Words by Yvonne C Mtengwa

You would have to make your way to Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands region to experience it. It is the kind of stillness that settles over the Honde Valley at dawn, where the mist clings to the mountain folds like a secret and the horizon feels close enough to touch. Perched on the precipice of the Nyanga escarpment, Skydeck Mountain Retreat isn’t just a destination to behold; it is an invitation to immerse yourself in nature’s wonder from on high.

To step onto the deck is to feel the sheer architectural audacity of a dream suspended in mid-air. Upon arrival you will quickly realise that while the vistas are the initial draw, the heartbeat of this place isn’t found in the scenery alone. It is found in the soil, the grit, and the multi-generational optimism of the Cragg family.

A Blueprint Built on Belonging

In what some may describe as an era of “pop-up” luxury and detached investment, Skydeck Mountain Retreat stands as a defiant outlier. This is a masterclass in the “slow-build”—a project rooted in three decades of stewardship. For many Zimbabweans, the names Bernie and Julie Cragg are synonymous with the formative adventures of childhood through Far and Wide Zimbabwe. Since the early 90s, they have treated the Eastern Highlands not just as a business sector, but as a wilderness classroom for thousands upon thousands of school children, coming in onboard buses from all corners of the nation, and possibly beyond.

Skydeck Mountain Retreat is the sophisticated evolution of that 30-year journey. It represents a uniquely Zimbabwean brand of entrepreneurial courage; the kind that looks at a jagged cliffside and sees a five-star sanctuary. This is the same visionary spirit that gave life to the Mutarazi SkyWalk and SkyLine, attractions that even the local tourism board put forward under the category of “must experience while in Zimbabwe”.  It wasn’t just about building the world’s highest zipline; it was about a family’s refusal to let their region be overlooked. They chose to build on the edge so the rest of the world would finally look up.

The Texture of a Family Legacy What distinguishes the hospitality at Skydeck Mountain Retreat is its “hold.” While many modern ventures are built to be sold, the entire Far and Wide Zimbabwe experience, coupled with the high end Skydeck Mountain Retreat accommodations, very much feels like it was built to be held, to be nurtured and passed down like a cherished heirloom. Spending time with Bernie and his sons one afternoon, I came to realize that the retreat is an extension of their home, and an expression of Bernie and his wife Julie’s passion to share their love and homegrown knowledge of the region, with countless others.

This generational perspective changes the very texture of the guest experience. There is a palpable patience in the service and a long-term devotion to sustainability that surpasses quick returns. It serves as a profound lesson for the modern African entrepreneur: true legacy isn’t measured in accumulated assets, but in the depth of the roots you plant. The Craggs haven’t just built a camp or luxury lodge; they’ve built a platform for their grandchildren, and those of others, to stand on and reach even higher.

Harmony in the Honde Valley

Beyond the luxury of the private suites lining the edge of a cliff, Skydeck Mountain Retreat operates with a deep, symbiotic pulse. The Craggs have ensured that as the retreat rises, the community rises with it. From the bricks of Chikaka Primary School to their community driven bee-keeping initiatives, the boundaries between the retreat and their Honde Valley neighbours are beautifully blurred.

Here, conservation isn’t a marketing buzzword, it is a survival strategy. By creating mid to high-end adventure and hospitality infrastructure, they have provided a tangible economic reason to protect the Nyanga wilderness. It is a blueprint for the future of Zimbabwe’s hospitality and tourism future, and a striking example of how nature flourishes best when the people living alongside it are the first to prosper.

A Heart in the Highlands

Our trip was anchored on the mandate to tell the story of a family’s legacy in curating experiences that have shaped lives for generations. As our production crew packed away the cameras and prepared for the winding drive back to Harare, the air felt different. We weren’t just leaving a film set; we were leaving a testament to what is possible when world-class standards meet local heart.

Skydeck Mountain Retreat is a reminder to the next generation of builders and dreamers: Be brave enough to build where others fear to tread. Be patient enough to craft a legacy that outlives you. And, most importantly, be wise enough to ensure that your ascent brings those you interact and grow with, along for the ride to your success.