Chipinge

Chipinge sits in the southern Eastern Highlands at around eleven hundred metres, in country wet and high enough for coffee and tea, and the estates around it produce most of Zimbabwe's coffee. The industry has contracted sharply since its peak but some estates continue and a few have rebuilt reputations for quality arabica. The town itself is a small service centre, and Chirinda Forest lies a short way south.

What you actually see

• The coffee estates - the plantations that produce most of the country's arabica.
• The tea planting - the estates on the wetter slopes around the town.
• The highland setting - country high and wet enough for both crops.
• The Chirinda approach - the forest reserve a short way south.

When to go

April to October is the dry season and best for the roads. Coffee harvest runs around the middle of the year. Estate visits need arranging.

Honest expectations

The coffee industry has contracted a great deal and many estates are no longer working. Visits must be arranged in advance. The town has limited facilities for visitors.

Nearby

Chirinda Forest is south, and Chimanimani is northeast.