If you have been following our blogs, you might remember the blog about our trip to Binga and Mlibizi earlier in the year. As I mentioned then, neither Woody nor I had been to the Binga area for many, many years and we were very excited to see if it was as we remembered. I got in touch with Wayne and Cheryl who, as well as owning and running a houseboat in Binga, also offer accommodation in the form of 3 lovely B&B’s. These are Fish Eagle, Hippo and the recently completed Gecko cottages.
Fish Eagle Cottage is the only self-catering cottage of the 3, which is attached to the left side of the main house and consists of an en-suite bedroom and bathroom, open plan kitchenette and lounge area with its own verandah. The bedroom has a double bed, complete with mosquito net and ceiling fan. There is a chest of drawers and separate shelving unit to unpack all your belongings. The bathroom is fitted with a shower, toilet and basin.
Gecko Cottage is a cosy cottage on the far right of the main building, very similar in layout to that of Fish Eagle Cottage, however it does not have a lounge or kitchenette, instead a charming coffee station, bar fridge and private patio with stunning views of the lake. The bedroom has a queen size bed with an en-suite bathroom and overhead fan.
Hippo Cottage is a unique double storey cottage comprising a small thatched and tented twin bedded room upstairs, reached by an outdoor spiral staircase. This room is best suited to older kids and not really for adults as it can be a bit of a squeeze, the view from here is amazing. Downstairs is the open plan en-suite bedroom and bathroom, with a sitting area and verandah. The bedroom has a double bed, chest of drawers and ceiling fan. The open-plan en-suite bathroom is fitted with a tiled shower, toilet and basin. The outside shower has a jaw dropping view directly across the lake.
We had a pleasant drive to Binga, and aside from a lot of domesticated animals (mostly goats), the road from the main Bulawayo to Victoria Falls road to Binga was good with only a few potholes. You can travel via road from either Victoria Falls (320kms/4 hours) or Bulawayo (420kms/5 hours) along the Binga road. For those wanting to fly in, there is an airstrip near Binga.
Wayne and Cheryl are a charming couple and extremely accommodating. Upon arrival we were very quickly shown to our cottage and then encouraged to go down to the shared entertainment area at the bottom of the garden. This area is close to Hippo Cottage and has a lovely swimming area with a deck overlooking the Lake. There is a nice braai and fire pit area as well. For those wanting to fish, just below the patio is a floating jetty, with Wayne and Cheryl’s houseboat moored off to the right. The deck was the perfect location to enjoy our sundowners and snacks after a long drive.
After a good night’s sleep and a lazy breakfast on our verandah, where we were joined by Wayne and Cheryl’s very friendly cat and dog (which we promptly adopted as this trip’s “holiday pets”) we took a slow drive into Binga town to see what it had to offer. Binga is very small and does not boast a lot of amenities; aside from a craft centre and small museum, there is not a lot to do or see. What you must see whilst there are the hot springs, these are easy to find, just ask any local and they will point you in the right direction. Due to the lack of shops, if you are going the self-catering route, ensure you bring all your groceries with you, but I would highly recommend choosing the catered option, as Cheryl and her chef do an amazing job. Although we were self-catering, we always ensure we sample the food on offer, and booked a dinner with Cheryl for our second evening and we were certainly not disappointed. Dinner was: a delicious fresh-water crayfish and avocado starter followed by fresh fish (caught especially for us that afternoon) and chips, with home-made bread rolls, coleslaw, broccoli and cheese. To end off we had a nice refreshing fruit salad with fresh cream and melted chocolate sauce. One of the most popular options on the menu is the “lake and steak”, a clever alternative to the normal “surf and turf.”
The cottages are all linked to the national grid and appliances like hair dryers and electric shavers may be used, as long as there isn’t a power cut. If the power does go out, there is a back-up generator able to supply the cottages. The hot water is heated by a wood burning Rhodesian Boiler. For guests travelling with valuables, there is a safe in the main house. Phone signal is limited, but available up near the main gate. There is no Wi-Fi access. For those not wanting to tow their boats all the way to Binga, there is an option to hire a boat (as well as bait), but this needs to be booked in advance to ensure the boats are available. Sunset cruises are also available at an extra cost, but are well worth it, we had a wonderful cruise, and it was the perfect way to end off our stay in this beautiful location.
Wayne and Cheryl’s cottages are most definitely a hidden gem, with great hosts, wonderful food and a very relaxing environment. I sure hope we happen to be exploring that neck of the woods in the near future so we have an excuse to go back!
My personal rating for:
* Best self-catering accommodation in Binga.
** Best “Holiday Pets.”
Contact Us
Package Deals
For package deals that include accommodation, as well as other lodges, activities and annual event participation in and around the Matopos, Kariba & Vic Falls area.
