Manicaland

Mutare is the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe's Manicaland province, set in the Eastern Highlands close to the border with Mozambique. Known as the 'Gateway to the Eastern Highlands', it is a compact, mountain-ringed city whose nickname reflects both its scenic setting and its historic role on the trade route toward the port of Beira.

The city began as Umtali in the 1890s during the railway and mining era, moving to its present site in 1896 and gaining its current name after independence. That layered past survives in landmarks such as the Mutare Museum, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Mutare and Cross Kopje, a hilltop memorial to African soldiers of the First World War.

Around the city, the green Bvumba Mountains rise to the south with the Vumba Botanical Gardens and forest reserves, while Christmas Pass offers sweeping views over the surrounding valleys. Murahwa Hill holds archaeological sites, and nearby waterfalls and highland scenery make Mutare a natural base for exploring the Eastern Highlands, Chimanimani and Nyanga.

Mutare's economy links timber, agriculture and manufacturing with its position on the Beira Corridor, a key route for goods moving between Zimbabwe and the Mozambican coast. The central business district and the busy Sakubva area reflect this working, trading character, alongside markets, cafés and local restaurants.

For travellers, Mutare works equally well as a stopover on the road between Harare and Mozambique, a gateway for highland hikes and garden visits, and a regional centre for business, making it a practical and distinctive introduction to eastern Zimbabwe.