There is a moment, just as dawn breaks over the Honde Valley, when the world below seems to disappear entirely.
From the vantage point of the Skydeck Mountain Retreat, perched precariously yet perfectly on the edge of the escarpment in Nyanga, you are not just looking at Zimbabwe; you are floating above it.
This was the backdrop for our first Eastern Highlands Feature in our recently premiered Travel Essence with Yvonne hospitality and lifestyle series, produced in proud partnership with Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services.
While our cameras were initially drawn to the dramatic vistas and the sheer architectural audacity of the lodge upon check in, the real story we found wasn't just in the scenery.
It was in the soil, the spirit, and the awe-inspiring optimism of the Cragg family who built it.
The audacity of entrepreneurship
Skydeck is more than just a luxury getaway; it is a masterclass in the intersection of entrepreneurship, family legacy, and a deep, abiding commitment to impact.
One could almost argue that this family-owned retreat hanging from one of Nyanga’s cliffs, is also one of many distinctive blueprints perhaps, for the future of tourism in Zimbabwe.
- Interview: Clean energy: Solar is Zim’s easy win
- Interview: Clean energy: Solar is Zim’s easy win
- Feature: Changing climate a threat to banana farming
- Dreamwoods seeks to be tourism, hospitality powerhouse
Keep Reading
To understand Skydeck, you have to understand its roots. This isn’t a pop-up venture funded by distant investors as one would imagine with much of Africa’s burgeoning hospitality and tourism products.
We came to delve into the details when interviewing Bernie Cragg, particularly inspiring a moment given that many who grew up in Zimbabwe, remember their earlier trips to Far and Wide Zimbabwe as a highlight of their childhood schooling days.
Today, Skydeck Mountain Retreat stands as a beacon of what pursuit and the ability to scale and impact families looks like. Far and Wide Zimbabwe is a dream cultivated over three decades by Bernie and Julie Cragg, and since the early 90s, the Craggs have been synonymous with the Eastern Highlands, turning the wilderness into a classroom for leadership and adventure.
An elevated experience at Skydeck Mountain Retreat
The leap to what we now know as Skydeck Mountain Retreat represents something bolder. It speaks to an entrepreneurial grit that is uniquely Zimbabwean.
To build a five-star, exclusive retreat on the edge of a mountain requires more than just capital; it requires a vision that sees potential where others see only obstacles.
It mirrors the same innovative spirit that led the family to construct the Mutarazi SkyWalk and SkyLine—the highest zip line in the world and operated by Far and Wide Zimbabwe.
These weren't just tourist attractions; they were brilliant bids to revive interest in a region that had, for a time, struggled to compete with other popular destinations across Zimbabwe
Filming here, we soon realized that every beam and every view had been curated with a specific intent: to show the world that Zimbabwe doesn’t just compete on the global stage of luxury tourism; it can set the standard.
Entrepreneurship meets building a family legacy
During our time on set, the concept of "legacy" kept surfacing.
In an era and nation where businesses have often been built to be sold, Skydeck felt like it was built to be held and nurture for future generations.
It is a family affair in the truest sense such that one gets the distinct feeling when learning from Bernie, Julie and their sons, that this isn't just a business for the Craggs; it is their home.
This generational approach changes the texture of the hospitality.
There is a patience to the way the business is run, a long-term view that prioritises sustainability over quick returns. For aspiring entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe, the lesson here is profound: true legacy isn't about the assets you accumulate, but the roots you put down.
It is about building something that your children, and their children, can stand on to reach higher than you ever could, and we witnessed this in full motion during our stay.
Key takeaways from our experience with the Craggs
Tourism across Africa often faces the criticism of being an island of wealth in a sea of need.
Interacting with the Craggs awarded us a front row view into their deep integration into the Honde Valley community.
Through initiatives like the construction of Chikaka Primary School and the "Humble Honie" bee-keeping project, the business has created a symbiotic relationship with its neighbours.
Conservation is woven into their ethos, with the family and wider team bearing an inherent responsibility to the land.
By adding to the beauty of the Nyanga wilderness through adventure and hospitality infrastructure development, they have created a tangible economic incentive to protect it.
This in my humble view is the future of conservation in Zimbabwe and the continent at large.
Preservation of nature should be inextricably linked to the prosperity of the people living closest to it.
As we loaded up our vehicle to head back to Harare after an incredible 3 days and nights of filming and learning, the crew and I shared reflective moments of what made this location compelling as our first pick for locations to film in Nyanga.
Simply put, Skydeck Mountain Retreat is one such example of how world-class standards meet local heart in hospitality and tourism.
And for the next generation of Zimbabwean entrepreneurs within the industry, the takeaways are clear: Be brave enough to build on the edge. Be patient enough to build for your grandchildren. And be wise enough to ensure that as you rise, you bring your community up with you.
* Yvonne C Mtengwa is the founder/editor-in-chief of the award-winning Travel Essence Magazine, a communications strategist by profession, with an avid passion for discovering Africa and the Middle East’s iconic landscapes through her travels. Connect with and follow her travel, tourism, and lifestyle experiences on: IG @Quintessentially_yvonne. Journey with her across Zimbabwe on the upcoming Travel Essence with Yvonne Show, airing on YouTube, in proud partnership with Heart and Soul TV.
