Story by Tichaona Kurewa
MBANO Manor Hotel, in Victoria Falls, has been included in Time Magazine’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Greatest Places to visit in 2025.
The women-led five-star luxury hotel, which opened in 2020, secured a spot among the 100 featured global destinations.
“For us to come second in the list of 100 for 2025 great places to visit is absolutely amazing. It is a credit to my team, a credit to the effort that we have put to market and sell not just Mbano but destination Victoria Falls,” Mbano Manor Hotel founder, Ms Matifadza Nyazema said.
“We really hope that this feature in time is going to encourage even more tourists to come to the destination and I think it is definitely a huge recommendation and a huge endorsement not just on Mbano Manor Hotel but Victoria Falls as a destination,” the Marketing Executive for Mbano Manor Hotel, Ms Emma Nherera said.
The Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ), is predicting a surge in international visitors on the back of this groundbreaking recognition.
“This is definitely going to highlight Zimbabwe as a prime destination within the southern African region. It is going to boost our image and showcase that we do have quality establishments which also compete on the world market and we want to say congratulations to the Mbano team for such a sterling job which has been recognised on the international scene,” HAZ first vice president, Ms Emmah Katihvu said.
“I am sure it does allay fears that Zimbabwe may be a high-risk area in terms of safety but when they see that we are being featured I am sure many people who might not have been aware of destination Zimbabwe are going to be intrigued, they are going to want to come and find out and visit not only Mbano Manor but the rest of Zimbabwe which also has world-class establishments to offer the international visitor.”
This is not the first time a Zimbabwean hotel or place has been featured on the list, following Hwange National Park’s inclusion in 2022.
Time Magazine is a globally influential American publication with a readership of 120 million.
