Vumba Mountains
| Bvumba Mountains | |
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Slopes of Mount Vumba in Mozambique
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,911 m (6,270 ft) at Castle Beacon |
| Coordinates | 19°06′00″S 32°47′00″E / 19.10000°S 32.78333°ECoordinates: 19°06′00″S 32°47′00″E / 19.10000°S 32.78333°E |
| Geography | |
 Bvumba Mountains
Location of the Bvumba Mountains
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| Location | Zimbabwe - Mozambique |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
The Bvumba Mountains or Vumba Mountains straddle the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border, and are situated some 25 km south east of Mutare. The Bvumba rise to Castle Beacon at 1,911 metres, and are, together with the Chimanimani and Nyanga part of the Eastern Highlands of the Manicaland and adjacent Manica provinces. They are referred to as the "Mountains of the Mist" (Bvumba being the Shona word for "mist"), as so often the early morning starts with a mist which clears by mid-morning. Although lying mostly within Zimbabwe, the mountains extend north-eastward to Mount Vumba (or Monte Vumba) in Mozambique. They are capped by cool, green hills which shelter country hotels, a casino and golf course at the Leopard Rock Hotel and a Botanical Garden with one of the best views in Africa. The mountains are also known for their coffee plantations.
On the Zimbabwean side, the Mountains are accessible by a tarred road (with many potholes) from Mutare. The Mozambican side of the mountains can be reached from a road to the Vumba Water Bottling Plant, which leaves the main EN6 highway just west of Manica.
The climb to the prominence, Castle Beacon, is up a large granite dome. The lower slopes form a mist belt with sub-montane vegetation. Proteas are found on the higher levels. Vumba Mountain, on the Mozambique side, is a steep hike to a summit with a good view of Manica and environs.
The Bvumba Mountains are composed mainly of granite which forms the eastern margin of the Zimbabwe craton. The Vumba granite has been dated at over 2,600 Ma. The granites are intruded in places by Umkondo dolerite sills which are dated to about 1,110 Ma.
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