Ann Bruce Backpackers

Top choice in Zimbabwe


Homely and welcoming, this long-established guesthouse has been catering to budget travellers for years. It's run by the friendly owner Ann Bruce, along with Emma and her extended family, which gives the place a wonderful homestay atmosphere. There's a cosy TV lounge, kitchen for self-caterers, garden gazebo and a mix of dorms and private rooms, but only some have bathrooms.

Note wi-fi is chargeable (per day US$2), as is the cooker (US$2), and a full English breakfast costs US$5. Ann and Emma are a great source of info on the Eastern Highlands.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Zimbabwe attractions

1. Mutare Museum

0.5 MILES

Definitely worth popping your head in to see what exhibit is showing at the time. The museum also has a permanent collection of vintage cars, artefacts…

2. Cecil Kop Wildlife & Nature Reserve

1.77 MILES

Only 2km from Mutare, this low-key nature reserve is definitely worth a visit if you're hanging around town. Set over 1500 hectares, it's home to…

3. Chinamapere Rock Paintings

9.17 MILES

Depicting animal and human figures, these rock paintings are thousands of years old (exact dates vary) and are thought to have been left by the San people…

4. Vumba Botanical Gardens & Reserve

12.48 MILES

Established in the 1940s, these botanical gardens comprise 64 hectares of indigenous and introduced plants. The lush grounds are a pleasant place to walk…

5. Geology Museum

13.33 MILES

This collection of rocks highlighting the local geology is probably less interesting than the handsome colonial building in which it's housed – it dates…