RegionOutline guide

Matabeleland

Region of southwestern Zimbabwe

Photo: Babakathy, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Matabeleland is a region in the southwest and west of Zimbabwe. It is inhabited by the Ndebele people, who settled here in the mid-1800s.

Getting there and around

Getting there

The main border crossing with South Africa is at . National road A4/R1 leads to Harare while A6 is the main road into Matabeleland, linking Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport

Bulawayo · International · BUQ

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Cities

Bulawayo

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.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is a town in the western portion of Zimbabwe, across the border from Livingstone, Zambia, and near Botswana. The town lies immediately next to the falls, and they are the major attraction, but this popular tourist destination offers both adventure seekers and sightseers plenty of opportunities for a longer stay.

Matobo National Park

a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hwange National Park

at 14,651 km² the largest national park and game reserve in Zimbabwe.

Read before you go to Matabeleland

Articles and travel topics about Matabeleland and Zimbabwe.

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandSouthern Matabeleland is for the greater portion of the year hot and dusty.

Get inThe main border crossing with South Africa is at . National road A4/R1 leads to Harare while A6 is the main road into Matabeleland, linking Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

SeeThe largest town in Matabeleland is Bulawayo, renowned for its wide streets built to allow a wagon with a 10-oxen team to do a U-turn. Bulawayo has an airport, which makes it an ideal starting point.

EatA local delicacy is the mopani worm: these caterpillars are dried in the sun, and sold as a snack food. The staple food is mealie meal, made into a stiff porridge known as "sadza".

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Matabeleland" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Matabeleland", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Babakathy, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

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