| Lodge at the Ancient City Situated upon a wooded granite outcrop close to Great Zimbabwe is Touch the Wild's Lodge at the Ancient City. Looking out across a valley of Msasa trees and on to the Great Enclosure at the ancient city itself, the Lodge offers the perfect setting from which to explore one of Africa's most priceless archaeological treasures. Enormous care was taken with the design and construction of the Lodge to ensure that it is in harmony not only with its immediate surroundings but that it also captures and reflects the essence of Great Zimbabwe itself. Stone walls arch gracefully over colossal granite boulders, rock monoliths emerge from the retaining walls and everywhere are emblems and motifs of ancient Zimbabwean origin. Due to the granite nature of the site, the Lodge facilities are on several different levels. An open air dining area offers spectacular views across the treetops with an adjacent rock enclosed swimming pool set beneath a tumbling waterfall. The lounge/bar/dining rooms are contained beneath a single massive thatched roof, a notable feature of this complex being the huge rounded boulders that form an integral part of its overall architecture. Accommodation at the Lodge takes the form of twenty thatched cottages scattered throughout the well-wooded grounds. Each of the cottages has been hand ochred in traditional style while the interiors feature raised stone platforms. All the rooms contain two double beds, overhead fans, insect gauzed windows and full en-suite facilities. Original artifacts from all over the continent have been gathered to adorn the walls of the Lodge in a celebration of African artistry and innovation. Fully trained historical guides are on hand at the Lodge to take guests on detailed walks through Great Zimbabwe. Through their narratives, the guides recreate for their guests the life of the Ancient City, its origins, history and traditions. They discuss the city's architecture, its trading activities with the Middle East and Asia, its religious practices and the theories concerning its ultimate decline. |