The Green Gold Rush: How Rural Tourism is Becoming Zimbabwe's Next SuperBrand
Harare • Sustainable Tourism • 2026
The Soil as Capital. In the evolving landscape of Southern African economics, a new frontier is emerging far beyond the city lights. Rural tourism in Zimbabwe is rapidly transitioning from a niche interest into a formidable SuperBrand. Visionaries like Terrence Maphosa of KwaTerry are spearheading this shift, demonstrating that "untapped" rural land is not a liability, but a high-yield asset waiting for the right entrepreneurial touch.
| Agro-Education: School tours at KwaTerry are reshaping how the next generation perceives rural wealth. |
The era of rethinking rural development is no longer a suggestion—it is a necessity. By integrating Agro-Tourism with educational heritage, local landowners can unlock massive tourism potential with minimal initial infrastructure. This model focuses on the experience of authenticity, a commodity that is increasingly rare and highly valuable in the global travel market.
Opportunity Alert
Untapped rural land represents Zimbabwe's largest blue-ocean market, offering maximum tourism ROI through cultural preservation and low-impact infrastructure.
Beyond Victoria Falls
In the push to revitalise Zimbabwe’s economy, rural tourism stands out as a largely overlooked but highly promising sector. With vast landscapes and rich cultural heritage, rural parts of the country offer immense potential.
Travellers globally are seeking nature-based, wellness-oriented, and culturally immersive experiences—all of which our rural communities can provide with minimal initial investment.
Despite this, Zimbabwe’s tourism focus remains concentrated in a few high-traffic areas. This leaves countless tracts of land—a farm next to a dam perfect for a fishing retreat, a mountain village with forest trails ideal for hiking—underutilised.
Sustainable Growth
To succeed, rural tourism needs a coordinated strategy that moves beyond isolated efforts. The industry must accommodate a wide range of preferences, from adventure trips to rural homestays.
"The challenge now is less about resources and more about organisation and support."
This requires stronger partnerships between communities, entrepreneurs, and government agencies. Furthermore, as highlighted by Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya, we must address barriers like visa restrictions to unlock intra-African travel.
The KwaTerry Model
Entrepreneurs like Terrence Maphosa, founder of KwaTerry, are already setting the pace. By transforming rural land into a vibrant tourism venture, he has proven what is possible when vision meets action.
KwaTerry is a powerful example of how local investment creates immense value, not just for tourists, but for local economies.
The solution is not to wait for large investors. If you have land with scenic value, small-scale developments like a campsite or guided trail can generate income and build momentum.
Our Perspective
At Polaris SuperBrands, we see the rise of rural tourism as a powerful lesson in brand building. Entrepreneurs like Terrence Maphosa are creating authentic "experience brands" from the ground up.
This is the essence of what makes a SuperBrand: identifying an unmet need and delivering a genuine experience. By empowering local communities, these entrepreneurs are building a resilient "Brand Zimbabwe."
Polaris Systems: Our approach works so well because we provide a single point of contact for every customer, creating multiple efficiencies. We aim to ensure a seamless experience, resulting in partnerships that deliver improved value and minimal downtime. This is how we achieve true customer satisfaction.
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