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▶ Video · Best of Bulawayo
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Top 10AfricaZimbabwe

Top 10 Things To Do in Bulawayo

Country
Zimbabwe
Best months
May · Jun · Jul · Aug
Population
666K
Language
isiNdebele and English
Budget / day
$40–95
Quick answer

Bulawayo is the base for Matabeleland: the Matobo Hills, the Khami Ruins and the best museum collections in the country, all within an hour of the centre. Two days covers the Natural History Museum, the railway sheds and a walk through Makokoba. A third buys a full day in Matobo National Park, which is what most travellers come for.

Best of Bulawayo

▶ Video guide Open the film page (1:11:19) →

Bulawayo is Zimbabwe's second city and the capital of Matabeleland, laid out in 1894 on a grid wide enough to turn an ox wagon. The granite hills of Matobo start 35 km south, the Khami Ruins 22 km west, and the country's largest museum sits between them.

The 10 best things to do in Bulawayo

1

Track rhino in Matobo National Park

National park· Matopos Road, about 35 km south of the centre

Granite whalebacks and balancing rocks, rhino tracked on foot, and the highest concentration of black eagles in the world. Cecil Rhodes is buried at the summit of Malindidzimu, the hill the Ndebele call the place of benevolent spirits. Give it a full day rather than a morning.

TimeA full day
CostUS$15 per person and US$6 per vehicle for non-residents, World’s View charged separately
Best atEarly morning
TipWorld's View is 13 km inside the gate, then a 300 metre walk up bare granite
Map↗ ZimParks
2

Read the dry-stone terraces at Khami

UNESCO site· Khami, about 22 km west of the centre

The Torwa capital that replaced Great Zimbabwe, built from about 1450 and occupied into the seventeenth century. What survives is the terracing: decorated dry-stone walling stepped up the hillside above the Khami River, with a Portuguese cross on one platform. A small site museum sets it up.

Time2 to 3 hours
CostEntry charged at the gate
Best atLate afternoon
TipThere is no shade on the platforms, so carry water
Map↗ UNESCO listing
Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (Wimup)
3

Spend a morning at the Natural History Museum

Museum· Corner Park Road and Leopold Takawira Avenue, Centenary Park

Nine galleries under one circular roof, opened in 1964 and still the largest collection in the country: geology, a mammal hall and the second largest mounted elephant in the world. Two hours covers it. This is the one indoor thing in Bulawayo worth planning a day around.

Time2 hours
CostUS$10 for non-resident adults
Best atDaily, 9am to 5pm
TipCentenary Park is at the door, so pair it with an hour outside
Map↗ Museum site
Bulawayo Railway Museum, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (Wimup)
4

Climb into the stock at the Railway Museum

Museum· Prospect Avenue, Raylton, behind Bulawayo station

Zimbabwe's rail history parked on real track: locomotives, saloons and coaches you climb into rather than squint at through glass. Bulawayo was the junction that built the country, and the museum sits in the working railway yard. The footbridge from the station platform is the way in.

Time1 to 2 hours
CostSmall entry fee
Best atDaily, 8am to 4.30pm
TipAsk at the office before climbing on anything under restoration
Map↗ National Railways of Zimbabwe
5

Walk Makokoba with a local guide

Neighbourhood· Makokoba, north-west of the CBD

Bulawayo's first African township, laid out in the 1890s and named from the isiNdebele for walking with a stick. The market is the draw, along with the musicians who came out of these streets. Go with a guide who lives there: this is a working neighbourhood, not a set.

Time2 to 3 hours
CostFree to walk
Best atMorning
TipAsk before photographing anyone
Map
6

See contemporary work at the National Gallery

Gallery· Douslin House, corner Main Street and Leopold Takawira Avenue

Contemporary Zimbabwean painting, sculpture and photography in a building over a century old, which the gallery moved into in 1994. The courtyard cafe is the best coffee stop in the CBD and the shop sells work by the artists on the walls. Closed on Sundays.

