4 Recommended Tourist Spots in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s Second Largest City!

Bulawayo, located in the southwest of Zimbabwe, is the country’s second largest city. It was originally a place where many members of the Ndebele ethnic minority lived, but following a massacre of residents by the British, who sought to impose colonial rule, it came to be called Bulawayo — a word meaning “place of slaughter” in the Ndebele language.

Today, Bulawayo is a central city in Zimbabwe with thriving agriculture and industry, as well as an important transportation hub where railways and roads from neighboring countries converge. Before visiting Bulawayo, it’s worth learning about its past history — for instance, the city contains the graves of white settlers such as Cecil Rhodes, a central figure in colonial rule. Knowing this background can deepen the meaning of your travels in Bulawayo.

Now, let’s take a look at some recommended tourist spots around Bulawayo.

1. Matobo National Park

Located 35 km south of Bulawayo, Matobo National Park is a scenic area formed by granite hills and valleys. Due to the presence of rock paintings left by the San people some 13,000 years ago, it has been registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. “Matobo” means “bald head” in the Ndebele language, and the landscape is dotted with rounded rocks that look exactly like that.

Since ancient times, the hills of Matobo have been regarded as a sacred place inhabited by spirits, and even today numerous religious ceremonies are held there. Despite being a World Heritage site, it is not overly crowded with tourists, allowing you to immerse yourself in the scenery at your own pace. To access Matobo from Bulawayo, you can rent a car, negotiate with a taxi driver, or join a tour organized by a travel agency. Just be sure to negotiate the price in advance and confirm whether there are any additional charges.

Incidentally, the landscape of Matobo, with massive boulders stacked upon one another, was depicted on Zimbabwean banknotes from the era of its astonishing hyperinflation. Also, the grave of the aforementioned Cecil Rhodes lies near the center of Matobo National Park.

2. Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe

Situated in a corner of Bulawayo’s Central Park, the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe is said to be the finest museum in Southern Africa. It is very spacious, with a wide variety of exhibits. The English-language descriptions are exceptionally detailed, and the facility as a whole is well-maintained, making it a high-quality museum.

Even without reading the descriptions, you can enjoy the impressive displays such as realistic animal taxidermy, dinosaur fossils, and specimens of insects and plants from around Bulawayo. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the museum frequently holds special exhibitions, making it well worth a visit.

3. Bulawayo Railway Museum

The Bulawayo Railway Museum preserves steam locomotives that once ran throughout the region when Zimbabwe was under colonial rule as Rhodesia, along with the original ticket offices and station buildings of that era. Several retro locomotives are displayed outdoors, reflecting Bulawayo’s history as a city where railways were once the most important means of transport.

Among the exhibits is a luxurious carriage once used by Cecil Rhodes, considered a symbol of colonial rule in Africa. Here, you can learn about the background behind Rhodes’ expansion of Africa’s railway network. Even if you’re not a train enthusiast, it’s a place where you can connect with Bulawayo’s history. The museum also features many rare trains you won’t often see, making it an exciting spot for children as well.

4. Khami Ruins National Monument

Located on the western outskirts of Bulawayo, the Khami Ruins are another World Heritage site and one of the city’s most representative attractions. They are the remains of the capital of the Torwa Kingdom, which arose in this area in the 15th century. Although smaller in scale than the Great Zimbabwe Ruins elsewhere in the country, they display more advanced architectural styles.

As the name “ruins” suggests, Khami consists of several separate sites. The roads within the ruins are complex, and even local taxi drivers may not know their exact layout. Therefore, it may be safer to join a local travel agency’s tour when visiting. Some tours even offer options to cook for yourself or camp within the Khami Ruins, which could be a fascinating experience—spending the night at a World Heritage site.

Summary

Bulawayo has been deeply tied to British colonial policy. As a result, it offers a variety of attractions, from natural heritage sites and places that reflect pre-colonial culture to spots that tell the story of modern African history.
The fact that the Matobo Hills are considered sacred by both Black Africans and the white colonizers might suggest that there truly is something universal to humanity.