Last updated October 2024 by Beth

Bulawayo travel guide: Everything you need to know

Bulawayo is Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, and the capital of Matabeleland province. It is known as “The City of Kings” because of the powerful Ndebele chiefs who ruled in the area after breaking away from their Zulu ancestors in the south.

Crucially, Bulawayo is the place where the course of history was forever changed. The Ndebele King, Lobengula, was conned into signing the Rudd Concession: a document which gave British businessman Cecil John Rhodes rights to land in the area. This, along with the Pioneer Column’s founding of their “fort” in Salisbury, marked the start of formal colonization in the area that would become Rhodesia, and then reclaimed as Zimbabwe.

Today, Bulawayo is renowned for its wide, open streets which are organised in a grid formation. Reportedly, when the roads were being built, the criteria was simple: the streets had to be wide enough for a wagon with 24 pairs of oxen to perform a U-turn. Some Colonial buildings still line the main road, and the city seems to be in a bubble of times gone past. Large trees line the streets, traffic is minimal, and no-one seems to be in a hurry.

In the city centre and suburbs of Bulawayo there are plenty of shops and places to eat, and Bulawayo is home to arguably the best museum in Zimbabwe (Bulawayo Natural History Museum).

However, the main drawcard of Bulawayo is the Matobo National Park (called ‘Matopos’ for short), which is a UN World Heritage Site. This otherworldly expanse of granite hills and caves is a mere 30-minute drive from Bulawayo, and is one of Zimbabwe’s most visited National Parks.

Bulawayo statistics

Altitude: 1358 metres (4455 feet) | Size: 1,706 square km (659 square miles) | Population: 656 000 (Stats based on 2012 census) Pre-independence colonial name: Bulawayo | Founded: 1894 | Nicknames: Skies, City of Kings, Bullies | Dominant languages: Ndebele and English | Province: Matabeleland | Location: South-West

Best time to visit Bulawayo

The best months to visit Bulawayo are March, April, May and August. However, there are no ‘no-go’ times to visit. If you are being picky, you may want to avoid October when it can be very hot, and December/January when it can be rainy in the afternoons. If you visit in June or July remember to take warm clothes and sleepwear, because the nights can be surprisingly chilly despite the hot, dry days.

If you’re a keen cyclist, a good time to visit Bulawayo is around March each year, when the Matobo Heritage Mountain Bike Challenge is held. The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair is held annually in Bulawayo at the end of April. The Intwasa Arts Festival is held annually in September.

Weather/Average temperatures

Near the historic Khami Ruins, a 40-minute drive from Bulawayo. Photo taken in the dry season, early October.October to April: (Summer) Day 27 C / 81 F. Night: 15 C / 59 F. Occasional thunderstorms but mostly sunny and warm.

May to September: (Winter) Day 24 C / 75 F. Night: 7 C / 45 F. Very little rain, warm days, cool nights.

See the Zimbabwe weather page for a month-by-month account of Zimbabwe’s seasons and weather.

Shopping

There are a number of craft centres located as follows: Fife Street outdoor market near the City Hall | The National Gallery’s Shop on Main Street | Fazak’s Gift Shop on Main Street |  Mthwakazi Crafts at on Samuel Parirenyatwa Street | Jairos Jiri Craft Shop on Leopold Takawira Avenue | The Orange Elephant at River Estate, 12th Avenue Extension | Mzilikazi Art and Craft Centre on Taylor Avenue (off the Old Falls Road).

Conventional grocery shops can be found along Main Street, Fort Street, Ascot Shopping Centre, with the best one being Zonkiziwe Shopping Centre off the Hillside Road.

Things to do in Bulawayo

I highly recommend going to Matobo National Park, which is a 30-minute drive from Bulawayo, for a hike or picnic. If you have time, you should stay overnight in the park for at least two nights to really make the most of it. Stunning rocky mountains, chock-full of cultural history, and you could also try to spot not one but two species of endangered rhino.

Within Bulawayo, don’t miss the Zimbabwe Natural History Museum, Hillside Dams and the Railway Museum of Zimbabwe (all are on Google Maps).

For more details, read my post on Top Ten Things to Do in Bulawayo.

Getting around within the city

If you want to visit a number of sights in and around Bulawayo, especially Matobo Hills, the Khami Ruins or Old Bulawayo, you’ll need transport.

A number of taxis and car hire services wait outside the Bulawayo Airport and are safe to use as long as you use your common sense, and choose a vehicle that looks reasonably well-maintained.

Try Min Taxis in Bulawayo, too. Your hotel or tour operator will probably be happy to provide transport, so do ask about this when booking.

It is fairly easy to rent a car and drive to the sights, as long as you have downloaded Google Maps to your phone (the sights are well sign-posted) or have a good paper map.

A list of shuttles and car hire companies can be found on the Driving in Zimbabwe page.

There are many informal buses and taxis but these are best kept for seasoned travellers or locals.

Transport links between Bulawayo and other areas

Bulawayo is a central location to travel by air, coach or self-drive to other areas in Zimbabwe, particularly Harare, Hwange and Victoria Falls.

