Ruwa

Day Trips

Make the most of your day with our curated plans, packed with Ruwa's hidden gems and unique experiences!

day 1
Arrival and Orientation
morning
:

Touch down at Harare International Airport and feel the warm Zimbabwean sun as you make the short drive to Ruwa. Meet your guide and settle into a boutique lodge nestled among jacaranda trees. Gain an overview of the region’s history and geography during a welcome briefing.

afternoon
:

Savor a traditional lunch featuring sadza, grilled chicken, and seasonal vegetables sourced locally. Take a leisurely stroll through the lodge gardens to spot native birds and butterflies. Learn about Shona customs from a community representative over herbal tea.

evening
:

As dusk falls, enjoy a welcome dinner under an open-air pavilion lit by lanterns. Listen to live mbira music while sampling local dishes and refreshments. Retire to your cozy cottage under the star-studded Zimbabwean sky.

day 2
Waterfall Trail
morning
:

Embark on a guided hike to the Ruwa Falls, where mist rises off rocky cliffs and rainbows dance in the spray. Navigate winding paths through lush woodland alive with chirping cicadas. Pause at lookout points for panoramic views of the gorge.

afternoon
:

Settle by a natural pool for a riverside picnic featuring fresh fruit and artisanal bread. Cool off with a refreshing swim before exploring hidden caves behind cascading water. Learn about the area’s geology from your guide as you snack on roasted nuts.

evening
:

Return to the lodge and relax on the veranda with sundowners crafted from local citrus. Share stories of your waterfall adventure around a communal fire pit. Drift off to sleep to the soothing sound of night frogs in the nearby river.

day 3
Village Cultural Immersion
morning
:

Visit a local homestead and join women artisans as they hand-shape clay into pots and beads. Observe children playing traditional games in the courtyard. Gain insight into multi-generational family dynamics and daily routines.

afternoon
:

Share a hearty lunch cooked over an open hearth, sampling sadza with groundnut relish and leafy greens. Participate in a maize planting demonstration using traditional tools. Learn common Shona phrases to greet and thank your hosts.

evening
:

Gather around a bonfire as elders tell ancestral stories and sing folk songs. Watch performers enact Shona legends with rhythmic drumming and costume dance. Savor roasted maize and tea while gazing at a crescent moon overhead.

day 4
Eco-Farm Exploration
morning
:

Tour an organic farm on Ruwa’s outskirts, learning about permaculture beds and drip irrigation systems. Meet the farmers who practice sustainable cultivation of maize, tomatoes, and leafy greens. Sample fresh milk and cheese from grazing dairy goats.

afternoon
:

Don an apron for a hands-on cooking lesson, transforming farm produce into a vibrant salad and vegetable stew. Wander through medicinal herb gardens to learn about traditional remedies. Help harvest sun-ripened tomatoes and cucumbers alongside farmhands.

evening
:

Enjoy a farm-to-table dinner illuminated by solar-powered lanterns in a rustic barn. Discuss Zimbabwe’s agricultural challenges and successes with a local agronomist. Relax in a hammock under the canopy of avocado trees before bedtime.

day 5
Birdwatching Expedition
morning
:

Rise at dawn to venture into Gipfelo River valley with a local ornithologist guide. Spot sunbirds flitting among flowering euphorbia and weavers weaving nests. Photograph African pied wagtails along the riverbank.

afternoon
:

Refuel with a packed picnic of smoked fish, fruit, and brewed ginger tea. Continue your trek through acacia-dotted grasslands to locate lilac-breasted rollers and yellow-throated bishops. Record sightings in a field journal under the shade of fever trees.

evening
:

Return to the lodge for a light dinner of grilled tilapia and seasonal salad. Share your most memorable bird calls and flight patterns with fellow travelers. Drift to sleep to the chorus of nightjars and tree frogs in the darkness outside.

day 6
Local Market Experience
morning
:

Stroll through Ruwa’s bustling open-air market, sampling tropical fruits like pawpaw and guava. Haggle for woven baskets, beadwork bracelets, and carved wooden sculptures. Observe cooks preparing steaming pots of peanut stew over charcoal fires.

afternoon
:

Attend a spice blending workshop, crafting your own mix of peri-peri, garlic, and smoked chili for souvenirs. Taste street food classics such as maputi (popped maize) and deep-fried dough balls. Learn about the market’s role in community trade and social life.

evening
:

Return to town for a casual dinner at a roadside eatery under twinkling fairy lights. Enjoy barbecued meats with papaya-pineapple chutney alongside locals. End the night with a stroll through the market stalls now lit by colorful lanterns.

day 7
Community Art Workshop
morning
:

Participate in a painting session at the Ruwa Arts Centre with a local renowned muralist. Explore themes of heritage and landscape on canvas. Exchange creative techniques over cups of sweet rooibos tea.

afternoon
:

Shift to a batik workshop, learning to apply wax patterns on fabric using traditional hot tools. Try your hand at colorful dye baths drawn from natural plant extracts. Create a keepsake cloth to take home as a memento.

evening
:

Showcase your artwork during a casual gallery evening, mingling with artists and residents. Savor light hors d’oeuvres and sparkling fruit juice as you discuss creative processes. Leave inspired by the vibrant artistic community of Ruwa.

day 8
Scenic Photo Safari
morning
:

Chase the golden hour across rolling hills dotted with wildflowers and colonial farmhouse ruins. Capture lens-feel of morning mist rising from sugarcane fields. Listen to a professional photographer’s tips on composition and light.

afternoon
:

Venture to the rocky outcrops overlooking Ruwa’s plateau for dramatic landscape shots. Meet a local shepherd and photograph grazing cattle against sunset hues. Enjoy a camera-bag lunch of sandwiches and fresh fruit under a fig tree.

evening
:

Return to the lodge for a rooftop editing session with Wi-Fi and refreshments. Review and refine your best images on a large screen. Share your top three shots while sipping on homemade ginger beer.

day 9
Traditional Dance Showcase
morning
:

Observe dancers practicing shangara and mhande moves under a shaded baobab. Learn about the cultural significance behind each step and costume adornment. Try basic footwork guided by enthusiastic performers.

afternoon
:

Join a rhythm workshop to master drum patterns on djembe and hosho shakers. Feel the pulse of Zimbabwean beats as you train your ear to syncopated rhythms. Enjoy a light lunch of rice and stew while discussing dance origins.

evening
:

Attend a vibrant performance under lantern-lit trees, featuring dancers in colorful attire and large drums. Clap along to upbeat rhythms and cheer on local talent. End the night with a group dance around a roaring fire.

day 10
Farewell Celebration
morning
:

Reflect on your journey with a sunrise yoga session overlooking rolling farmland vistas. Breathe in the crisp morning air and set intentions for your return home. Enjoy zumbani tea and fruit while watching the sun crest the hills.

afternoon
:

Share a final communal meal at the lodge terrace, tasting favorites from the week alongside new fusion dishes. Exchange contact details and heartfelt farewells with guides and fellow travelers. Take a guided walk through nearby botanical gardens one last time.

evening
:

Raise a toast at a farewell ceremony beneath lantern-strung acacia trees. Dance to live mbira and marimba music as you celebrate new friendships. Depart under the starlit Zimbabwean sky, carrying the spirit of Ruwa in your heart.

Discover Ruwa

Read more in our Ruwa 2025 Travel Guide.

Ruwa Travel Guide