Mutare

Established as one of the first five provinces in Southern Rhodesia in the 1880s, Manicaland in eastern Zimbabwe is the second most populated region in the country, with a citizenry of approximately 1.8 million people.

The province is bordered to the northwest by Mashonaland, Midlands to the west, Masvingo to the southwest and Mozambique to the east. It is Zimbabwe’s portal to the sea, being near the Port of Beira in Mozambique.

Its name originates from the Manyika people, a large cultural group with its origins in northern Manicaland and western Mozambique. Their language, ChiManyika, is a distinct dialect of the Shona language.

Covering an area of roughly 3.6 million hectares, the province is divided into seven administrative districts: Mutasa, Nyanga, Makoni, Chimanimani, Buhera, Chipinge and Mutare, the capital. Mutare is home to the country’s largest timber producers and well-known tea manufacturer, Tanganda. Other key industries driving Manicaland’s economy include mining, agriculture, and tourism.

The Eastern Highlands, incorporating the Nyanga, Vumba and Chimanimani mountains extend along the eastern edge of Manicaland. The central and southern sections of the province are drained towards the south by the Save River and its estuaries. Its northern section is drained northwards by tributaries of the Zambezi River and parts of the region’s eastern edge, together with Honde Valley and the eastern Chimanimani and Chipinge districts, drain in an easterly direction into the Buzi and Pungwe rivers.

Manicaland showcases some of Zimbabwe’s most sought-after natural wonders, including the magnificent Mutarazi Falls, the highest waterfall in Zimbabwe, and Mount Nyangani, the highest mountain peak in the country. The province is also home to the so-called ‘misty mountains’ of Vumba and Chimanimani.
The province has a rich cultural heritage, featuring the late Iron Age Ziwa archaeological site in the Nyanga district, the dry-stone Matendera Monument in the Buhera district and the Diana’s Vow rock paintings, near Rusape. The Mutare Museum, one of the country’s four national museums, has impressive vintage transport and firearms displays.

The combination of a temperate tropical forest climate, sweeping landscapes, birdlife, hiking, and fishing opportunities make Manicaland an attractive destination for photographers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

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