by Lin Goncalves, Sikiliza Consultant www.sikiliza.net
The National Trust of Zimbabwe manages 7 sites within the country, here we will highlight three of the most active and better known of the sites, which attract more visitors.
- World’s View, Nyanga
- The Rhodes Nyanga Historical Exhibition
- La Rochelle. Penhalonga
- Murawah’s Hill, Mutare – a sacred site with beautiful indigenous trees and many ancient artefacts have been found in the area, such as pottery shards, axe heads etc. It is also an abundant birdlife area
- Fort Gomo, Penhalonga – a small stone/rock fort in the rocky hills not far from La Rochelle, which was probably used as a small trading post between the hinterland and the Indian Ocean coast
- Sebakwe Poort – near Gweru – a great site for magnificent bird life, aloes and local plants with water from the Sebakwe River flowing through it
- Mabukuwene – Bulawayo – the family burial site of the Thomas Meikle family, pioneers to this country who were primarily traders and business adventurers. The site is filled with aloes and cactuses which attract great birdlife
These properties are entrusted to the NTZ, to maintain and develop for the nation, and for visitors, for them to appreciate the wildlife, the fauna and flora and the great natural beauty, as well as preserving the sites for their cultural and historical value to the country.
The National Trust of Zimbabwe is a member of the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) base in London, UK, and as such we enjoy a close co-operation and exchange of ideas with them.
1. WORLDS VIEW, NYANGA, ZIMBABWE
One of the most active and well-known sites is the very stunning WORLD’S VIEW property at Nyanga, up above the Connemara Lakes. It is a site of great natural beauty as well as home to a diverse range of indigenous plants and birdlife including the Blue Swallow.
It is commonly believed that the first human inhabitants here were mining gold in the rocks and the hills and as it is not too far from the Mozambique coast, it was on the ‘trading route’ of the ancient gold and ivory traders who used the east-African coastline for their trade. There are many ancient rock ruins in the area to explore.
The National Trust has also planted a very big variety of Proteas in the Worlds View property, which will enable the visitors to appreciate these stunning plants close-up.
The scenery here is stunning and there are numerous other activities and visits within the area, such as rivers, waterfalls, mountain hikes, zip-lining, canoeing or simply relaxing and enjoying the gorgeous sunsets and sunrises!!!
Accommodation is either at the Troutbeck Hotel, close to this site, or in privately-owned self-catering cottages which are very popular with tourists and Zimbabwean residents alike.
There are also National Parks lodges (all self-catering) near Rhodes Nyanga Historical Exhibition (next site) and at Mare Dam, and at Udu Dam.
2. RHODES NYANGA HISTORICAL EXHIBITION
The collection consists of a wide variety of artefacts and items collected by local residents over many years to depict the life and times of the area over the past few hundred years and is well worth the hour or so visit. Situated at the Rhodes Nyanga Hotel and is housed in what was Cecil Rhodes’ stables, from the time he lived at was then called Inyanga. The small museum is very popular with school visits and international visitors alike. It is hoped to continue to develop this site as a centre for education in the field of cultural preservation and also environmental conservation.
3. LA ROCHELLE, Penhalonga Road, outside Mutare
Once the residence of Sir Stephen and Lady Virginia Courtauld, La Rochelle was constructed in the 1950’s by Sir Stephen after he and his wife fell in love with the area and they settled here for many years, bringing with them their passion for art, theatre and music which they shared with the local community, building the Courtauld Hall in Mutare as a theatre as well as The College of Music in Harare, the National Gallery in Harare and donating a large number of works of art to the Gallery. Another shared passion of theirs was for their private botanical collection, including the largest private orchid collection in the country, all of which are now held by the National Trust of Zimbabwe and the gardens are open to the public. The residence is now run as a small boutique hotel, offering excellent accommodation and meals.
