Bulawayo, also known as the City of Kings, is one of the oldest and historically most important towns in Zimbabwe and the country’s cultural hub. You can never say you have enjoyed the full range of Zimbabwe’s diversity if you have not visited the City of Kings and Queens. The beautiful architecture and wide streets will surely amaze you. Bulawayo comes from the Ndebele word ‘bulala’ and it translates to the one to be killed.
A City of Kings and Queens and cultural capital of Zimbabwe. It is the second largest city in the county. A fun fact: the city turned on its lights before London, wow! Meaning we had electricity in Bulawayo before London. It has a rich history from the railway, to manufacturing, from the music and dance to the calmness of the botanical garden. Bulawayo stood tall across the country as the cleanest city and is home to one of the best railway museums that has well preserved collections of trains, pullies and wagons. The city offers visitors several opportunities to get a better understanding of the history and culture of Zimbabweans through its UNESCO World Heritage sites and museums.
The largest museum in Sub-Saharan Africa: It is the only city with 3 museums in the country and one of them, The Natural History Museum, is the largest in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of the collections it keeps. The museum houses over 75,000 specimens and has the fourth largest collection of bird specimens in the world. It has stunning displays and valuable research collections such as the largest mounted elephant in the world. It is an impressive circular building with nine public display galleries. The ground floor has excellent displays of African Wildlife and the top floor has a big display on Zimbabwean history.
What can I do after visiting the museums and galleries?
Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage is a private game park and provides care to over 150 animals, which cannot live in the wild & requires rehabilitation. Chipangali Wildlife Animal Sanctuary offers visitors a chance to see and feed lions. It is worth visiting the wildlife orphanage and seeing how they take care of the orphaned animals.
Khami Ruins are a popular spot for learning about cultural heritage going back to the 14th Century. It is an extensive complex of stonewalled sites, located 22 kilometres West of Bulawayo. There is diverse vegetation around the ruins, such as riverine vegetation which counts for beautiful scenery. Khami Ruins National Monument is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has gone through several restorations over the years, work which we are resuscitating from 2022 in collaboration with the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe. Read more about the programme here.
You can also visit Hillside Dam Conservancy and have a picnic or braai with your friends or family. The place is magnificent and offers plenty of activities such as canoeing in the main dam and zip lining. It’s allowed to bring your own meat and refreshments from outside. You can also spot a few ducks swimming at the edge of the dam. Tshabalala Game Sanctuary is only 10km away from Bulawayo City. It is a wildlife sanctuary of thorny bushveld and hosts a variety of wildlife such as giraffes, zebras and warthogs.
WHERE TO STAY
Budget Accommodation
Bulawayo has several comfortable budget lodges and guest houses for economic travellers. Breeze Guest House is a simple lodge with an outdoor pool and great facilities. To enjoy the calming atmosphere at Breeze Guest House you only need $30 for a room with a double bed. Another option is the Choice Backpackers Guest House and with $20 you can have a standard room to yourself. Lyns Guest House is also cost friendly and you only need $40 for a room to enjoy their services.
Mid-range Accommodation
Bulawayo also has accommodation for mid-range travellers who want colourful suites. Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel is centrally located, has a bar and you only need $100 for a room. Farmhouse Inn in Matobo has 12 neatly thatched chalets built in the fringe of a majestic granite outcrop. You need $95 to discover the many natural wonders of Matobo. Matobo Hills Lodge has modest thatched bungalows in a casual lodge and offers game drives in the Matobo National Park. You will need $90 for a room and have the Matobo Hills to yourself.
Luxury Accommodation Options
If you want something more classy Bulawayo has Nesbitt Castle. Get a chance to enjoy the latest luxury and comfort for only $200 for an enchanted room. Cresta Churchill also provides quality services and a restaurant that specialises in international cuisine and charges $209 for a room. Holiday Inn Bulawayo is truly an oasis in Bulawayo with fantastic staff. You can enjoy the services for $144 for a room.
Bald heads of Matobo: Matobo means ‘bald heads ‘and comes from the Shona/Venda word “matombo” and this UNESCO World Heritage Site has great spiritual and cultural significance to the local Ndebele due to the many sites within the park, where important ceremonies take place such as rainmaking ceremonies. It is also the site for the grave of Cecil John Rhodes, buried at the hill of the benevolent spirits. Rhodes loved the hill and called it the View of the World and it is very easy to see why he loved the spot. Inside the park you get to experience a variety of animals and picturesque views – domes, spires and balancing rock formations. The wooded valleys and granite kopjes at the Matobo National Park will complete your experience.
Walking safari trekking the endangered white and black rhino inside the magnificent Matobo Hills? A paradise for hikers with its rugged terrain and manifold vegetation. The Matobo National Park is located about 40 km south of the city of Bulawayo and is home to the endangered black and white rhinos, offering you a chance to experience a walking safari with the rhinos and other wildlife! The Matobo land has it all and it is a good place for pilgrims, backpackers and Eco tourists who want to experience the natural environment.
Silozwane – Matobo Hills – Bambata Cave
Are you into Rock Art?
In order to reach this cave, you have to go through communal villages, and the lack of signage means you almost always need a guide with extensive local knowledge. The walk is medium to high impact, and the spectacular views, particularly of Tuli-Makwe Dam are bound to take your breath away. Camping in the villages is a definite possibility during the summer months; you will just need mosquito repellent. The hills in Matobo have been the religious headquarters of many Bantu tribes since the 15th century. In Silozwane Cave you will find all the traditional scenes that can be seen in rock art sites. Walking to the cave will take you to a lunar landscape and give you views that stretch for many kilometres and the art itself is amazing.
A magnificent palace: deposits of remains dating to 250 000 years ago have been found in the Bambata Cave after excavations. The cave wall is littered with wild animals’ outlines, paintings and sketches of elephant, zebra, rhino and other wildlife. The paintings are informative, illustrative and beautiful. Paintings of large humans painted in dark red ochre can be also seen in this ancient cave.
There is more to do in Matobo National Park as well as the general area, so include it on your itinerary. Those village tours where you paint Mandebele huts are interesting and unique. A visit to Mzilikazi Grave is awesome and can be juxtaposed with the Rhodes grave to see the contrasts between pre-colonial and colonial Zimbabwe.
If you are a history enthusiast and a cultural heritage buff, then Bulawayo will definitely delight you. If you never liked history or museums, Bulawayo is a good introduction with its varied museums, sites and monuments – give yourself a chance and just try it. Book a tour with Tiritose Sustainable Travel for the best cultural experiences and allow yourself to be immersed in Zimbabwean cultural history.
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