| Honde Valley | |
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Honde Valley
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| Elevation | 780 m (2,559 ft) at Hauna |
| Location | |
| Location | Zimbabwe |
The Honde Valley extends from the eastern border of Zimbabwe into Mozambique. The valley is formed as part of the Eastern Highlands mountain range. The Valley is about 130km from Mutare, or 110km from Nyanga. Mount Inyangani and the Nyanga National Park forms the western boundary of the valley.
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Approaching from Mutare, the turn-off is about 50km along the road towards Nyanga. The road into the valley is tarred and twists and turns steeply as it drops 800 meters in about 20km down the Mount Inyangani. Off the tarred road, there are good dust roads which service most parts of the Valley.
The climate of Honde Valley falls within the Savannah sub -Tropics. From late October to around the end of April, the weather is hot and humid. Temperatures may rise up to 28 ˚C and this is the period where most of the rainfall is received. From May to the beginning of July, the temperatures are very low and they may hover around minimums of 2 ˚C while August is very windy. From September to October, it is very hot and the maximum temperatures may average 30 ˚C.
Most of the rainfall experienced is of the convectional type. At time orographic rainfalls at various times of the year, in addition to the normal convectional rainfall. This portion of the country, therefore, receives the highest rainfall in the country.
The average altitude of Honde Valley is around 900m above sea-level as compared to its immediate surroundings which rise above 1800m. This abrupt drop in topography creates the spectacular Mtarazi and adjacent Muchururu Falls, local tourist attractions.
The 500 square kilometres of the Honde Valley in Zimbabwe are extensively cultivated, often with gravity fed irrigation channels. Extensive use is made of the many smaller tributaries feeding into the Pungwe River in this portion of the Honde Valley. [1]
Honde Valley is one of the premier birding destinations in Zimbabwe, offers a wide range of species difficult to find in most other parts of the region, other than in neighbouring Mozambique. This fertile valley lies 850m above sea level and is one of the major tea producing areas of Zimbabwe.[2]
Specials: Anchieta's Tchagra, Moustached Grass-Warbler, Red-winged Warbler, Black-winged Bishop, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Lesser Seedcracker, Singing Cisticola, Twinspot Indigobird which parasitizes the Red-throated Twinspot, Scarce Swift, Pallid Honeyguide, Green-backed Woodpecker, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-eared Barbet, Pale Batis, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Variable Sunbird, Bronzy Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Grey Waxbill, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Black-fronted Bush-Shrike.
Habitats: Lowland and riverine forest, marsh, miombo woodland, tea estate, maize lands.
Birding: There are four main birding areas in the valley, the area around Aberfoyle Club; Gleneagles Nature Reserve above the Club, eastern Highland Tea Estate; and Katiyo Tea Estate some 25km from Aberfoyle.
Water Supply for the Honde Valley comprises small piped systems and motorised pumps serving small towns, growth points, commercial plantations, service centres and some villages, as well as direct abstractions from the rivers by riparian village communities not connected to developed installations.
There are a total of about seven small to medium sized metered piped water systems at Hauna, Sachisuko, Honde Army, Zindi, Samanga, Mpotedzi and Sahumani. In addition there are other smaller un-metered water supply schemes that serve a number of villages and schools. The known smaller un-metered water supply schemes are Honde “Povo” Pipe Scheme, Chingaira Piped Scheme, St Columbus Secondary School, Sagambe Primary and Secondary School, Marige Water Project, Mahobo Piped Scheme and Mupenga Gravity Water Scheme.
Since the area is low-lying and hot it is an abundant tea and coffee growing area. The well known Katiyo, Aberfoyle, Rumbizi and Chiwira Tea Estates are among those situated in the valley. However, it is also home to many small scale and susbsistence farmers.[3] There are several non-motorized irrigation schemes in Honde valley.[4]
One of the main townships inside the valley is Hauna. Hauna Growth Point now has a community Hospital.
Honde Valley has a number of schools and tertiary institutions.
St Peters Primary School
Sahumani Primary School
Samaringa Primary School
Nyamhingura Secondary
Honde Valley has several villages that include Chavhanga,Sagambe,Rupinda,Rori, Chigweshe, Samushonga, Makwasa, Muparutsa, Zindi, Ngarura, Fenga, Muterere, Bvute, Gatsi, Zindi Village, Samanga, Bvuma, Honde village, Katiyo Tea Estates, Eastern Highland Tea Estates, chitombo, Samanga, Aberfoyle, Matondora, Chisuko, Sahumani, Green and Makunike