Zimbabwe Eastern Highlands Vacations

A broad name given to the stunning region that runs along Zimbabwe’s eastern border with Mozambique and doesn’t register on many visitors’ radars, the Eastern Highlands is one of the most beautiful parts of Zimbabwe and a superb area to spend a few days to break up a safari-orientated trip.

The area is characterised by towering Nyanga, Bvumba and Chimanimani mountain ranges, as well as the Honde Valley which leads into Mozambique. The ecosystem is a mixture of forests and grasslands which supports a variety of primates, bats and wonderfully diverse birdlife – indeed the Highland’s abundant avian species makes it a favourite getaway for Zimbabwe’s famously bird-obsessed guides from all over the country – a rich testament to the quality of birding here.

A tailor-made holiday to the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe often begins in nearby Harare, and is a fantastic start or end point to a guided or self-drive trip through Zimbabwe, usually sandwiched between the wilds of the Gonarezhou National Park, the historic ruins of Great Zimbabwe and Harare.

Accommodation in the Eastern Highlands tends to be smaller, country retreat style hotels and lodges, all of which command stunning views of the surrounding area. Roaring log fires are the norm as it does get cold at altitude in the evenings, giving places here a very homely feel. As well as being a paradise for birders, there are some superb walking trails to be enjoyed here, excellent fishing in the crystal-clear dams, mountain biking routes and some of Zimbabwe’s best golf courses are tucked into the hillsides.