Online Reporter
Liberty Dube
Tourism Correspondent
THERE are places you visit because everyone tells you to go there, and then there are places you discover almost by accident, only to leave wondering why more people have not found them.
Zonwe Falls is one of these places.
It may not be the most famous waterfall in the mountains, but for a traveller willing to take the trail, it could become one of the most memorable.
Tucked away in the lush Bvumba Mountains of Manicaland, Zonwe Falls does not enjoy the same popularity as Marindi, Nyachowa or Chinamata Falls, which are among the better-known waterfalls in the Vumba.
It does not announce itself from the roadside, nor does it offer the instant gratification of stepping out of a vehicle and immediately finding yourself beside a cascade.
To experience Zonwe, you have to embark on a hiking trail and that journey is part of the attraction.
As you leave the familiar roads and venture deeper into the mountains, the Vumba gradually reveals its beauty. The trail takes you through woodland forests, past mountain ridges, streams and the scenic Zonwe Dam, with the sounds of birds and flowing water providing a natural soundtrack.
The Bvumba Mountains, popularly known as the Mountains of Mist, are renowned for their forests, waterfalls, wildlife, birdlife and spectacular landscapes, making them one of Manicaland’s most valuable nature and adventure tourism assets.
The experience of reaching Zonwe Falls is therefore as important as the waterfall itself.
After the hike, the arrival at Zonwe Falls feels like a reward. The waterfall sits within a scenic natural setting of woodland, rugged mountain terrain and flowing water, creating an atmosphere of tranquillity and escape. It is the kind of place where visitors can sit beside the water, listen to the continuous movement of the falls and appreciate the beauty of the Eastern Highlands away from the noise and congestion of urban life.
For some visitors, however, the water has a significance that goes beyond its aesthetic appeal. During visits to such natural sites, some people, particularly visitors from outside Mutare, collect water in bottles, guided by personal or traditional beliefs and practices that are best understood by those who observe them.
Such practices add another layer to the experience and demonstrate that natural landscapes can hold cultural, spiritual and personal meaning in addition to their tourism value. Visitors should respect these beliefs while ensuring that their interaction with the environment does not damage the natural surroundings.
There is also something inherently restorative about spending time around water. The sound of a waterfall can provide a sense of calm, while rivers, streams and dams create spaces for reflection, photography, birdwatching and simply enjoying the outdoors. Water bodies are among the features that make destinations memorable, particularly when they are surrounded by mountains and forests as they are in the Vumba.
Hiking, meanwhile, offers a different way of experiencing a destination. Rather than simply travelling through a landscape by vehicle, hiking allows visitors to engage with it at walking pace. The changing vegetation, mountain air, birds, insects, streams and distant views become part of the journey. The physical effort involved in walking through mountainous terrain can also make the eventual discovery of a waterfall more rewarding.
The Vumba is particularly suited to this kind of adventure tourism because of the diversity of its terrain. The region combines forests, grasslands, mountain ridges, rivers, streams and waterfalls within a relatively compact area.
For travellers planning their summer holidays, this presents an opportunity to look beyond the attractions that have already become household names. Manicaland has a remarkable range of tourism experiences, from the dramatic landscapes of the Eastern Highlands to wildlife, heritage, adventure, birdwatching and an array of waterfalls and rivers.
The Vumba alone offers enough to keep nature lovers and adventure seekers exploring for days. Visitors can experience the Botanical Gardens, Bunga Forest, mountain viewpoints, Castle Beacon and the better-known waterfalls such as Marindi, Nyachowa and Chinamata. But tucked within this impressive collection of attractions is Zonwe Falls, offering a quieter and more intimate encounter with the Vumba.
Its relative lack of popularity may actually be part of its appeal. While well-known attractions naturally draw larger numbers of visitors, less frequented destinations provide travellers with the opportunity to experience nature with fewer distractions. Zonwe offers that sense of discovery, where the trail becomes part of the story and the waterfall becomes the reward at the end of the journey.
