Sarah

Traditional Cook

Shongwe Lookout is an award winning lodge offering 23 beautifully furnished rooms set in the suburbs of Zimbabwe’s most famous wildlife town, Victoria Falls. Listed as No.1 on Booking.com, the rooms surround our unique Lookout Tower, which offers stunning views of the Zambezi River, and the mist rising above the world-famous Victoria Falls, for which our lodge takes its Shona name.

Day 1: Shongwe Lookout/ Victoria Falls 

Dusty Road is a traditional Zimbabwean restaurant situated in the bustling heart of Chinotimba, the largest and oldest township in Victoria Falls just 2 km from the centre of the city. Step inside a welcoming and thriving home and experience the vibrancy of the community, as local vendors sell their wares, while enticing smells waft across from the charcoal fires and your eyes are treated to bright, inventive regional creations recycled with a heavy dose of African humour and ingenuity.

Day 2: Shongwe Lookout/ Victoria Falls

Revel in a feast of fun at The Boma, Dinner and Drum Show where a four-course meal featuring local dishes, and non-stop entertainment culminating in an interactive drumming show combine to make this a “must do” Victoria Falls experience.

 Day 3: Shongwe Lookout/ Victoria Falls

Enjoy an early morning coffee as you watch the sunrise from the treetops before your departure for Victoria Falls Airport

 Day 4: Shongwe Lookout/ Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls Township Tastes

528 Victoria Falls is a unique boutique guest house based in a quiet, leafy suburb, close to all restaurants &#038; activities in Victoria Falls town (a mere 5-minute taxi ride at $4/ride). The guest house has just 7 en-suite rooms, including 2 triple rooms for families or friends, while the rest are en-suite doubles (king or twin depending on your needs). All the unique rooms have air-conditioning, tea and coffee facilities, hair dryers, safes and luxurious bathrooms. The small size of the guest house allows personalised service from owner-operators, Paul and Meredith and their close-knit team. With delicious cold spread and cooked to order breakfasts included.

Day 1: 528 Guest House/ Victoria Falls 

Day 2: 528 Guest House/ Victoria Falls

 Day 3: 528 Guest House/ Victoria Falls

Enjoy an early morning coffee as you watch the sunrise for the rooftop bar ‘Treetops’ with spectacular views of the Zambezi River and Zambia before your departure for Victoria Falls Airport.

 Day 4: 528 Guest House/ Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls Cuisine Tour

Tucked into the hustle and bustle of Victoria Falls’ oldest township, just next door to a tuck shop that also conveniently sells airtime, lies one of the best kept restaurant secrets of Vic Falls, The Dusty Road Township Experience.

Owner operated and run by the formidable Sarah Lilford and her trusty team, this colourful little spot on 1195 MaDonkini Road, Chinotimba, is sure to tickle not only your tastebuds, but delight all your other senses as well.

Guests are met upon arrival with a refreshing taster of the restaurants home made, and well known Dusty Road Iced Tea (we are still begging Sarah for the recipe), or for the brave, a sip of the local Zimbabwean brew, chibuku.

What sets Dusty Road apart is the seamless integration of local indigenous fruits, grains, berries and beans into a more contemporary, modern presentation. One of the firm favourites being deep fried sadza balls. An ingenious twist on a Zimbabwean staple which is relied upon for sustenance and survival throughout most of the country.

Supporting local and giving back to the community are considered a rather big deal in Chinos. And Dusty Road is no exception, with a select few of the local children making regular appearances where they sing, dance and delight diners with their antics. Sarah is closely involved in this project and the proceeds are used to pay for school fees and other necessities to better their futures. One can’t deny though that they do love to be in the spotlight.

Rather than kicking back, putting her feet up and relaxing during the global pandemic. Mama Sarah decided it was the perfect opportunity to put her dream of a second cook book into play and set about making that dream a reality. Dusty Road: Township Tastes can be purchased at the General Dealer, next to the Ma-Bawa at the restaurant itself, throughout various locations in Zimbabwe (head over to the dusty road.africa website to find out more) or online as an e-book.

Ravenous adrenaline seekers, tired and weary travellers and families looking for a place to let their kids loose should all make a visit to 1195 MaDonkini Road, Chinotimba where the delicious smells of smoke blended beautifully with whatever is bubbling away atop the wood fire are to sure to welcome you as warmly as the Dusty Road team is sure to upon your arrival.

Sarah Lilford

Sarah Lilford

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Victoria Falls Township Tastes

Victoria Falls Cuisine Tour