My excitement about revisiting Matopos, a place I hadn't seen since my teenage years, quickly turned to apprehension as we entered the park. As we made our way to Matobo Hills Lodge, the condition of the roads made the drive terrifying. I was surprised to learn from the organizers that the lodge hadn't provided any warning about the road conditions. Adding to the adventure, we gave a ride to an elderly woman at the gate. While she was helpful with directions initially, she eventually directed us to turn left instead of right, resulting in a detour to her gate. We all suspected she knew the road was closed in that direction and simply wanted a ride. While we laughed about it later, this could have been avoided if the lodge had sent a guide to escort us. With a bus full of people and limited network access, providing an escort from the main gate seems essential. Upon arrival, I was disappointed that there wasn't even a simple welcome drink, especially after such a challenging journey. A refreshing beverage would have been a nice touch. The lodge itself is beautiful, with a peaceful atmosphere that was truly calming. The accommodations were also lovely. My only suggestion is that rooms be aired out before guests arrive. I suspect the recent rains may have made the thatched roofs take longer to dry, resulting in a musty smell in the rooms. This seemed to affect my voice initially, but airing the room out did help. The Wi-Fi connection was good in the main areas, but we later discovered it wasn't available in the rooms. While I was initially frustrated, I eventually appreciated the opportunity to disconnect for a few hours each day. I did have trouble purchasing drinks because the card machine wasn't working. Perhaps a more reliable Wi-Fi service, like Starlink, would be beneficial, especially since many international travelers rely on card payments. The staff, however, was fantastic. They were attentive, polite, and readily met all our requests. Overall, I had a wonderful time at Matopo Lodge and hope to return in the future.
