Bulawayo is the second largest city situated in Zimbabwe. It is the hub of the Matabeleland province which encompasses western Zimbabwe from the South African border in the south, to Victoria Falls in the north.
The tempo in Bulawayo is laid back and charming, and exudes a small town ambiance. The city is rooted in colonial style architecture, and the many early Victorian buildings are maintained by the Bulawayo City council as heritage sites. Wide tree lined streets greet visitors upon entering this beautiful historic city with its bustling industrial infrastructure. The City of Bulawayo features a natural history museum, a railway museum, Bulawayo Art Gallery, and theatres. Beautiful skilled handcrafted items such as sculptures, basket making, pottery, bead and woodwork done by the local people can be seen at the Mzilikazi Arts and Crafts Centre. For visitors en route to the Hwange National Park and the majestic Victoria Falls, Bulawayo is the ideal stopover and base, offering various excellent hotels, appealing camping and caravan parks, and backpacker and guest lodges. The city boasts two stunning parks, Central and Centenary, and is a wonderful quiet retreat for visitors and residents alike to enjoy. The lovely shady trees and gorgeous flower displays, Miniature Lake and children’s playground, make Centenary park an extremely popular venue.
Bulawayo is home to the Chipangale Wildlife Orphanage and Research Centre where sick, abandoned and orphaned wild animals such as lion, leopard, cheetah, antelope and black rhino, as well as a vast collection of birds are being cared for. Less than an hour’s drive from the city, Matopos National Park is located, and is one of Zimbabwe’s major attractions. The scenery is dramatic and extraordinary with many stunning granite projections along the route to the park. At the Matoba Hills, visitors will be astounded by the balancing rocks formation and the authentic Bushmen paintings of this dazzling area of natural beauty. The park boasts a huge variety of wildlife such as black and white rhino, giraffe, zebra, leopard, and an abundance of bird life, including the Black Eagle. The Department of Parks and Wildlife offer an abundance of activities for visitors which include picnic sites, horseback riding and hiking trails, game drives, fishing, and camping. A Zambezi River cruise is an excellent relaxing way of viewing the vast array of wildlife and the natural environment of the region.
Bulawayo is a unique and amazing city, offer incredible attractions and activities, and is a wonderful destination for a perfect vacation in Africa.