Time1 hour
CostEntry charged at the desk
Best atMonday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm
TipThe Hideout Cafe in the courtyard does light lunches
Map↗ Gallery site
7

Meet the residents at Chipangali

Wildlife· Bulawayo to Beitbridge road, about 25 km from the centre

A rehabilitation centre rather than a zoo: lion, leopard, hyena and smaller cats that arrived orphaned or injured and mostly cannot be released. It has been family-run since 1973. Closed on Mondays, which catches people out.

Time2 hours
CostUS$6 adults, US$5 under 13
Best atTuesday to Sunday, 8am to 5pm
TipThe Lady Di centre at the entrance is free; you pay to go through to the wild animals
Map↗ Chipangali
8

Walk among giraffe at Tshabalala

Wildlife· Matopos Road, about 10 km south of the centre

Giraffe, zebra, impala and kudu on open bush twenty minutes down the Matopos road. Nothing hunts here, so walking and cycling are allowed as well as driving, which makes it the rehearsal for Matobo rather than a substitute for it.

Time2 hours
CostUS$10 for non-residents
Best atEarly morning or the last hour of light
TipThe road to the gate is tarred the whole way
Map
9

Watch the studios at Mzilikazi Art and Craft Centre

Crafts· Mzilikazi township, north of the CBD

A working pottery and sculpture school since 1963, and the reason Bulawayo ceramics turn up in galleries abroad. You watch students throw, fire and carve, then buy from the shop at studio prices. Weekdays only, and it closes over lunch.

Time1 hour
CostFree to enter
Best atWeekdays, 8.30am to 4pm
TipBring small US dollar notes for the shop
Map
10

Find the painted chapel at Cyrene Mission

Heritage· Plumtree road, about 32 km south-west of the centre

A thatched chapel painted inside and out by its own pupils from 1939 onwards, biblical scenes reset in Matabeleland. The murals survived a fire in 1962 and are still the most surprising thing within an hour of Bulawayo. It is a working school, so arrange the visit rather than turning up.

Time1 to 2 hours
CostDonation at the mission
Best atMidday
TipMost travellers pair it with Khami Ruins on the same run
Map

3 of the 10, mapped

Bulawayo · 3 spots
AllLandmarksMuseumsWildlifeFree

Bulawayo travel FAQ

Is Bulawayo worth visiting?+
Yes, for two things Harare does not have: the Matobo Hills 35 km south, and the largest museum collection in the country. Give it three days and treat the city as the base rather than the destination.
How many days do you need in Bulawayo?+
Three. One for the Natural History Museum, the railway sheds and the CBD grid, one full day in Matobo National Park, and a third for the Khami Ruins and Chipangali on the way out of town.
When is the best time to visit Bulawayo?+
May to August. The rain stops in April and the air stays dry and clear, with cold nights through June and July. October is the hottest month, and the rains run from November to March.
How do you get from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo?+
By road in five to six hours, on a daily coach, or on the overnight train, which leaves Victoria Falls on Sunday evening and arrives on Monday morning. The train runs twice a week, the coaches every day.
Is Bulawayo safe for visitors?+
It is quiet by the standards of southern African cities and the CBD grid is comfortable to walk by day. Take a taxi after dark, carry small US dollar notes rather than relying on cards, and agree fares before you get in.
Where the collections are

Best museums & galleries in Bulawayo

Four rooms worth the walk across the CBD.
Centenary Park

Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe

US$10 non-resident

Nine galleries, a mammal hall and the second largest mounted elephant anywhere.

Map
Raylton

Bulawayo Railway Museum

8am to 4.30pm

Locomotives and saloons on real track, in the yard behind the station.

Map
Main Street

National Gallery in Bulawayo

Monday to Saturday

Contemporary Zimbabwean work in Douslin House, with a cafe in the courtyard.

