Honde Valley
Encyclopedia
The Honde Valley extends from the eastern border of Zimbabwe
into Mozambique
. The valley is formed as part of the Eastern Highlands
mountain range. The Valley is about 130km from Mutare
, or 110km from Nyanga
. Mount Inyangani and the Nyanga National Park
forms the western boundary of the valley.
. The road into the valley is tarred and twists and turns steeply as it drops 800 meters in about 20km down the Mount Inyangani. Off the tarred road, there are good dust roads which service most parts of the Valley.
Most of the rainfall experienced is of the convectional type. At time orographic rainfalls at various times of the year, in addition to the normal convectional rainfall. This portion of the country, therefore, receives the highest rainfall in the country.
in this portion of the Honde Valley.
Specials: Anchieta's Tchagra, Moustached Grass-Warbler, Red-winged Warbler, Black-winged Bishop, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Lesser Seedcracker, Singing Cisticola, Twinspot Indigobird which parasitizes the Red-throated Twinspot, Scarce Swift, Pallid Honeyguide, Green-backed Woodpecker, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-eared Barbet, Pale Batis, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Variable Sunbird, Bronzy Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Grey Waxbill, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Black-fronted Bush-Shrike.
Habitats: Lowland and riverine forest, marsh, miombo woodland, tea estate, maize lands.
Birding: There are four main birding areas in the valley, the area around Aberfoyle Club; Gleneagles Nature Reserve above the Club, eastern Highland Tea Estate; and Katiyo Tea Estate some 25km from Aberfoyle.
There are a total of about seven small to medium sized metered piped water systems at Hauna
, Sachisuko, Honde Army, Zindi, Samanga, Mpotedzi and Sahumani. In addition there are other smaller un-metered water supply schemes that serve a number of villages and schools. The known smaller un-metered water supply schemes are Honde “Povo” Pipe Scheme, Chingaira Piped Scheme, St Columbus Secondary School, Sagambe Primary and Secondary School, Marige Water Project, Mahobo Piped Scheme and Mupenga Gravity Water Scheme.
and coffee
growing area. The well known Katiyo, Aberfoyle, Rumbizi and Chiwira Tea Estates are among those situated in the valley. However, it is also home to many small scale and susbsistence farmers. There are several non-motorized irrigation schemes in Honde valley.
One of the main townships inside the valley is Hauna
. Hauna
Growth Point now has a community Hospital.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
into Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. The valley is formed as part of the Eastern Highlands
Eastern Highlands
The Eastern or 'East African Highlands is a mountain range in the east of Zimbabwe and one of 4 distinct physiographic divisions on the African continent.-Location and description:...
mountain range. The Valley is about 130km from Mutare
Mutare
Mutare is the fourth largest city in Zimbabwe, with a population of around 170,000. It is the capital of Manicaland province.-History:...
, or 110km from Nyanga
Nyanga, Zimbabwe
Nyanga is a town in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe, located adjacent to Nyanga National Park in the Eastern Highlands about 105 km north of Mutare. According to the 1982 Population Census, the town had a population of 2,973....
. Mount Inyangani and the Nyanga National Park
Nyanga National Park
Nyanga National Park lies in the north of Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands. One of the first national parks to be declared in the country, it contains the highest land in Zimbabwe, with green hills and perennial rivers. Most of its terrain consists of rolling downland, sometimes lightly wooded, lying...
forms the western boundary of the valley.
Access
Approaching from Mutare, the turn-off is about 50km along the road towards NyangaNyanga
Nyanga may mean:*Nyanga Province, of Gabon*Nyanga, Gabon, a place in the province of Nyanga in Gabon*Nyanga River, in Gabon and Congo*Nyanga, Zimbabwe, a town*Nyanga National Park in Zimbabwe*Nyanga, Cape Town, a township in South Africa...
. The road into the valley is tarred and twists and turns steeply as it drops 800 meters in about 20km down the Mount Inyangani. Off the tarred road, there are good dust roads which service most parts of the Valley.
Climate
The climate of Honde Valley falls within the Savannah sub -Tropics. From late October to around the end of April, the weather is hot and humid. Temperatures may rise up to 28 ˚C and this is the period where most of the rainfall is received. From May to the beginning of July, the temperatures are very low and they may hover around minimums of 2 ˚C while August is very windy. From September to October, it is very hot and the maximum temperatures may average 30 ˚C.Most of the rainfall experienced is of the convectional type. At time orographic rainfalls at various times of the year, in addition to the normal convectional rainfall. This portion of the country, therefore, receives the highest rainfall in the country.
