. A dual 90m long zip line and cableway lie parallel overlooking the waterfall. This makes it the world’s highest Zip Line and an attraction worth visiting, all be it somewhat of a journey to get there. This 90-metre Zipline is a thrilling activity that will get your adrenaline pumping and great fun for both young and old.

Our night came to a close at Musangano Lodge. If you are looking for the ultimate getaway in the Eastern Highlands, with the promise of complete tranquillity and spectacular scenery, Musangano Lodge is the ideal location. Visitors soon fall under its spell because of its serene and peaceful atmosphere, charming accommodation, superb cuisine, and stunning views, which invite to linger and unwind.

The City of Mutare welcomed us as we arrived at Lake Alexander Resort the following day. After visiting the Mutare Museum, National Gallery and Murambi Gardens, we were treated to an exhilarating speedboat ride and a delicious chesanyama (interactive braai) for lunch with a few of the local residents before a site-inspection at La Rochelle Country House. This majestic converted residence is a blend between a castle and French chateau. There are stunning forests and immaculate manicured gardens for you to explore. The wonderful country house is an oasis of tranquillity and charm.

Our next site-inspection was held at Leopard Rock Hotel. With its large dining area, carpeted floors and impeccable room service, it’s not hard to see why Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret stayed at the hotel during the Royal Visit in 1953. The property boasts an 18-hole golf course, game park and game viewing platform where guests can get up close and personal to the eland, zebra and giraffe while they are grazing and they also have the opportunity to feed some ostriches.

After a long drive, we arrived at The Great Zimbabwe Hotel in Masvingo and had the opportunity to visit the Kyle Dam Wall along with St Andrew's Chapel, to view some rock paintings before heading to the Dzimbadzemabwe Cultural Village. We were greeted by lively song and dance from this village’s residents and our group members had the opportunity to join. The following day we visited the famous Zimbabwe Ruins - and we were definitely saving the best for last as this was sight to behold!

Before I knew it, our time through the Eastern Highlands came to a end! The Eastern Highland is an ideal destination to explore the rest of Zimbabwe and not only the Victoria Falls and its surrounding areas. Although logistics are a bit challenging in terms of distance, ‘toll gates’ and road conditions, the hidden gems we found in this region are well worth the drive.


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