Running alongside the Mozambican border for some 300 kilometres, lies Zimbabwe’s land of stunning scenery, the Eastern Highlands. A mountainous area of spectacular natural beauty: rolling hills, green forests, rugged peaks, misty valleys, deep gorges, cascading waterfalls, and sparkling rivers and lakes. This is a totally different side to the Zimbabwe that most visitors know: the cool damp climate and lush green landscapes of the Eastern Highlands are a contrast to the dry savanna in other parts of the country.
This description by Discover Africa aptly captures the beauty of the Eastern Highlands. Tucked deep inside this beautiful land in the Vumba Mountains is an undiscovered gem, the King’s Courtyard.
Set on Pat Wilde Estate built in the 1950s and Havillah built in the early 1970s, King’s Courtyard Vumba is a blend of the colonial architectural style and the modern designs. The Royal Courtyard Private Limited bought the historical properties in 2012 and 2013 respectively and transformed them into a boutique hotel in 2018. The properties are now a classic “old meets new” with sleek modern furnishings juxtaposed with the colonial architecture. King’s Courtyard sits on more than 25 acres of pristine mountain valley, marked with hilly terrain and rich flora and fauna.
The exclusive boutique hotel is situated 18 kilometres outside of the city of Mutare and is accessible by tarred road. Its surroundings are serene and refreshing with plenty of fresh air making it the perfect getaway for nature lovers to unwind, relax, rejuvenate, or have a quiet prayer retreat. It is also a discerning place for family timeout, private events, small conferences, and corporate training. Kings Courtyard is the place to be for that exclusive, excellent, and memorable experience.
The vision for the Palm River Hotel was simultaneously simple and complex: a unique hotel offering unparalleled luxury without compromising a sense of home comfort; vast, unimpeded views which maintained shelter and privacy; the convenience of a central location preserved within a tranquil bubble of peace and quiet.
The Palm River Hotel has been inspired by the architectural style of the Queenslander, distinct in its savvy use of timber and corrugated iron and its consideration of climatic conditions. Highly skilled and professional teams of Zimbabwean architects and interior designers have taken these principles and modified them to create a hotel that is at once aesthetic and functional, modern, and timeless, cosmopolitan, and perfectly suited to the local environment. The innovative blend of traditional East-Coast Australian design and the unique landscape of the upper Zambezi River has resulted in a brand new and distinctive landmark for Victoria Falls.
The Palm River Hotel offers the discerning traveler luxury accommodation with easy access to explore Africa’s Natural World Wonder of Victoria Falls, enjoy a plethora of activities on offer within the historical town of Victoria Falls or soak in the magic of the Zambezi River, while experiencing the abundant wildlife and birdlife that inhabit the popular tourist destination.
