Article Rudo Nhamoinesu, Nzira Magazine | Images Rudo Nhamoinesu, 585 Victoria Falls
As a frequent traveller, I have come to appreciate the trips characterised by warm hospitality, personal touch, and great attention to detail; aspects that create the ultimate guest experience worldwide. In Zimbabwe, we are fortunate to have establishments that do this just right. One such facility is 528 I Victoria Falls, a boutique guest house set 3km from the Rainforest. This idyllic Guest House offers you an escape from the city. From the moment you enter through the gates, you are transported to a private intimate destination set within beautifully landscaped and lush gardens; delightful smells that waft through the summer air, sounds of birds chirping and, water flowing from the water features create an oasis of sorts. As an exhausted traveller, coming to such a place, coupled with a warm reception, the experience revives you instantly!
The Guest House is family-owned and run by a husband and wife team, Meredith and Paul Fischer. Armed with a dream and an investment opportunity, they transformed what was once a residential house into a luxurious lodging option for travellers to Victoria Falls. The Boutique Guest House is characterised by a unique architectural design, which is revealed along the pathway that meanders through gardens to the entrance and foyer; with a pond and water feature to one side and large glass doors and double height windows, the second and third floor of the house can be viewed, flooded with light from the entrance area which acts as a light well for the whole building.
Meredith has a great love of art and design, by working with local designers and artisans, she created this oasis using vibrant colours and unique elements. The signature Ardmore Savuti wallpaper in the foyer has been inspired by Africa’s majestic flora and fauna, it makes use of vibrant colours that reflect African beauty, culture, and wildlife. These colours of green, yellow’s, orange’s and blues have such an encouraging effect and promote feelings of relaxation and tranquillity. The use of colour in the main foyer and main areas creates a harmonious and tranquil environment. Unique pieces such as the glass chandeliers add dazzle to the entrance foyer and main areas, real statement pieces. The multi-coloured basket wall found in the dining area adds African elegance to the room, this one-of-a-kind wall is a great addition to the double height white wall and adds a pop of colour to the dining area. This quirky décor found throughout the Guest House is insta worthy and further elevated by the use of Natural light let in through the large windows, brightening the Guest House.
The 3 storey building’s original structure consisted of 5 rooms, Meredith and Paul reconstructed the original rooms and added on making their total 7 unique rooms that include 2 triple rooms for families. A lot of effort has been put into the lodge, the hosts prioritise your experience, each room uniquely designed. The décor in my room consisted of black and white tile flooring that added elegance and sophistication with an accent pale green wall that calms the senses bringing the room together. Each of the rooms comes with a king-size bed (extra length) and a Moroccan-inspired headboard with intricate carved detail. The rooms are air-conditioned, a welcome feature! Coming from Hwange hot and bothered, I was grateful for cooler temperatures in my room. I couldn’t wait to lie just for a moment on the comfortable mattress and plush pillows! The Fischer’s have gone an extra mile by offering guests sunblock curtains, a tea-making station, wifi, international charging sockets, and my favourite- Meredith’s homemade rusks. A little treat that brought me such joy! It is the attention to detail and the needs of the guests that make the rooms a little extra special.
Each room comes with a walk-in shower. Equipped with a modern large rainfall shower head that make your shower experience feel as though you’re dancing in the rain. The design of the bathroom is simple, compact and, elegant, giving you just what you need.
After a break and shower, I was excited to explore the rest of the Guest House. There is a grand stairway that leads to 2 different floors. Its modern appearance compliments the overall design of 528. Each floor oozes beautiful spaces and offers incredible views. As you continue your accent, the last floor opens up to a bar, its décor a perfect blend of modern and African interiors while borrowing Moroccan elements such as the rug. The uniqueness of this décor again includes a pop of bright colours brought in through the lampshades made of African Ankara material, the blue tiling on the bar wall adds fun to the room and the bar area is intricately carved. The wooden flooring in the bar creates a different atmosphere from the rest of the lodge. The bar opens up to a patio with beautiful views of the surrounding trees, thus rendering its name- “Treetop Bar.” The modern furniture on the patio allows you to sit back and relax. An honesty system is used at the bar, you can mark what you have had and this will be added to your bill at the end of your stay.
During the construction of the Guest House, environmentally conscious options were prioritised and included in early planning. 528 has solar power capacity (with back-up generator) and solar geysers, greywater is recycled through a recycling system, this water is then used to water the gardens, a valuable fertilizer for plants, reconnecting the gardens to the natural water cycle. The Guest House also supports community initiatives such as Mummy’s Angels, an organisation that assists mothers in need by distributing preloved baby clothes and toys or goods. Help is given to select mothers at Chinotimba Clinic and Victoria Falls Hospital. The second organisation that is supported is Sewpportive Friends, an organisation that provides washable feminine hygiene products to girls in need, in Zimbabwe and Africa. During my stay I was fortunate enough to meet Julie who runs this organisation. Over breakfast, she shared her passion to keep girls in school by providing sanitary wear, ensuring they do not miss class and imparting sewing skills to women in the community of Chinotimba, Victoria Falls. These pads also support young girls in Hwange.
Julie is just one of the many return guests to 528 on each visit to Zimbabwe. The hospitality and warmth of Paul and Meredith make one feel like part of the family. I greatly appreciated this about them, as a solo traveller it was nice sharing tales from my adventures with them.
The Guest House operates on a bed and breakfast basis, but they can prepare lunch or dinners upon request. All food pallets and diets are catered for, prepared with fresh ingredients, and love! My absolute favourite was the 528 breakfast granola. Meredith was kind enough to share her recipe, a healthy treat to start up your day! The Guest House is conveniently located, right across Reynardos Restaurant that specialises in pizzas and healthy salads. I wandered over to the Reynardos for my lunch and had the most absolutely delicious chicken salad!
The intimacy of 528 allows Meredith and Paul to get to know their guests and as great hosts that are available to assist with any of your queries or needs. I highly recommend a stay at 528 when you next visit Victoria Falls!