Overview
Bulawayo is a relaxed, elegant industrial city with wide tree-lined boulevards, in western Zimbabwe. Several World Heritage sites, including historic monuments from the precolonial era and national parks, are within an hour's drive from Bulawayo, making it a great tourist destination.
Understand
Bulawayo was founded by Lobengula, the last Ndebele king, who settled in what is now Zimbabwe around the 1840s along with a large number of fellow Ndebele who had trekked there all the way from Zululand. In 1893, the British South Africa Company invaded the area in a conflict known as the First Matabele War. The British troops destroyed the city and forced the king to flee. They then built modern Bulawayo over the ruins of the former royal Ndebele city.
Although by latitude, Bulawayo is in the tropics, by virtue of its fairly high elevation, its climate is subtropical. Bulawayo is cooled by a prevailing southeasterly airflow most of the year, and experiences three seasons.
With little rain and cool, refreshing temperatures during the day, the winter season from May to August is ideal for a visit.
Temperatures soar in the hot dry period from September to November, so it is advised to book accommodation with air conditioning if you plan to visit during those months.
Rain moderates the temperature from December to March, mainly in the form of brief afternoon thunderstorms.
Tourism information Bulawayo Tourism website
Get in
By plane The main airport is Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport. Air Zimbabwe Harare, Johannesburg, Victoria falls. Airlink Johannesburg. Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa Fastjet Zimbabwe Harare, Johannesburg
If you're going to Victoria Falls and you plan to visit Zambia or Botswana, buy a double-entry visa. But if you plan to go to Botswana and Zambia, buy a single-entry visa. This is then valid for daytrips to Botswana but only obtainable at the Zambian border.
The ATM in the airport does not work.
By train National Railways Of Zimbabwe service was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, and remains suspended as of July 2024.
By bus Minibus taxis run from the township outside Victoria Falls to Bulawayo in the very early morning and takes approximately 7 hours.
The five most commonly recommended bus companies running daily services from Johannesburg to Bulawayo are Intercape, Greyhound, Intercity, Citiliner, Eagle Liner. Tickets can be booked online. Eagle Liner buses depart Bulawayo for Johannesburg everyday at 14:30. The Eagle liner booking office is at 5th Ave and G Silundika street.
Intercape also has buses from Bulawayo to Vic Falls, Harare. Intercape has the Largest intercity route network in southern Africa.
Get around
By bus Local transport is mainly by 18 seater minibuses called "kombis".
By taxi inDrive is popular in Harare and probably the best app to book a taxi.
Taxis do not have a particular colour but are clearly marked.
See
Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe. Surprisingly impressive museum with a large selection of stuffed and pinned animals and an array of live constrictors and venomous snakes. It also has sections on the history of Zimbabwe, history of the Earth, and geology. Photography not permitted.
National Art Gallery. Many works are for sale. There are artists studios on-site; the artists are happy to chat about their work. They often invite visitors to local events and showcases. Craft shop and cafe as well.
Bulawayo Railway Museum. The historical exhibits are great. This includes Cecil Rhodes' private carriage, plus a range of decaying steam engines and other locomotives. The friendly curator lends you a guide book detailing every locomotive and carriage. Access is free to the innards of most exhibits.
Khami Ruins. Ruins of capital of former Butua State civilization that existed from around 1450 to 1644 AD. Can wander around and visit small exhibit center on site.
Do
Cricket: Queens Sports Club. Established in 1890, the ground mainly has grass banking surrounded by picturesque trees providing shade to the spectators. With a capacity of 13,000, QSC held its first Test match in 1994, and hosts Matabeleland Tuskers in the domestic league. So far the most popular cricket stadium in Zimbabwe. QSC hosts mostly international matches or tri-series matches or also a practice match.
Swimming pool. The city's outdoor swimming pool is like something out of a 1920s movie, with its ranks of brightly painted changing booths. Lie on the grass and watch the cranes roost in the towering trees of the neighbouring botanic gardens.
Hillside Dams. Hilly area on the south side of Bulawayo that used to be the city's water supply but now is a park with walking and mountain biking trails along with fishing and bird watching.
Amakhosi Theatre, cnr of Old Falls Rd. and Lady Stanley St. Try this for local performing arts events.
Buy
Jairos Jiri Craftshop. Selling craft from the network of disabled people - great place to go for baskets.