Map
Mzilikazi

Mzilikazi Art and Craft Centre

Free

A pottery and sculpture school since 1963. Watch the studios, buy at the door.

Map
Where to eat

Best restaurants in Bulawayo

Cattle country, and the tables locals book.
River Estate

Ginge's Kitchen

Home cooking

Family-run and cooked to order, out in River Estate on the edge of town.

Map
Kings KraalBulawayo

Kings Kraal

Steak

Tomahawk and sirloin, in a country that raises the beef it grills.

Map
Near the CBD

Zarah Lounge

Italian and grill

Italian plates and steaks, a short drive out from the CBD grid.

Map
City centre

The Bulawayo Club

Fort Street

The 1895 club's dining room, restored and open as a small hotel.

Map
Before dark and after it

Best bars & cafes in Bulawayo

Three rooms that carry the city evenings.
Robert Mugabe Way

Cape to Cairo

Live music

Live African jazz and cold beer, walking distance from the CBD.

Map
Douslin House

Hideout Cafe

Coffee

Coffee and light plates in the National Gallery courtyard.

Map
City centre

Indaba Book Cafe

Books and coffee

Books, coffee and a small stage, on Josiah Tongogara Avenue.

Map
Green space

Best parks & wildlife in Bulawayo

Where the city goes at the weekend.
Centenary Park

Centenary Park

Free

Gardens, playgrounds and a steam locomotive, right beside the museum.

Map
City centre

Central Park

Free

The other half of the same green belt, all mature trees and open lawn.

Map
Hillside

Hillside Dams Conservancy

6am to 6pm

Two dams, walking trails and over 150 bird species, ten minutes out.

Map
Matopos Road

Tshabalala Game Sanctuary

US$10

Giraffe and zebra on the Matopos road, walkable because nothing hunts there.

Map
Built to last

Best heritage buildings in Bulawayo

Three survivors from the city's first two decades.
Fort Street

The Bulawayo Club

1895

Founded in 1895 and preserved almost intact, now a small hotel.

Map
Nesbitt CastleHillside

Nesbitt Castle

1910

A 1910 folly in Hillside, stone turrets and an antique collection.

Map
Main Street

Douslin House

Gallery since 1994

A century-old CBD landmark, home to the National Gallery since 1994.

Map
Where to base yourself

Best neighbourhoods in Bulawayo

Four addresses, and what each one is for.
North-west

Makokoba

Township

The city's first African township. Market, music and guided walks.

Map
South-east

Hillside

Suburb

Leafy and low-rise, with the dams and Nesbitt Castle inside it.

Map
South

Bradfield

Suburb

Two golf courses on the boundary and the shops along Hillside Road.

Map
East

Khumalo

Suburb

Wide plots and jacarandas, a few minutes east of the CBD grid.

Map
Out of town

Best day trips in Bulawayo

Everything worth the drive, all inside 40 km.
35 km south

Matobo National Park

US$15 plus vehicle

Balancing granite, rhino on foot and Rhodes' grave, 35 km south.

Map
22 km west

Khami Ruins

UNESCO

The Torwa capital in dry stone, a UNESCO site since 1986.

Map
25 km south-east

Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage

US$6

Orphaned and injured wildlife on the Beitbridge road. Closed Mondays.

Map
32 km south-west

Cyrene Mission

Donation

A thatched chapel painted by its pupils from 1939, on the Plumtree road.

Map
South of the city

Old Bulawayo

Museum site

Lobengula's royal town of 1870, part rebuilt on its original site.

Map
What's on

Festivals & annual events in Bulawayo (2026)

Time your trip around the city's biggest dates.
18 April

Independence Day

Zimbabwe's national day. A public holiday, so museums and offices keep holiday hours.

Late April

Zimbabwe International Trade Fair

The country's flagship trade exhibition, held on the ZITF grounds. Hotel rooms go early.