Topography
The average altitude of Honde Valley is around 900m above sea-level as compared to its immediate surroundings which rise above 1800m. This abrupt drop in topography creates the spectacular Mtarazi and adjacent Muchururu Falls, local tourist attractions.Flora
The 500 square kilometres of the Honde Valley in Zimbabwe are extensively cultivated, often with gravity fed irrigation channels. Extensive use is made of the many smaller tributaries feeding into the Pungwe RiverPungwe River
Pungwe River is a 400 km long river in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It rises below Mount Nyangani in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe and then flows eastward through the Manica and Sofala provinces of Mozambique. It then empties to the Mozambique Channel in Beira, forming a large estuary...
in this portion of the Honde Valley.
Fauna
Honde Valley is one of the premier birding destinations in Zimbabwe, offers a wide range of species difficult to find in most other parts of the region, other than in neighbouring Mozambique. This fertile valley lies 850m above sea level and is one of the major tea producing areas of Zimbabwe.Specials: Anchieta's Tchagra, Moustached Grass-Warbler, Red-winged Warbler, Black-winged Bishop, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Lesser Seedcracker, Singing Cisticola, Twinspot Indigobird which parasitizes the Red-throated Twinspot, Scarce Swift, Pallid Honeyguide, Green-backed Woodpecker, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-eared Barbet, Pale Batis, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Variable Sunbird, Bronzy Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Grey Waxbill, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Black-fronted Bush-Shrike.
Habitats: Lowland and riverine forest, marsh, miombo woodland, tea estate, maize lands.
Birding: There are four main birding areas in the valley, the area around Aberfoyle Club; Gleneagles Nature Reserve above the Club, eastern Highland Tea Estate; and Katiyo Tea Estate some 25km from Aberfoyle.
Water Resources
Water Supply for the Honde Valley comprises small piped systems and motorised pumps serving small towns, growth points, commercial plantations, service centres and some villages, as well as direct abstractions from the rivers by riparian village communities not connected to developed installations.There are a total of about seven small to medium sized metered piped water systems at Hauna
Hauna
Hauna is a village in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe located in the Honde Valley communal land about 55 km north of Mutare.It is the Growth Point Centre for Mutasa District in Manicaland. Hauna growth point is in Samanga B ward of Mutasa District and has a population of about 8,000. ...
, Sachisuko, Honde Army, Zindi, Samanga, Mpotedzi and Sahumani. In addition there are other smaller un-metered water supply schemes that serve a number of villages and schools. The known smaller un-metered water supply schemes are Honde “Povo” Pipe Scheme, Chingaira Piped Scheme, St Columbus Secondary School, Sagambe Primary and Secondary School, Marige Water Project, Mahobo Piped Scheme and Mupenga Gravity Water Scheme.
Economy
Since the area is low-lying and hot it is an abundant teaTea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
and coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
growing area. The well known Katiyo, Aberfoyle, Rumbizi and Chiwira Tea Estates are among those situated in the valley. However, it is also home to many small scale and susbsistence farmers. There are several non-motorized irrigation schemes in Honde valley.
One of the main townships inside the valley is Hauna
Hauna
Hauna is a village in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe located in the Honde Valley communal land about 55 km north of Mutare.It is the Growth Point Centre for Mutasa District in Manicaland. Hauna growth point is in Samanga B ward of Mutasa District and has a population of about 8,000. ...
. Hauna
Hauna
Hauna is a village in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe located in the Honde Valley communal land about 55 km north of Mutare.It is the Growth Point Centre for Mutasa District in Manicaland. Hauna growth point is in Samanga B ward of Mutasa District and has a population of about 8,000. ...
Growth Point now has a community Hospital.
Tea Estates
- Eastern Highlands Tea Estate,
- Katiyo Tea Estate,
- Aberfoyle Plantations
- Rumbizi and Chiwira tea estates
Business centers
- HaunaHaunaHauna is a village in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe located in the Honde Valley communal land about 55 km north of Mutare.It is the Growth Point Centre for Mutasa District in Manicaland. Hauna growth point is in Samanga B ward of Mutasa District and has a population of about 8,000. ...
