PHOTOS: SIMON DE SWARDT

Miombo Mountain Lodge is a modern hotel in a stunning setting, hitting that rare sweet spot between relaxed and refined

Only a half hour from Harare, Miombo Mountain Lodge is the perfect weekend escape for lots of style, sky and sanity

Weekends away are supposed to be restorative: no annoying early morning bleeping alarms, a couple of lazy days by the pool, and evenings accompanied by a sufficient number of sundowners. But in Zimbabwe, the joy of getting away is too often cancelled out by the grind of the journey: this is a country of slow convoys, unexpected detours and potholes that leave you questioning your life choices.

Miombo Mountain Lodge in Christon Bank changes the equation. Just 25 minutes from Harare – on freshly paved roads that glide you out of the city and into the countryside with almost indecent ease – it delivers a getaway with less grief. You cross the threshold and your busy life melts away, replaced by the calm of big skies and the soft rustle of Miombo woodland.

THE VIEWS FROM THE ROOMS FRAME THE FOREST AS IF IT WERE A LIVING AND BREATHING WORK OF ART

The lodge itself is simple but stylish. Ten ensuite rooms balance natural tones with clean, contemporary lines; each one feels connected to its surroundings, with views that frame the forest as if it were a living and breathing work of art. It’s safari energy, but with the comfort dial turned right up.

Those willing to leave their sunloungers can dabble in a little wellness, too: the Lodge’s spa isn’t an afterthought but a centrepiece. Think lap pool with epic views and yoga sessions soundtracked not by tinkly music but by actual birdsong. Treatments are designed to soothe the body and quiet the city noise that’s buzzing about in your brain.

Adventure, too, comes on your terms. If you’re feeling high-energy, hike some trails or take a mountain bike out for a spin. There’s birdwatching aplenty if you’re feeling a bit twitchy, and the nearby Mazowe Botanical Reserve, run by the MyTrees conservation trust, is not to be missed. You could, however, take the simplest option of all: lie by the pool, do nothing and let the hours skip by like scudding clouds.

Miombo Mountain Lodge works so well because it’s beautifully straightforward. The journey doesn’t require elaborate planning and a four-wheel drive; the lodge itself isn’t trying too hard to be anything other than what it is: a modern hotel in a stunning setting, hitting that rare sweet spot between relaxed and refined.

So forget the endless road trips that test your patience and ruin your suspension – save those for your annual leave. When the city feels too close and the week too heavy, Miombo Mountain Lodge is the answer. It’s the weekend getaway that actually gives you back your weekend.

Nyasha Chiwara

Miombo Park, Christon Bank, Mazowe.
Visit: www.miombomountainlodge.com
IG: @miombomountainlodge