Online Reporter
Emmanuel Kafe in NYANGA
THE misty mountains of Nyanga, the lush forests of Vumba and the rolling tea estates of Honde Valley are fast becoming the talk of the global tourism industry.
International buyers who are in the country for the 2025 Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo have pledged to direct more tourists to the country’s Eastern Highlands.
They have been charmed by its unique blend of natural beauty, culture and hospitality.
For many, this is their first encounter with Manicaland’s dramatic landscapes but the impressions are already profound.
“I am happy and being a photographer, too, this gives me a chance to showcase Zimbabwe’s beauty at the Expo,” said Lado Rot from Slovakia, pausing to capture the cascading Nyangombe Falls on camera.
“This country is beautiful and has so much potential.”
Dutch tour operator, Saskia Reinders, echoed the sentiment, describing the region as “a place of endless discovery.”
“While this is not my first time in Zimbabwe, I am excited to be here and exploring this beautiful region.
“I’m looking forward to more adventures,” she said after a trek through the verdant Vumba Botanical Gardens.
The delegation, which also includes buyers from Germany, Sweden and India, has been immersing itself in the Eastern Highlands’ offerings—hiking up Mount Nyangani, Zimbabwe’s highest peak; walking through tea and banana plantations in Honde Valley; and relaxing at historic estates like La Rochelle.
Chirag Mer from Mumbai, India, was quick to draw comparisons with destinations further afield.
“The Eastern Highlands remind me of parts of Europe,” he said with a smile.
“The mountain scenery, the climate, the greenery – it feels familiar but with its own African charm.
“This is a place that international travellers will fall in love with.”
Local tourism players are equally upbeat.
La Rochelle Country House and Spa General Manager Mr Regis Muchenje said the exposure brought by the pre-expo tour is already opening new doors.
“This expo is putting the Eastern Highlands on the global map.
“We are doing our best to showcase what we have, and we are grateful to the government for remembering this part of Zimbabwe,” he said.
The familiarisation tour is part of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s strategy to expand the country’s tourism appeal beyond the traditional circuits of Victoria Falls, Hwange, and Kariba.
sting the world’s premier tourism expo in Mutare for the first time marks a turning point for Manicaland, giving its breathtaking mountains, waterfalls and estates a global audience.
As the buyers prepare to converge at the Expo this week, one thing is clear—the Eastern Highlands is no longer a hidden gem.
It is now firmly on the radar of global travel planners poised to welcome adventurers, nature lovers and leisure seekers from every corner of the world.
