Honde Valley is located in Zimbabwe on eastern border with Mozambique, and forms part of the Great Eastern Highlands. It is located in Mutasa District, one of seven districts in Manicaland Province of Zimbabwe. Honde Valley is 130km from Mutare, the 3^rd largest city in Zimbabwe and 110km from Nyanga.

Honde Valley is a multifaceted destination combining dramatic landscapes, high biodiversity, thriving agro-economy and tourism activities, sky high waterfalls, exotic birds, tea fields, cultural hospitality and unique experiences.

Hauna is the main township/Growth Point. Other popular locations include; Samanga, Makunike, Gatsi, Gwiriri, Jombe, Zindi, Murara, Buvu, Chiteme, Mandeya, Katiyo, Green.

The objective is to showcase Honde valley to the world, and to promote tourism and investment into the area.

Honde Valley is in region 1 of Zimbabwe and receives the highest rainfall in the country, supporting rich vegetation and biodiversity. Honde Valley has its own microclimate, with an annual rainfall of between 1200 to over 2000mm, caused by moisture carried inland from the Mozambique Channel, high humidity, and orographic uplift from surrounding mountains. October to April is the rainy season which offers lush scenery and green vegetation. May to September is winter and the dry season, the best time for outdoor activities and wildlife spotting.

The Honde Valley is part of the Eastern Highlands biodiversity hotspot, and home to a remarkable array of unique wildlife. Habitat includes riverine and lowland forests, miombo woodland, marshes, tea fields, wetlands, and cropland. The Honde River is fed by tributaries like Mutarazi and Ngarura, that flow into the Pungwe River which flows into the Indian Ocean.

Mammals found in the region include, the Samango monkeys, Blue Duiker, African Palm Civet, Clawless Otter and many more. The broader region supports a variety of chacma baboons, antelopes, leopards, pangolin, kudu, impala, waterbuck, sable, eland, zebra, hyena, and various smaller carnivores like mongooses and genets. The dense forests host various other smaller mammals like rodents, shrews, and other lesser-known mammals.

Rivers – Honde, Ngarura, Mtarazi, Bore, Chiteme, Pungwe, Mupenga, Buu, Duru, Nyamombe, Nyamingura, Gairezi

Waterfalls – The 2^nd highest waterfall in Africa at 772 and 17th in the world. The water falls into Honde Valley in two tiers, at a point where the Mutarazi river flows over the edge of the eastern escarpment of Zimbabwe’s highlands. The Skywalk and Zipline located at the falls offer thrilling views. Other waterfalls include Muchururu, Nyamombe, Chikanda, Nyangombe

Accommodation in the Honde Valley is predominantly geared towards providing a peaceful escape amidst the lush, green landscapes of the Eastern Highlands, generally falling into two categories: Full-Service Lodges and Self-Catering Houses, both capitalizing on the region’s natural beauty and proximity to adventure activities like birdwatching, hiking, and waterfall visits. Full-service lodges offer traditional hotel amenities, prepared meals, and structured activity access, often nestled directly within the scenic tea plantations, while the numerous self-catering cottages and rental homes provide greater privacy, a home-like experience complete with fireplaces and equipped kitchens, and an ideal base for families or groups exploring the area independently.

Honde valley offers outdoor activities that blend nature, adventure, and local culture, making it a hidden gem for eco-tourism, agro-tourism, and adventure travel. These activities cater for adventure seekers, nature lovers, family trips and eco-tourism.

• Mutarazi Falls – Zimbabwe’s highest waterfall with the thrilling skywalk and zipline adventures 400m long,
• Hiking, trekking and scenic drives, dirt biking, paragliding, golfing
• Water activities – kayaking, white-water rafting, fishing, waterfall and river exploration.
• Nature Lovers – birding, natural pools and forest retreats, forest trails, camping, landscape and wildlife photography.
• Family trips – Tea plantation and farm tours, fruit and crop harvesting, swimming and picnics, village visits and other cultural, rural experiences.
• Cultural experiences – engaging with local communities and staying in village and farm homestays to experience their traditional way of life.

Honde Valley is recognised as one of Zimbabwe’s top birding destinations, attracting ornithologists with its diverse and often rare species. Many of these are forest-dependent or restricted-range birds. The area’s unique mix of forests, riparian strips, and plantations creates excellent habitats for a diverse range of bird species, making it a prime location for birding.

The soil in the valley is made up of fertile volcanic soils. Around 500km2 of the valley is extensively used for commercial, smallholder and subsistence farming. Commercial farming is dominated by large scale teas estates, banana plantations, avocado, chilli, coffee and macadamia. Smallholder and subsistence farming is done on communal and resettlement land, for both consumption and local markets. The main foods grown include bananas, maize, beans, taro, yam, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, beans, nuts and most vegetables (tomatoes, onions, cabbage etc.)

Gravity fed irrigation from tributaries supports both commercial and subsistence farming. Some fruits can be found growing wild, guavas, wild berries and sugar plum etc.