admin
Phineas Chauke
THE charm of the mountain adorned region in eastern Zimbabwe flirts with the interactive human senses before it ultimately captures the soul.
The eye is seduced with natural beauty, the ear serenaded by sweet bird songs on the trees and garden while the sweet aroma of lush green plants and their flowers caresses the nostrils.
In approaching Mutare, the eastern gateway to Zimbabwe from whatever angle, one looks with sheer delight at this amazing gem of a city set amid the mountains hence the famous moniker ‘‘Kumakomoyo’’.
The delightful houses and their beautiful gardens, the clean streets bordered in season with scarlet-blossomed flamboyant and mauve Jacaranda trees, present a view that is rare in its loveliness.
Its ultimate setting in a valley among towering mountains and rich evidence of gold in its proximity resulted in it growing into a principal city in the eastern part of Zimbabwe, as well as it being the port of entry into Mozambique by virtue of it lying on the geopolitical border-line of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It boasts an ancient history too, for Mutare is well within the olden bounds of the Monomotapa empire and also has a strong attachment with the independence of Zimbabwe as a key entry point for liberation war fighters.
Getting into the city from the west affords you the lifelong experience of the Christmas Pass, so named by the first pioneer column group which camped there on the memorable Christmas day of 1891.The road winds down the pass offering beautiful views of the city, driving at night down that route will have the picture stick to your memory forever.
Mutare forms the epicentre of the eastern highlands which stretches from Inyanga in the north to Chimanimani in the South.
The imposing Mount Inyangani standing at 2 592 metres and boasting of being the highest peak in Zimbabwe forms the bedrock upon which the entire landscape of Nyanga.
The pristine wattle estates complement the picturesque views of this wonderful destination. With its mysteries the Inyangani Mountain always remains a fascinating epitome of the area’s beauty. The mystique of Nyanga lies in the refreshing scenic views in every direction your eyes can focus.
In fact, Nyanga’s unique selling point is the sheer variety of things to see and do in a comparatively confined area in immaculate weather and interesting topographies.
The Nyanga National Park is home to a variety of wild animals including the wildebeest and giraffes. Accommodation in Nyanga is world class from low cost to the high end market oriented, offering a wide range of activities from boating to the highest zipline in the world across the second highest waterfall in Africa at Mtarazi.
The adrenalin junkies would surely love the skywalk too. While the scenery in Nyanga is grand, it differs from that of Vumba which is close to Mutare.
Vumba is a world famous holiday resort in the Eastern Highlands whose name is derived from the native language meaning mist or misty, for the Vumba is frequently shrouded in filmy clouds.
From Mutare southward the Vumba road winds its way up, dipping now and then to cross a valley or tree shadowed creek amid serene holiday homes covered by indigenous and exotic trees. As you go up one may feast one’s eyes on the breath-taking floral beauty. Northward from Vumba are mountain ranges on the horizon bordering Mozambique. Pockets of the Protea flower add colour to the beautiful misty lands.
Southward from Mutare is Chimanimani, so gracious with its mountains resembling the famous Alps and beyond them and higher still the Nyambeya mountains interlocked with stretches of forest wherein are trees of great height and enormous girth.
Tree ferns of noble proportions and graceful of frond, and many other ferns and flowering shrubs add to the beauty of these virgin forests.
Occasionally a river gleams out as it hurries east while the Bridal Veil falls of Chimanimani provide the beautiful curtain to the once the land once ravaged by Cyclone Idai.
Chipinge is another of the beauty spots of eastern Zimbabwe.
Chipinge lies between the great Save River flowing under the engineering genius of the Birchenough Bridge and the Mozambican border, which for some distance is covered by a great range of sandstone mountains of Chimanimani mentioned earlier.
Beautiful and impressive at any time of day Chipinge lies up among hills with magnificent views all around. Chipinge, distinguished not only by its scenery and many mountain streams, also has vast timber estates and scenic tracts of tea estates and citrus fruits.
Hidden away on the fringe of Chipinge is the lovely Mount Selinda which is a burst of green trees springing up unexpectedly in the midst of a stretch of open country.
Selinda, which is an adaptation of Chirinda in the local language means “refuge” and it is not difficult to see why the locals with their unfailing aptness for baptising things with appropriate titles, bestowed this one on that belt of primitive forest which stands above the open veld as though to offer refuge to fugitive man or beasts.
A walk through the heart of the forest is a continuing delight to those who love nature in her gentlest mood. The varied birds and animal life which flirts between the maze of branch and undergrowth where the sunlight falls in chequered patches, make a picture that lingers in the mind for a lifetime.
The Eastern Highlands concludes with the Save Valley. The scenery, flora and fauna of the valley are intensely interesting with wild game finding home in its pockets. There are also in this part of the Eastern Highlands several hot springs, which are resorted to by rheumatic patients, who are said to obtain relief as well as by pleasure parties.
The Eastern Highlands are home to some endemic species of wildlife such as the Samango monkey, Gaboon viper, and the elusive Blue duiker.
Its alternating high-low and curiously curvy terrain must have been created with adventure in mind.
The region is the perfect setting for views of pleasant photographic memories and it is a little wonder more travellers are making the journey to the Eastern Highlands a top priority. It has so much to offer to all those who like the prose of everyday life seasoned with a dash of picturesque views. One cannot claim to having seen it all in Zimbabwe if one has not visited the Eastern Highlands. You may flirt and even fall in love with the beautiful country of Zimbabwe in other places, but in the Eastern Highlands, you will wed her.
- Co-authored by Phineas Chauke and Makonya Lloyd. Both are Tourism Consultants, Marketers and Tour Guides Contact Phineas on [email protected] or 0776058523, @phinnychauke619 Contact Lloyd on [email protected]/or 0773791417.
Bongani Ndlovu