Article NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe| Images Mbano Manor Hotel
With Victoria Falls being accorded its city status in 2020, it is exciting to see several new developments emerge in the city that is very close to our hearts. One notable development we had the pleasure of visiting is Mbano Manor hotel, a five-star luxury boutique hotel on the edge of town, only four kilometres from the entrance to the Victoria Falls rainforest. “Mbano” is named after the owner and director Mati Nyazema’s Shona totem, whose animal symbol is the elephant. With beautiful, lush yet wild green gardens, waterfall features that give you the feeling and presence of nature, Mbano Manor hotel welcomes you by offering a natural ancient teak forest setting. There is beauty that allows you to be aware of things in a much more open and sensitive way. What we were grateful for, after our long drive from Bulawayo, was to arrive at a place which felt as though we had been transported to a new world. Being greeted by an oasis and Zen Garden, a bird and tree sanctuary. For a second we almost wondered where we were, but the distant sound of the Mosi-O-Tunya falls reminded us of our location! Mbano Manor hotel believes in conserving the environment and much of the natural forest remains in its original state merging metres away with the Zambezi National Park. Only two trees were cut down during the process of hotel construction. Buffalo and elephant still stroll by occasionally – and a lionzebra kill several hundred metres from the hotel caused excitement not too long ago. With a background in Business Management and sustainable tourism development, Dr Mati with the help of Graham Williams created landscapes that not only promote the relaxation of the mind but do this with as little harm to the surroundings as possible.
Each aspect of the design is meant to promote a tranquil environment among the old trees while nourishing your soul. The hotel’s entrance area features a living green wall designed by architect Bruce Rowlands and brought to life by Graham. This amazing green is an air purifying wall that doubles as an art piece, which we found spectacular. The short journey to our rooms felt like an adventure in itself; meandering through the teak forest surrounded by several indigenous trees. The 18 suites are laid out in sets of two across the estate. Each path leading to a luxury suite, set within the privacy of vegetation and each suite measuring 95 square metres in total, very generous space for each guest indeed. The luxury suite comes with a private patio perfect for an intimate dinner or breakfast with stylish outdoor furniture giving you a comfortable aesthetic. The patio leads into the main suite with large doors opening into a luxury suite that breaks boundaries when it comes to elegance. Each window and door is enveloped by a traditional shutter in dark teak wood.
Full of personality with 45 square metres of interior space, the bedroom exudes sophistication with a king-sized bed that comes adorned with the finest quality bed linen and pillows on a super long mattress – the thick comfort layers guarantee a good night’s sleep. The room also comes with a lounging area with chic leather chairs, a mini service centre featuring a coffee making area, fitted sink, and an ice machine, to name a few of the exquisite finishing touches. The bedroom leads into a luxurious Victorian-inspired spacious bathroom whose large doors and windows fill the room with accent lighting creating a serene and elegant ambiance after a tour of the falls. The bathroom’s statement piece is their signature Victorian inspired claw bath, with a private secluded courtyard as its background, giving you the feeling of an outdoor bath experience! The bathroom is a wonderful combination of natural material, graceful shapes and wonderful transparency. A lot of thought has been put into the interior of the suites and the public areas. Dr Mati had a vision to mimic an old bungalow yet luxurious experience, and the hotel design delivers this using elements such as high ceilings and cement flooring in some areas to achieve the natural look. With guidance from architect Bruce and interior designer Ryan Illgner, Dr Mati and the expert team created a boutique hotel that is unapologetically high end, including all the modern finishes allowing you to take that much deserved break from the busy city life in true comfort.
Fuelled by an independent and entrepreneurial spirit, Mati Nyazema is using her vast years of experience in the tourism industry and business background to create and maintain a product that is luxurious and sustainable while celebrating the true African culture through the ethos and design of the hotel. An inspiration to many, Dr Mati is a strong advocate for women empowerment and community development. Encouraging “determination and assertiveness”, being the first black woman luxury hotel owner in Victoria Falls, Dr Mati is truly shaking up the tourism industry. Her attention now is to complete furnishing and fittings on the one final project, the exciting 200 square metre presidential Forest Villa, located in a secluded corner of the estate. A unique opulent design where the finest attention to detail is being showcased in this suite fit for a king! We cannot wait to come back and see this completed Villa project. The Mbano Manor hotel caters to solo travellers, couples and families; with their interconnected family-friendly suites, this is the perfect place for that much deserved family break but still having moments to yourselves taking in the magic that is Mbano. We had an exceptional experience; General Manager Ignatius and his staff went out of their way to make sure we felt at home showing true African hospitality and ensuring we had an easy and accommodating booking process. A hotel special is currently running and the reservation team cannot wait to hear from you. Honeymoon, residential conference and family packages are also available.
