Take a few steps back in time to the era of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe when you enter the luxury Lodge at the Ancient City. The Lodge evokes the splendour and mystery of the Great Zimbabwe Monument – the famous remains of the city that once housed a thriving African civilisation. The colonial government used to refer to it as the Zimbabwe Ruins.
Built on a granite outcrop, the Lodge at the Ancient City has sweeping views of a valley filled with trees, and faces in the direction of the Great Zimbabwe monument, so that you can see the Great Enclosure with its famous Conical Tower from the Hotel. Lake Mutirikwi, the third largest man-made dam in Zimbabwe, can also be seen. The main complex and guest lodges at the lodge are built from stone and thatch, with structures of granite stonewalling capturing the atmosphere of Zimbabwe’s oldest UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Harare and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe are both a 3 hours drive from the Lodge at the Ancient City.
The lodge can accommodate 48 guests in luxurious chalets decorated in such a way that you might feel as if you were an African emperor in a previous life. There are 4 family chalets, each accommodating 4 guests (extra beds can be arranged), as well as 14 chalets with twin or double beds. The chalets are all en-suite, equipped with bath, shower, toilet and basin. Square 13A 220V sockets are provided.
At night the firelight and soft mbira music at the Lodge at the Ancient City create a magical atmosphere. You can enjoy Table d’hôte meals in the open-air summer house, or, if the weather in Zimbabwe is not pleasant, in the thatched dining hall. Huge granite boulders, characteristic of the geology of many parts of Zimbabwe, form part of the lounge and bar at the Lodge of the Ancient City.
Activities revolve around the Great Zimbabwe Monument. Expert guides based at the Lodge offer a variety of explorative excursions to the famous Zimbabwe Ruins where they explain the origins and history and eventual decline of the city, the various trading routes as well as religious and social practices of the once thriving community. Game drives and walks in the nearby Lake Mutirikwi Recreational Park, sunset cruises on Lake Mutirikwi, as well as drives into the tribal areas surrounding the Great Zimbabwe site are also offered at the lodge.
In addition to a swimming pool, gift shop and laundry, the Lodge at the Ancient City offers well-equipped conference facilities for a maximum of 40 delegates. The Lodge at the Ancient City is an exceptional and unusual wedding venue and can accommodate up to 120 wedding guests. Airport transfers can also be arranged.
