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City in Zimbabwe
Photo: Nduza, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Classy, for Bulawayo. Excellent staff and reasonable prices.
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.
Here they do cocktails and Portuguese chicken.
Old-fashioned club with a wood-panelled bar and an open-air atrium. Dinner is around US$11, including a soup course. Must book in advance, visit during the day or call 648689. Lunch is around $9 and does not require a reservation. Also a lovely place to go for a drink throughout the day.
Chill out in the garden, great with kids, and nice curio shop attached.
A fdeli and coffee shop where you will find Mediterranean specialties.
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
A place to meet for coffee, homemade food, fresh fruit juices and meet writers and poets. Free Wi-Fi.
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.
Charcuterie boards and drinks.
Quaint garden-like setting with outdoor seating.
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.
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
Now has a great bar on the back, with light meals, live music and drinks in a warm local atmosphere.
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.
Affordable clean backpackers hostel. Dorm bed is US$15 per person per night, single room US$25 per night, double room or twin room US$30/night, and camping US$7 per person per night. 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.
Dorm beds and single/double rooms, has a Facebook page, no wifi.
Single/double rooms. nice garden. free wifi.
Single/double rooms. Accepts men and women. Breakfast US$4. It looks very run down.
Double room with own bathroom. nice garden.
The hotel may have seen better days, but maybe not. Bathrooms are especially dilapidated. Shaky Wi-Fi is included in the price.
Selling craft from the network of disabled people - great place to go for baskets.
A modern shopping centre with chic clothes shops, an internet cafe and a cinema.
Has a TM supermarket & other general convenience shops, a restaurant and bar, and curios.
Bradfield Shopping Centre
The complex, opened in 2016, has a supermarket, bar, gift shop, boutiques, nursery and several other interesting shops.
TM - Pick N Pay supermarkets has well over 50 outlets around Zimbabwe.
Choppies Supermarkets, a Botswana-owned supermarket, has 14 stores around Bulawayo.
There are 59 OK stores nationwide.
A super low price Zimbabwe supermarket with many stores around Zimbabwe.
Has a MasterCard/Visa ATM.
Has a MasterCard/Visa ATM.
MasterCard/Visa ATM.
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.
By bus
Local transport is mainly by 18 seater minibuses called "kombis". The cost from the CBD to the suburbs is usually 50 cents.
By taxi
inDrive is popular in Harare and probably the best app to book a taxi.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Bulawayo · International · BUQ
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