White Horse Inn: More home than home
THE newly upgraded White Horse Inn Hotel located in the lush and verdant Vumba Mountains outside Mutare is absolutely fantastic.
The rooms are very accommodating and welcoming: breath of fresh air. It prides itself with extremely helpful and friendly staff eager to assist wherever possible.
In the heart of Vumba, perched in a narrow valley embossed by a pebbled-studded brook whose clean waters produce sweet perennial rippling sounds, this majestic little paradise makes an ideal home away from home in this most heavenly holiday destination.
In fact, it is more than just a home away from home.
The hotel fulfills every aspect of a high-calibre four-star hotel, based on international standards.
I stress this point because I have recently been disappointed by other hotels that claim a four star status on their websites yet fail the standards horribly when you actually visit.
My first thought on arriving to my room was: “Wow this actually looks exactly like the photo on the website.”
The staff is extremely friendly and efficient; they will go out of their way to get things done and do not compromise when it comes to Covid-19 control measures, following the World Health Organisation ( WHO)-stipulated rules to the letter.
On arrival, all guests are requested to wash their hands with soap and the ultra-clean Eastern Highlands water before they have their temperature checked and are given hand sanitisers.
The corridors, common rooms and dining room are frequently disinfected by the hotel staff in full protective gear.
I was staying in a corner deluxe room (Flame Lily) great bed, closet space is perfect, and the bathroom has everything you need, including a very nice bath.
The hotel restaurant is exceptional, with a great view of the luxuriant forest surrounding the place, making a dream occasion for birders who will be treated to many bird species making a melodious fly-past during the course of their meals.
From lovers seeking a perfect getaway to families on a relaxed weekend out, or just friends looking for a memorable get-together, White Horse Inn is a perfect place for everyone.
Given the proximity of popular landmarks, such as Prince of Wales View, Holy Trinity Catholic Cathedral, and high mountains ideal for hiking enthusiasts, guests of White Horse Inn can easily experience some of Mutare’s most wellknown attractions.
To cap it all, the Vumba area provides plenty of typical panoramic views, a birder’s paradise, and a lazy stroll in the botanical gardens and forage into dense, virgin woodlands. In this forest, I found myself with my tribe of wood and leaf, among the giants whose roots hug the earth. It is a place of ancient souls, of the creatures who dwell with the sweet sounds of moving water and bird song.
The Vumba Mountains is another walker’s paradise, with plenty of trails. Recently, the Friends of the Vumba with National Parks started an initiative to make the trails more accessible. White Horse Inn also provides guided bird walks in the nearby forest, which literally silences the clocks, a place of root and branch which is the dominion of the eternal soul.
White Horse Inn MD Frank Marembo said they are trying to maintain high-end standards to keep the coronavirus at bay while affording their guests the most perfect excursion.
“The health and safety of our guests and employees remains of paramount importance to us. In pursuit of the same, we have implemented a number of measures guided by WHO regulations to ensure safe operations. These include the following: ensuring that employees wear face masks at all times, mandatory temperature checks for staff and guests every day, a rigorous schedule for rooms disinfection and sanitisation, increased cleaning and disinfecting frequency for all public areas and social distancing,” he said.