The Bulawayo Centre. A modern shopping centre with chic clothes shops, an internet cafe and a cinema.
Ascot shopping center. Has a TM supermarket & other general convenience shops, a restaurant and bar, and curios.
Zonkizizwe Shopping Complex. The complex, opened in 2016, has a supermarket, bar, gift shop, boutiques, nursery and several other interesting shops.
TM - Pick N Pay Supermaket. TM - Pick N Pay supermarkets has well over 50 outlets around Zimbabwe.
Choppies supermarkets. Choppies Supermarkets, a Botswana-owned supermarket, has 14 stores around Bulawayo.
OK supermarket. There are 59 OK stores nationwide.
Spar supermarkets there are many Spar supermarkets all over Bulawayao.
Banks & ATMs ATMs accept now foreign cards. You will be able to withdraw cash in US dollars. In Bulawayo, shop assistants are not used to foreigners. You can pay for things by credit card but you will be charged 8 times too much, i.e.
Some shops may accept US dollars in cash but will give change in Zimbabwean dollars.
Banks will not change US dollars into Zimbabwean dollars due to a shortage of paper notes, but they will change US dollars into EcoCash (you will need to get an EcoNet SIM card first).
Stanbic Bank. Has a MasterCard/Visa ATM.
Eat
New Orleans Restaurant. Classy, for Bulawayo. Excellent staff and reasonable prices.
Haefelli's Bakery. el's (pronounced hay-flees) offers a strange mix of food services. It is a bakery (offering various breads and pastries), it is a pizza shop (Pizza Inn), it offers ice cream (Dairy Inn), and sandwiches, mostly pre-made. A popular hang-out with the younger crowd and is open until 22:00 There are security guards at all hours. Alcoholic beverages are not served.
Cubana Bulawayo. Here they do cocktails and Portuguese chicken.
Bulawayo Club. Old-fashioned club with a wood-panelled bar and an open-air atrium. Must book in advance, visit during the day or call 648689. Also a lovely place to go for a drink throughout the day.
River Cafe. Chill out in the garden, great with kids, and nice curio shop attached.
La Plaza. A fdeli and coffee shop where you will find Mediterranean specialties.
The Coffee Shoppe. Located in the National Gallery, a limited menu offers sandwiches, pasta dishes and salads. The food is freshly prepared and very good by the standards of Bulawayo. A wireless internet is available, but can only be accessed with local internet services offering with a pay as you go feature. The patio offers a pleasant spot for lunch and a number of local artists and ex-pats can be found there. It is only open for breakfast and lunch.
Indaba Book Cafe. A place to meet for coffee, homemade food, fresh fruit juices and meet writers and poets. Free Wi-Fi.
The Cattleman. The restaurant is a long-time local favourite. Its slogan, "our reputation is at steak", says it all. It's a nice place serving beef, chicken and occasionally fish. It is the best steakhouse in Bulawayo, but don't expect the food to match first world standards.
Drink
Tin Cup Pub And Grill. Charcuterie boards and drinks.
Roosters Pub & Grill. Quaint garden-like setting with outdoor seating.
Cafe Baku. Once a pleasant place for lunch and a drink, it is now mainly a late night disco with a noisy crowd in a fairly small space.
Walkers Pub. Nice pub where you can relax and have a drink or two with friends. Situated on the first floor on Bulawayo Centre shopping mall, the pub boasts of a conducive environment for relaxation. If beer is your drink, then this is the place to be in Bulawayo
Bulawayo Athletic Club. Now has a great bar on the back, with light meals, live music and drinks in a warm local atmosphere.
3 Daughters. Restaurant and jazz sports bar with live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night starting at 21:00. The party really picks up by 23:00.
Sleep
Burkes' Backpackers Paradise. Affordable clean backpackers hostel. Self-catering kitchen available. Fast free Wi-Fi access 24 hours. It has a nice garden with a swimming pool, and is run by a very nice family.
Lilys Backpackers Lodge. Dorm beds and single/double rooms, has a Facebook page, no wifi.
Crocodile Rock Lodge. Single/double rooms. nice garden. free wifi.
Y W C A. Single/double rooms. Accepts men and women. It looks very run down.
Fleming Place. Double room with own bathroom. nice garden.
The Greys Inn Hotel. The hotel may have seen better days, but maybe not. Bathrooms are especially dilapidated.
Make Bulawayo your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5349312 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-09-12. This is not a date of field verification.
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