• Self-drive: A list of car hire companies and shuttle services can be found on the Driving in Zimbabwe page.
• Flights: The two airlines to look at are fastjet and Air Zimbabwe. See Internal air travel in Zimbabwe
• Buses and shuttles. The companies are City Link, Executive Coaches and Inter Africa. See Intercity coach travel in Zimbabwe

Guided tours around Bulawayo

• Paul Hubbard of Hubbard’s Historical Tours runs highly-regarded tours around the Bulawayo area. He hosts a historic Bulawayo pub crawl and an archaeological rock art tour of Matopos (Matobo National Park).
• Ian Harmer (African Wanderer Safaris) does tours of Matopos (including San paintings, Traditional Village, World’s View and rhino tracking safaris). He also hosts tours to Khami Ruins, the Bulawayo Natural History Museum, Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage, King Mzilikazi’s Grave, Hwange National Park, and bespoke locations.
• Black Rhino Safaris offer transfers and guided tours of the Matobo Hills, Great Zimbabwe, as well as trips to Victoria Falls, Harare, and other locations around Zimbabwe.

Where to stay in Bulawayo

The pool area at Travellers Guest Lodge in Bulawayo.Within Bulawayo and its suburbs: I’ve stayed at Traveller’s Guest Lodge and was very comfortable there. Recommended accommodation also includes: Banff Lodge, The Bulawayo Club, Cresta Churchill and Holiday Inn Bulawayo.

Around Matobo National Park: If possible, stay in “the Matopos” if you can include it in your itinerary. Reputable lodges include: The Farmhouse Matopos, Big Cave, Rowallan Camp (I’ve stayed here and enjoyed it), Matobo Hills Lodge and also look at the National Parks (Zimparks) accommodation in Matobo.

Practical information

Tourist-friendly areas/suburbs of Bulawayo include: Hillside, Malindela, Kumalo, Suburbs, and Burnside (south-eastern suburbs).

Wherever you are, don’t leave valuables in plain sight, and keep a good hold of handbags/briefcases at all times. Unless you’ve pre-arranged your transport or know exactly where you’re going, don’t drive at night. Don’t walk around at night for the same reason – it’s easy to get lost and become a target. As always, don’t walk around with too much cash and don’t make a show of your possessions. Stealing is highly disapproved of by Zimbabweans, but don’t tempt people by flaunting your comparative wealth!

Avoid actions that could be seen as being politically motivated, such as taking photos of police, army personnel, government buildings, etc. If a cavalcade of police cars and motorbikes approach, this probably means the president is travelling in the convoy. Pull off the road completely and wait for the vehicles to pass. See more information about safety in Zimbabwe here.

Visit the Bulawayo Publicity Association office on Robert Mugabe Way between Leopold Takawira and 8^th Avenue, to get brochures and information about Bulawayo. You can also pick up magazines advertising local events at coffee shops and bookshops, or join Facebook groups related to Bulawayo.

Health

Malaria is not present in Bulawayo, but it is present in other areas of Zimbabwe. Read the article Health information for Zimbabwe for more info.

There aren’t many wild animals in Bulawayo centre, but there may be spiders, insects and small (usually harmless) ‘creepy-crawlies’ around. The general rule is that if you stay away from them, they will stay away from you. If you have been bitten by something and are in pain, visit your nearest pharmacy or tell your accommodation manager. If you are staying in a lodge or hotel, staff will be equipped to deal with emergencies.

See the articles on Practical info and Tips on staying safe in Zimbabwe for more. There are a number of clinics and hospitals in Bulawayo, the primary one being Mater Dei Hospital.

Keep the phone number and reference number of your health insurance with you at all times.

Groceries and food

There are grocery stores at the ‘conventional’ shopping centres that I mentioned above – these are well-stocked and usually well-kept. Due to Zimbabwe’s current economic situation, some products are imported from South Africa, which is a little more expensive, but there is a wide variety. Fresh produce is abundant.

Bulawayo prides itself in its high quality of beef – it is situated in cattle country. If you’re a carnivore, don’t hesitate to order a large steak in one of Bulawayo’s restaurants.

What to read in Bulawayo

• We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo: A coming-of-age novel about a girl who moves from a township in Zimbabwe to the USA. The fictional areas of Budapest and Paradise share similarities with suburban and township Bulawayo respectively, where the writer grew up. Read my review of the novel here. Click here to buy it on Amazon.
• Short Writings from Bulawayo III: An anthology of short stories, poems and non-fiction pieces from around Bulawayo.
• The Last Leopard by Lauren St John: (For children) This third book in the award-winning children’s series about protagonists Martine and Ben is set in the Matobo Hills. It is a story of magic and mystery complete with characters such as Magnus the hornbill, a witch doctor, and mention Khan, the last leopard.
• Sunshine and Storm in Rhodesia by Frederick Courteney Selous: This hunter-colonialist was of dubious moral standards but a fascinating character and the inspiration for the fictional Allan Quartermain. His personal account sheds a fascinating light on Matabeleland’s colonial years.
  

Also see

Top ten things to do in Bulawayo

All posts about Bulawayo

Harare travel guide

Victoria Falls travel guide

What to pack for a Zimbabwe holiday

Zimbabwe travel quick reference guide 

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