Susurumba Mountains: The beauty of geocaches
OVERLOOKING a small boutique hotel founded in the 1960s in Nyanga is an inviting challenge, the majestic Susurumba Mountain, which attract hikers from across the world.
It takes about one-and-half hours to hike to the summit of the mountain, with spectacular views of Juliasdale at the top.
A visitor can enjoy an exploratory walk and hike in this area of outstanding natural beauty.
The first and oldest geocache in Zimbabwe is placed in a scenic location on the summit of Susurumba Mountain, which is situated just outside the Rhodes Nyanga National Park.
The hike up to the cache is a memorable and adventurous experience.
A geocache is an item, typically a container holding a number of other items, that has been hidden at a location whose coordinates have been posted on the internet.
One is guaranteed of a peaceful and exhilarating hike as there are no dangerous animals one can expect to meet along the way.
Unlike most mountains in Nyanga that are sacred and have a vindictive spiritual presence which is thought to be responsible for the disappearances of many people, Susurumba Mountain has no history of strange occurrences.
Instead, a visitor is guaranteed of a“date” with exotic birds like cape bunting, singing cisticola, scarce swift, and the most popular collared sunbird and olive sunbird.
While animals such as monkeys, baboons are as friendly as ever, a hiker also devours the splendid view of trees such as pigeonwood, rauvolfia caffra, acacia sieberiana and macaranga mellifera along the way to the apex.
The mountain is 2 050 metres high and by elevation, the mountain is number 12 out of 366 in the Eastern Highlands, while countrywide it sits on number 15.
The craggy and hilly mountain, just like others in Nyanga, has iron artefacts that are found scattered among the open plains, thereby providing archaeological interests.
The mountain is only an hour’s drive from Mutare and four hours from Harare.
Just before reaching Juliasdale, while coming from Mutare, a visitor has to turn left and drive along Rusape Road to reach Pine Tree Inn Car Park, which is less than 10 kilometres away.
One then has to walk across the little dam wall just below the Inn and pick up the trail on the opposite bank.
It is believed that when one follows the trail and reaches the apex of the mountain, there is a rocky beacon and one should move to the east.
They then need to cross over the gulley and stand near the edge of the rock looking in the direction of the Pine Tree Inn.
It is believed that is where the cache is buried in a crevice nearby.
Due to myths associated with the mountain, such as the belief that picking two small stones from the apex of the mountain and placing them in one’s bathing water bring good luck, most tourists thrive to reach to the top.
The mountain has been a regular feature on the itinerary of travel agencies’ organised tours and safaris as it has scenery, plant life, bird life and river rafting.
Underneath the mountain, there is a plush green area which is treasured for its peaceful and serene ambiance which makes it perfect for honeymooners and picnic enthusiasts.
Nyanga-based hotelier, hiker and historian, Mr Winfrey Madhlayo said the area has been frequented by cache seekers all year round and most tourists come up with unbelievable, yet exciting tales of their experiences
after reaching the mountain top.
“I am sure there are some truths to it because we get tourists from all over the world who come specifically to hike the Susurumba Mountain. There is this great enthusiasm from tourists from across the world who yearn to reach to the top in search of geocaches placed on the apex of the mountain.
“I have climbed to the top of the mountain several times and there are some strange artefacts that I have seen there, for instance some rust irons and stones with similar shapes.
“Unlike other mountains, the road to the apex is not too hilly and there is no sacredness associated with the mountain. However, we have learnt that it is not advisable to climb the mountain after 4pm as it often gets misty after sunset,” said Mr Madhlayo, who is also the Pine Tree Inn general manager.
The mountain has been a regular feature on the itinerary of travel agencies’ organised tours and safaris as it has scenery, plant life, bird life and river rafting