Online Reporter
Liberty Dube
Tourism Correspondent
NESTLED deep in the orchid-rich landscape of Imbeza Valley, near Penhalonga, is a site that invites travellers to explore one of Zimbabwe’s most treasured botanical and historical escapes.
With its sweeping botanical gardens, aristocratic history and storybook orchid collection, La Rochelle offers more than just a getaway, but a journey into tranquility, heritage and living beauty.
Once the private estate of British philanthropists, Sir Stephen and Lady Virginia Courtauld, La Rochelle is now a boutique hotel and heritage site that invites you to disconnect from the chaos of daily life and reconnect with something timeless.
The Courtaulds settled in Zimbabwe in the early 1950s, and brought with them, not only their wealth, but their passion for art, architecture, and conservation.
They built La Rochelle as their sanctuary — a place where Lady Virginia painted, and Sir Stephen nurtured an orchid obsession that would become globally recognised.
Today, those orchids still bloom.
Some are over 60-years-old, their petals whispering tales of a bygone era.
At the heart of their care is Mr Peter Masamvu, the estate’s soft-spoken, self-taught botanist whose connection to the garden is as spiritual as it is practical.
“I didn’t apply for the job. When my father, who was the florist here in the 80s, passed away, the hotel asked me to carry on with his work. I felt the flowers calling me. It was like they knew I was meant to be here,” said Mr Masamvu.
He walks the gardens barefoot each morning — a personal ritual of grounding, respect, and reflection.
“I like to feel the earth under me. It reminds me that I am part of this place and not separate from it.”
He tends to the orchids as if they are family, gently pruning, watering, and protecting them from invasive species.
Among them is the famed Vanda lombakensis ‘‘Virginia Courtauld’’, named in honour of Lady Virginia and once recognised at Kew Gardens in 1942.
“These are, not just plants, but they are living history. Every bloom is a thank you.
Every petal holds memory.”
Travellers from across the globe — from Germany, Japan, South Africa and beyond come to experience the magic of its orchids.
These are not ordinary flowers, many are rare, exotic and deeply symbolic.
For some visitors, a single bloom can unlock decades of memory.
“Some people cry when they enter the orchid house. They will point to a flower, and say it reminds them of a childhood garden, late grandmother, or someone they once loved. Orchids do that — they carry memories. They speak to the heart in silence,” added Mr Masamvu.
As one walks through the orchid house, the air is cool and heavy with floral perfume. The silence is broken only by birdsong and the soft hum of insects. Added
Mr Masamvu: “It is not hard to understand why many visitors describe La Rochelle as healing. The flower site is a deeply endearing tourism site. It is peaceful, it is alive and it offers something different. People come here and they find themselves again.”
Beyond the orchids, the 20-acre botanical garden offers winding paths, secret benches and rare plants collected from across the world.
It is also home to Zimbabwe’s largest private botanical garden — a sanctuary for biodiversity, reflection, and education.
Mr Regis Muchenje, who superintends the place, said: “Many of our guests travel here specifically to see the orchids. There is something deeply personal about them. We have visitors who spend hours in the orchid house who will, not just be admiring the blooms, but reconnecting with memories. Some say it reminds them of a garden they grew up in. The orchids have a way of touching people.”
Recently featured at the just-ended successful edition of Sanganai/Hlanganai/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo, the orchids are a vital part of the region’s emerging eco-tourism identity.
