The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube and Lloyd Makonya
Tourism Correspondents
A warm welcome awaits you in the Eastern Highlands.
The region is one of Zimbabwe’s prime destinations, thanks to its beautiful weather.
Perhaps like no other region in Zimbabwe, the Eastern Highlands is dominated by amazing topography, hence the famous moniker, Kumakomoyo.
As one approaches Mutare, the eastern gateway to the Indian Ocean, one is welcomed by the valleys and mountains.
The delightful infrastructure, the beautiful gardens and the clean streets that are laced with blossoming trees present a rare and soothing view.
The Skywalk is one of the activities that draw tourists to Manicaland
Mutare boasts of an ancient history too as it is well within the olden boundaries of the Monomotapa Empire.
It also has a strong attachment with the independence of Zimbabwe as it was a key entry point for liberation war fighters.
Getting into the city through the picturesque Christmas Pass affords you an unforgettable lifelong experience.
The road meanders up and down the pass, offering beautiful views of the city.
Driving at night down that route is even more memorable as the city’s lights sparkle from a distance.
Mutare forms the epicentre of the Eastern Highlands which stretches from Nyanga in the north to Chimanimani in the south.
The imposing Nyanga Mountain, standing at a breath-taking 2 592 metres which is the highest in Zimbabwe, forms the bedrock of Nyanga’s tourism sector.
With its mysteries, the Nyanga Mountain remain a fascinating tourism destination.
Its mystique lies in the refreshing scenic views in every direction your eyes focus on.
In fact, Nyanga’s unique selling point is the variety of things that one can see and do in its immaculate weather.
The misty and breathtakingly beautiful Vumba
The pristine wattle estates also compliment the picturesque views of this wonderful destination.
When it comes to Nyanga National Park, it is home to a variety of wild animals, including the wildebeest, zebras, waterbucks and kudus.
Accommodation in Nyanga is world class, from low cost to high end options.
A tourist can never run out of things to do as a wide range of activities are offered in Nyanga, from boating to the zipline at Mutarazi, which is the second highest waterfall in Africa.
The adrenalin junkies would surely love the skywalk too.
While the scenery in Nyanga is grand, it differs from that of Vumba, which is closer to Mutare.
Vumba is a world famous holiday resort in the Eastern Highlands and its name is derived from the native language, meaning mist or misty, for Vumba is frequently shrouded in mist.
From Mutare southward of Vumba, the road winds its way up, dipping now and then to cross tree shadowed creeks and serene holiday homes partly hidden by both indigenous and exotic trees.
Vumba is an opportunity for one’s eyes to feast on the magnificent flora.
Northward of Vumba are mountain ranges on the horizon bordering Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Pockets of the Protea flowers add colour to the beautiful misty land.
Southward of Mutare is Chimanimani, so gracious with its mountains resembling the famous Alps.
Beyond them and higher still, Nyambeya Mountains are interlocked with stretches of forest.
Rivers hurry eastwards to the Bridal Veil Falls of Chimanimani to provide a beautiful curtain to the land that was once ravaged by Cyclone Idai.
Chipinge is another beauty spot in eastern Zimbabwe.
The district lies between the great Save River flowing under the engineering genius of the Birchenough Bridge and the Mozambican border.
For some distance, Chipinge is covered by a great range of sandstone mountains and is beautiful and impressive at any time of day.
Chipinge also distinguishes itself with the vast timber estates and scenic estates of coffee, macadamia nuts and tea, as well as citrus fruits.
Hidden away on the fringe of Chipinge is the lovely Chirinda Forest which is a burst of green trees springing up unexpectedly in the midst of an open stretch.
Chirinda means ‘refuge’ and it is not difficult to see why the locals, with their unfailing aptness for baptising things with appropriate titles, bestowed this forest with such a name.
Christmas Pass
The colonial settlers then came up with Selinda, which is an adaptation of Chirinda.
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 flutters between the maze of tree branches and undergrowth creates mental images that will never be forgotten.
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.
In this part of the Eastern Highlands, we also have several hot springs that are frequented by tourists who believe that they have therapeutic powers.
With such undiluted beauty and plenty of pleasant photographic memories, it is not a surprise that many travellers are making the journey to the Eastern Highlands a top priority.
One simply cannot boast of having seen it all in Zimbabwe if they haven’t visited the Eastern Highlands.