Growth point - Hauna Growth point is located in the Honde Valley communal land about 55 km north of Mutare.It is the Growth Point Centre for Mutasa District in Manicaland.There is an aerodrome where small aeroplanes can land and take off.There is also a Police camp called Ruda Police Station which controls all police activities in Mutasa District. It can be reached by a tarred road from Mutare and cellphone coverage is also available on the net-one and econet network - Zindi Business centre
Primary Schools
- Sagambe Primary School
- Chavhanga Primary School
- Ngarura Primary SchoolNgarura Primary SchoolNgarura Primary is a school in . It got its name from a the river that runs through the area, Ngarura River. Students at Ngarura Primary School are from the Villages around, which are: Chikuku , Chikuku , Nyamugumura, Mamombe, and Manyoka Village....
- Rupinda Primary School
- Pachije St Stephen Primary
- Chikomba Primary School
- Chisuko Primary School
- Aberfoyle Primary School
- Estern Highlands Primary Schools
- Katiyo Primary School
- Nyamhingura Primary School
- Muterere Primary School
- Zindi Primary School
- Pimayi Primary School
- Nyatsanza Primary School
- Chitombo Primary School
- Loreto Primary School
- St Peters Primary School
- Sahumani Primary School
- Samaringa Primary School
- Gatsi Primary School
Secondary Schools
- Sagambe Secondary School
- Chavhanga Secondary School
- Chisuko Secondary School
- Muterere Secondary School
- Zindi Secondary School
- St Columbus Secondary School
- Nyamhingura Secondary
- Nyakatsapa High School
- Gatsi Secondary School
- Pafiwa Mutasa
- St Peters Secondary School
- Sahumani Secondary School
- Samaringa Secondary Schools
Hospitals and Clinics
- HaunaHaunaHauna is a village in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe located in the Honde Valley communal land about 55 km north of Mutare.It is the Growth Point Centre for Mutasa District in Manicaland. Hauna growth point is in Samanga B ward of Mutasa District and has a population of about 8,000. ...
Hospital - Chisuko Clinic
- Sagambe Clinic
- Katiyo Tea Estate Clinic
Tourist Attractions
- Mahwemasimike range of mountains which are beautiful to watch for tourists can be seen apart from the HaunaHaunaHauna is a village in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe located in the Honde Valley communal land about 55 km north of Mutare.It is the Growth Point Centre for Mutasa District in Manicaland. Hauna growth point is in Samanga B ward of Mutasa District and has a population of about 8,000. ...
Growth Point. - Mtarazi Falls - coming from Nyanga which falls into the Honde River.
- Pungwe RiverPungwe RiverPungwe River is a 400 km long river in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It rises below Mount Nyangani in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe and then flows eastward through the Manica and Sofala provinces of Mozambique. It then empties to the Mozambique Channel in Beira, forming a large estuary...
- fishing and white water rafting - Nyanga National ParkNyanga National ParkNyanga National Park lies in the north of Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands. One of the first national parks to be declared in the country, it contains the highest land in Zimbabwe, with green hills and perennial rivers. Most of its terrain consists of rolling downland, sometimes lightly wooded, lying...
- Honde RiverHonde RiverHonde River pronounced Horn-de is a river in Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe which runs through the Honde Valley. It flows from Mount Inyangani on the western edges of Honde Valley were it is joined by several of its major tributaries: the rivers Mupenga, Buu, Mtarazi and Ngarura...
- Nyawamba Dam
Notable Places
Honde Valley has several villages that include Rori, Chigweshe, Samushonga, Makwasa, Muparutsa, Zindi, Ngarura, Fenga, Muterere, Bvute, Gatsi, Zindi Village, Samanga, Bvuma, Honde village, Katiyo Tea Estates, Eastern Highland Tea Estates, chitombo, Samanga, Aberfoyle, Matondora, Chisuko, Sahumani, Green and MakunikeImage gallery
- Honde Valley Pictures: Honde Valley Pictures 2009.
- Qwiki Pictures Honde Valley Qwiki Pictures.
- Honde Photos Photos by Munya D Matepo
External links
- Southern African Birding: Honde Valley. Accessed 2009-04-20.
- Barbara McCrea, Tony Pinchuck. The Rough Guide to Zimbabwe. Rough Guides, 2000 ISBN 1858285321 pp. 292-294
- Pungwe River Project
- Zimbabwe Eastern Highlands – Trip Report