Shongwe Lookout Guest Lodge

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is booming. Not onlyaretouristsfloodingback,butsoareyoung Zimbabwean tourism operators who have lived and worked overseas. These youngsters bring with them fresh ideas and an innate understanding of what the New World traveller expects. They know the taste of a perfect latte and a well-matured Syrah. They are well versed in modern design trends and the expectations of discerning travellers. Meet two of these youngsters, Jamie and Narelle Henson, who recently arrived from New Zealand (NZ) to craft Victoria Falls’ newest diamond: Shongwe Lookout Guest Lodge.

Jamie is a native-born Zimbabwean who has been living in NZ for 15 years and returned in August, 2018, with his Kiwi wife to a hopeful Zimbabwe. Their aim was to design and build a world-class lodge that presented authentic African décor with all the First World comforts.

‘We wanted to set a new standard of excellence in Vic Falls. We put a huge amount of thought into every detail, from the baobab-infused craft gin behind the bar to mosaic tiled showers and even the leather handles on the bedside tables,’ explains Jamie. They worked closely with a young local Zimbabwean designer, Amanda West, of InArc Design to express intricately the flair of African décor in a contemporary context.

‘We wanted something completely different to what Vic Falls had on offer; we wanted to break from the standard colonial look, or that generic hotel room look. We were looking for something intimate, unique and fun. We were looking for the “wow” factor,’ Jamie says. InArc Design took the idea and clearly knocked it out of the park. They brought in the best Zimbabwean artisans and made use of local materials wherever possible. ‘We’re proud to have sourced so much from our region, and we are so amazed at the incredible talent of our local artisans,’ Jamie enthuses.

The lodge is a showcase of this local brilliance. From the Zimbabwean granite bench tops to the teak joinery, the hand-made mosaic tiles, the sisal mats, the Gwaai pots and the Matobo woven baskets it is certainly a colourful celebration of Zimbabwe’s raw talent.

Open now since June, 2019, Shongwe Lookout has certainly been serving up the ‘wow’ factor. ‘It gives me such a buzz when guests walk through our gate and you hear that delightful phrase, “Oh, wow!”’ Jamiecommentsproudly.Whilefirstimpressions matter, lasting impressions matter even more. As owner-operators, Jamie and Narelle take good service personally. ‘We know our guests by name and we like to make them feel part of the Shongwe family.’ It just takes a brief look at Shongwe’s five-starTripAdvisorreviewstorealisethatgood service is an absolute priority. ‘We actually did not appoint our staff on experience; we picked them on primarily on friendliness. Experience can be gained, and skills can be learned quickly, but friendliness is hard to train. As it was, having most of our staff with little or no experience meant that we could train them to the highest standards before opening,’ Jamie points out.

The ‘Oh, wow!’ moment doesn’t just happen upon entrance. There is another distinct ‘Oh, wow!’ moment when one reaches the top deck of the four-storey lookout tower. The sweeping views of the Zambezi Valley and beyond are simply breathtaking. The sunlight dances on the sleepy upper Zambezi; some days you can see thunder cloudsbuildwithlightningflickeringagainst brooding deep blue skies. To the east rises the spray from the Falls, called ‘Shongwe’ in the local language, and from this was derived the name ‘Shongwe Lookout’. The rooftop bar has a dumb waiter pulley system that brings up your drinks. You cansitattheinfinitybarorrelaxononeofthe built-in loungers. Don’t miss sundowners up the tower, and if you’re an early riser order a barista coffee and get up there for sunrise.

And that brings us to the next ‘Oh, wow!’ experience: the coffee. Jamie and Narelle brought back a love for good coffee. ‘Reading the reviews from travellers throughout the region, we noticed plenty of complaints about coffee. We were determined to put an end to this,’ says Jamie. Shongwe Lookout joined forces with a Cape Town-trained roaster—another young Zimbabwean, Danie Grobler, who had returned to bring good coffee to his homeland. ‘We were immediately impressed with Danie’s coffee roast: Mushe Coffee Company. He shared our vision to raise the standard of coffee in the region. Being good enough isn’t good enough—it needs to be exceptional.’ The brand-new San Remo espresso machine coupled with excellent beans leaves every coffee-loving guest enjoying superb coffee.

Finally, the cherry on top to the Shongwe experience is the food. Jamie and Narelle decided to invest in good chefs (also Cape Town-trained), and also youngsters who have returned home with a drive to raise the bar. ‘Food is such a big part of a holiday experience; we can’t afford to offer the stock standard—bacon and baked beans don’t cut it for breakfast anymore. Guests want Eggs Benedict and smoked trout omelettes,’ Jamie maintains. The chefs have free rein to cook whatever they like for lunch and dinner each day. The menu, small but enticing, is set on the blackboard every morning. ‘One of our core values is innovation. We want our chefs to experiment; to play around with local ingredients. Theyarecreativepeopleandwedon’twanttostifle that!’ The feedback on the kitchen has been nothing less than extraordinary.

Shongwe Lookout is a ‘must’ for visitors to the Falls. Set in the quiet suburbs amidst the most stunning tropical gardens, it is a diamond and a welcome addition to the town’s hospitality offerings.