by BERNARD CHIKETO
DOWNTOWN Mutare is not an obvious setting for a classy accommodation facility. Yet City Lodge twinkles from there like a diamond in the rough.
Being a relatively small town, notorious for going to sleep early, this part of the city is surprisingly quiet and serene by dusk and during weekends as well as public holidays.
Distant sounds of honking buses and, occasionally, the train gives guests soothing reminder of their urban centre setting.
Overall, it’s a perfectly sweet spot.
The nine-roomed boutique bed and breakfast lodge, with its two executive rooms and seven standard rooms, competes with the finest facilities in the eastern border city.
Offering secure parking with each room coming with satellite television and complimentary Wi-Fi, it lacks nothing that any internationally reputed facilities offer.
This part of an old residential suburb offers the convenience of being close to everything from medical services, supermarkets and restaurants.
There is also an onsite convenience shop for guests who would have forgotten to pack basic toiletries like soap, toothpaste and tooth brushes as well as drinks.
This clean and neat budget lodge sets itself apart from its rag-tag neighbourhood right from the manicured lawn just outside the gate.
With the gate always locked, there is not even a chance guests can be disturbed by hookers or hawkers.
Over the years, the lodge has made itself the perfect place for non-governmental organisation employees who cannot take any risk with their vehicles’ security.
For guests who need extra privacy, the lodge offers three compact and beautiful rooms that stand apart from the main lodge.
Entering the main lodge, one is ushered into a common area where guests can opt to have their breakfast from if they don’t wish to have room service.
For a football crazy country, this common room is an arena where guests often choose to congregate to watch live football matches together. Others use to meet and discuss business or work. Or even play family games.
It also has the convenience of a common bathroom.
City Lodge offers a full English breakfast but offers variants depending on guests’ preferences.
This main lodge is now complemented by another nine-roomed facility right in the central business district – 3rd Street Guest House.
Even much more impressive is the personalized service that comes with staying at such boutique facilities. The staff is hospitable and eager to please.
If you’re an international traveler, this place will certainly be ideal to learn about the lives and times of the contemporary Zimbabwean community.
Do you have a story to share? Email bchiketo@gmail.com