25 May

Africa Day

A public holiday across the continent, marked here with concerts and community events.

Early June

Bulawayo Day and the Arts Festival

The council declared 2 June Bulawayo Day, and an arts week runs alongside it.

August

Heroes' Day and Defence Forces Day

Two consecutive public holidays in the second week. Most businesses close for both.

September

Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo

Theatre, dance, music and spoken word across CBD venues. Running since 2005.

October

Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo

Southern Africa's tourism trade show, hosted in Bulawayo and open to the public.

22 December

Unity Day

The anniversary of the 1987 Unity Accord, and a date that carries weight in Matabeleland.

Getting around

Bulawayo transport & airports

How to arrive and move around the city.
BUQ

Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport

The airport sits north of the city, twenty to thirty minutes by road. Air Zimbabwe flies the domestic connections; check what else is operating before you plan a trip around it.

Map↗ Airports Company of Zimbabwe
NRZ

The overnight train to Victoria Falls

The National Railways service leaves Bulawayo on Friday evening and reaches Victoria Falls on Saturday morning, returning Sunday night. Fares run to single figures and the carriages are basic.

Map↗ National Railways of Zimbabwe
Long distance

Intercity coaches

Extra City runs several services a day to Harare through Gweru and Kwekwe, with two carrying on to Victoria Falls. Cross-border coaches reach Johannesburg in about fifteen hours.

Map↗ Extracity
Kombis and taxis

Getting around town

Eighteen-seat kombis run the CBD to the suburbs for small change and taxis are cheap by the kilometre. The grid is walkable by day; take a car or a guide for Matobo and Khami.

Map
Traditional food

Must-try dishes in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

The classics to order before you leave.

Isitshwala

The maize meal staple, eaten by hand with relish. Sadza under its isiNdebele name.

Amacimbi

Dried mopane caterpillars fried with onion and tomato. The Matabeleland delicacy.

Grilled beef

Bulawayo sits in cattle country, and the steakhouses take that seriously.

Umfushwa

Dried leafy greens rehydrated into a relish, served alongside isitshwala.

Mazondo

Cow trotters stewed slowly until they fall apart. A weekend dish.

Kapenta

Small dried Kariba fish fried with tomato, onion and groundnut powder.

Maputi

Popped maize sold by the bag on the street. The cheapest snack in the city.

Umqombothi

Traditional sorghum beer, thick and sour, brewed and drunk fresh.

Bulawayo fact sheet

Bulawayo at a glance

The essentials worth knowing before you go.
Country
Zimbabwe
Region
Bulawayo Province, in Matabeleland, at 1,358 metres on the Zimbabwean highveld
Population
665,940 at the 2022 census, though the city council puts the figure closer to 1.2 million
Founded
Lobengula's royal town from about 1870, with the colonial settlement moved onto the present grid in 1894
Nickname
The City of Kings, and Zimbabwe's second city
Language
isiNdebele and English, with Kalanga and Shona also spoken
Currency
Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) since April 2024, with US dollars used for most tourism prices
Time zone
Central Africa Time, UTC+2, no daylight saving
Calling code
+263, with 29 as the Bulawayo area code
Airports
Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International (BUQ), north of the city
Power
230V, 50Hz, type D and G plugs
Emergency
999 for all emergencies, 993 fire, 994 ambulance, 995 police
Ideal length
3 days
Getting around
Walk the CBD grid, kombis and taxis for the suburbs, a hired car or a guide for Matobo and Khami
Tourism board
Official site

Interesting facts

  • The streets were laid out wide enough to turn a wagon pulled by a full span of sixteen oxen.
  • Khami was inscribed by UNESCO in 1986, the same year as Great Zimbabwe, the capital it replaced.
  • Matobo National Park holds the highest concentration of black eagles anywhere in the world.
  • The name means place of slaughter, after a battle Lobengula fought at the site before he was king.
  • The Natural History Museum holds the second largest mounted elephant in the world.

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