Small Bridge Dam Review, Penhalonga, Mutare Eastern Highlands (all you need to know about visiting it)

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1. Introduction
2. About Small Bridge Dam
3. Booking, Contact details & Fees
4. Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use
5. Accommodation & meals
6. Activities
7. Conclusion

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Introduction

Driving down the hill and starting to see a glimpse of the peaceful still large water-body, seemingly, in the middle of nowhere was all I needed at this point. Especially, after driving through the illegal mining zones which have spread like veld fire all over the route. A route which was once surrounded by pristine bush, with lush healthy miombo vegetation, always soothing to the eye during the drive, but it is all just history now. At least with Small Bridge Dam, a piece of heaven that this area once was can still be experienced. However, with concerning levels of mercury & cyanide (lethal chemicals used in mining) now being detected in this dam, and its downstream neighbour Lake Alexander (Odzani), it is worrisome to think that soaking your body in it, (something we have always done because of the absence of crocodiles in this dam), may not continue being an option for long. Local extinction of several gorgeous luminescent fish that this dam is popular for is again sadly underway due to them being exposed to these deadly chemicals. Therefore, If you have never visited this remarkable natural haven, the next time you drive down to Mutare, this may be your only chance to see & experience it before it all just becomes a tale… BUT IS THIS THE FATE WE WANT FOR OUR NATURE & WILDLIFE GIVEN IT IS DUE TO OUR ACTIONS WHICH CAN & SHOULD BE CONTROLLED?? food for thought…

Anyway, please do allow me to give you a tour of one of my absolute favourite hangout places when I am in Mutare… and that is none other than the marvellous Small Bridge Dam :).

About Small Bridge Dam

Small Bridge Dam is upstream from Lake Alexander, along Odzani River and just approximately 40kms from Mutare. The dam was built in the 1980s after the establishment of Lake Alexander. This dam is accessible to anyone without any fees required. There is however, a section of it that is run as a community project by the Eastern Angling Society Small Bridge club which is membership based. This section of the dam is called Small Bridge Club and is open to non members as well. It is well kept with several amenities that ensure comfort and security during your visit. That together with the availability of many other enjoyable activities on offer attracts an entry fee (all to be discussed further below). 

Booking, Contact details & fees

Small Bridge Dam opens at 7:00am and closes at 4:30pm. No bookings are required for day visits, however, sometimes they host large events, therefore, it is better to always enquire before visiting to avoid getting caught up in other people’s activities. Small Bridge Dam Club can be contacted via the following email address easternangling@gmail.com. 

We arrived at around 11am and we were met by two welcoming gentlemen by the gate whom we then paid our entry fees to. To my surprise, the fee had gone up to $10 per adult from $5 (children under 12 years of age pay $2). I found that to be a bit on the steep side but then again it is difficult to put a cap on how much taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing should be, given that these two are the biggest assets one has in this life and the most crucial ones to invest in. So being that at Small Bridge Dam, you are guaranteed to absorb those much needed negative ions that will cause the release of the serotonin hormone, we definitely got our money’s worth. I know if you are an avid reader of my articles, you already know about this phenomenon. If this is your first time stumbling upon my articles however, you may not know it. This is certainly not going to be the last time you hear about it though because every now and again I do love to brag about this phenomenal prodigy that nature provides our bodies with each time we have intimacy with it. 

So once the serotonin hormone has been released, it starts reducing stress levels in our bodies and minds significantly, also improving brain function. In brief, any good feeling you get is basically from this hormone, so it literally is one of the four “feel good hormones” we have in our systems (the other three being dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins). If you have ever heard successful songwriters, business owners & other artists talking about how they feel most creative when they are in nature, it is exactly because of the negative ions absorbed and the serotonin hormone which is then subsequently released.  

Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use

Small Bridge Dam is located approximately 41.4km from Mutare. Starting from the Aerodrome road & Robert Mugabe road (A3) intersection roundabout in Mutare, you drive 7.5km in the direction to Harare on A3 & reach the Penhalonga turn off. If coming from Harare, this turn off is just before Christmas Pass Hotel, on your left, near a fuel station. Coming from Mutare, take that right turn and drive past the Imbeza Estates turn off at 13.3km and also past the Penhalonga village later on during the drive. At 32.2km, you will see the Sheba Estate & Sawmill sign and turn off to the right. At approximately 41.4km, you will see Smallbridge dam and the entry to the club premises will be on your left, just a few metres before the bridge.

The road is all tar, in relatively good condition and suitable for any type of vehicle. If you wish to hire a vehicle from Harare at affordable rates you can contact Presley Car Rental on +263772546880. The first part of the trip is emotionally draining with illegal mining happening everywhere. The serene vegetation that once upon a time beautified that road has been heavily deforested due to mining. The second part comprises mainly gum & pine plantations. At least the soil is protected from erosion with these trees; however, every time I drive on this road I can’t help but daydream of what the native vegetation would have looked like, the plant species it comprised & the different animal species that inhabited the hill because that unfortunately, was all gone by the time I was born.

Accommodation & meals

Small Bridge Club does not have accommodation options other than camping. Most people therefore opt for the day visit package especially because of how close it is to Mutare and even closer to La Rochelle Centre (another gem worth checking out – details are on this link). However, if you wish to stay overnight at Small Bridge Dam Club, the camping option is viable and it comes with shared toilets and showers in a clean ablution block (at the time of writing this article). There are also several cosy, open thatched structures with power outlets/ sockets, each situated next to where a tent can be pitched. These structures are actually new developments so it seems the entry and membership fees are being put to great use by the team running this project which is commendable. In front of each thatched structure there is also a good sized braai stand. From my understanding, there is no restaurant within the premises so you will have to bring all your food and ingredients from town. The camping fee is currently $10 per person per night with your own camping kit but of course this is subject to change. The dam is situated high up in the mountains and so if you are camping warm clothing and bedding are a must no matter what time of the year your visit is. 

Activities

One of my favourite activities at a place like Small Bridge Dam is honestly just sitting for hours, facing the water body, enjoying the sounds from the water, birds and leaves being moved by wind while enjoying that African Sun on my skin. Considering how fast paced adult life is, there is nothing I love more when I travel than simply having some peace and quiet!

If you enjoy your vacations best by engaging in activities or if you travel with children some of the  activities on offer at Small Bridge Club include: 

1. Boating or canoeing with own boat

2. Swimming in the dam

3. Zipline jumping into the dam

4. Fishing

5. Braaing

6. Playground for children

7. Camping

While some of these activities are free, others are charged separately so please do contact this email address  easternangling@gmail.com for up to date rates.

Conclusion

Small Bridge Dam brings back so many great memories for me and I definitely look forward to creating more. I wouldn’t want to be the only one making such unforgettable memories though so of course I do recommend that whenever you plan a trip to the Eastern Highlands or Mozambique, please pass through and visit this incredible gem. They also play host to many public functions from athletic events to off-road in the neighbouring forests to weddings. I do hope you visit and when you do please share your experience with me here, on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram or WhatsApp. I would really love to know how it went 🙂

Remember to always have a little intimacy in your life, & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature.