“Is it true,” a voice whispered, “that the suburb is named for actual waterfalls?”
We stand at the edge of Waterfalls, a sprawling residential suburb in southern Harare. This area, with its intriguing name, holds a secret hidden in plain sight. It’s not a secret waterfall cascading from great heights. Instead, it’s a subtle beauty, a series of rapids along the Mukuvisi River.
Waterfalls isn’t just defined by these rapids. It’s a tapestry of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character and charm. There’s Ardbennie, Cheviot, Derbyshire – names that whisper of distant lands. Grobbie Park, Houghton Park, Induna Park – each one a green haven within the urban sprawl. And then there’s Malvern, named after none other than Sir Godfrey Huggins himself, the man who would become Lord Malvern.
But the Mukuvisi River, with its gentle cascades, remains the unifying thread. It’s a reminder that even in the heart of a bustling city, nature finds a way to leave its mark.