A five to seven (5-7) day journey through valleys, mountains, wilderness, rivers, gorges, waterfalls – totalling a distance of 62 kilometres, and 985 metres in altitudinal change. It is no wonder this iconic trail is the best there is in Zimbabwe. Its unique characteristics take hikers through diverse ecosystems (fauna, flora, avifauna) and makes for good competition to some of the best trails in the world! It surely is a bucket-list item! There are, however, a few shorter trails along the way that last from 1 day to 3 days if you don’t have time to complete the entire 5-7-days.
Why we should explore the Turaco Trail:
Pungwe Falls & Gorge: perennial Pungwe river feeds the water and stretches for over 400 km to Mozambique & the several tiers and plummeting water makes it awe-inspiring. And the open plains, trees, bushes and rocks surrounding the pool provide a canopy shade, which makes for a good resting place during the hike.
Gairezi River soothes your soul when you take a dip after a long hike. The river has made tubing, watercourse trout fishing and white water inflatable kayaking possible in Zimbabwe. It is really a magical gift to the people of Nyanga and they are generous enough to let tourists enjoy their natural wonders with them.
Mount Nyangani: the sacred mountain is the highest in Zimbabwe at 2.592m. It is filled with mystery and legends and cannot be explored unaccompanied by a National Parks guide – it is important to respect the rules of the local people. The mountain has an evergreen forest along the damper eastern slopes and a dense grassland on the western side. You will be able to enjoy an amazing view of the Eastern Highlands at the summit of the mountains.
CAMPING EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY
Camping equipment: Don’t stress if you don’t have everything you need for this iconic trail, you will be able to rent equipment and gear (tents, sleeping bags, trekking poles, GPS units) at relatively low cost, after all – we can’t make FUN expensive!
Safety and who can take part: The trail is located in an inaccessible mountain. You are given trail details and route details and our guides will be with you to make sure you never get lost and remain safe. You will be taught how to read maps to avoid any inconveniences and you will be shown the emergency exit points at the trail during training. The trail has a radio communications network with a repeater station and most areas of the trail are covered by radio signal. The hike is a bit challenging and usually needs people of average to above average fitness – you need to be able to do 15km per day ordinarily in your everyday life in order to cope.
Best Time to have the hike: the trail is open all-year round and each season has advantages and disadvantages, and it comes down to your personal or group preferences. My best time is in the Zimbabwean summer months between September, October, November and December, where the panoramic views are clear, and you can see areas that are miles away. These summer months are also the hottest in Zimbabwe, although because of the mountain range, temperatures remain moderate and towards November, there is increased rainfall and storms do occur from time to time. In the winter months between May, June and July, it is quite cold and misty, and temperatures can drop to below zero during the night.
Other activities you can enjoy
Skywalk and Zipline: The amazing skywalk consists of a 90-metre and a 40-metre suspension bridge, providing the closest view of the second highest falls in Africa at 772m. You can enjoy the activity after the hike to cap off what would have been the best thrilling walk of your life. The zipline is the highest in the world.
Where to stay after the hike:
The SkyDeck Mountain Retreat provides luxurious accommodation and booked out to one group at a time #exclusivity. It is exactly what you will need after the hike to relax, with the picturesque views of the Nyangani mountain. To enjoy the beauty of this place you will need $250 per person. You can also spend the night at the Far and Wide cottages for $28 per night if you are a budget traveller.
How to get there: Nyanga is 255 km away from Harare (the capital city of Zimbabwe). You will need 4 hours to reach Nyanga.
If you want to challenge yourself and improve those hiking skills and fitness levels, then you should have Turaco Trail on your bucket-list. Book your hike with Tiritose Sustainable Travel and explore the unique and challenging Turaco trail.
For more inspiration, follow us on our social media handles:
Facebook: Tiritose Sustainable Travel – Home
Twitter: Tiritose Sustainable Travel (@TiritoseTravel)
Instagram: Tiritose Sustainable Travel (@tiritose_sustainable_travel)
Pinterest: Tiritose Sustainable Travel (tiritose_sustainable_travel) – Profile
LinkedIn: Tiritose Sustainable Travel | LinkedIn
