Bulawayo City Tour Expeditions
Step into Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, the legendary Bulawayo—a place of rich history and vibrant culture. This city is a truly unique destination, where a cosmopolitan population resides on land that has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It’s a place where history is layered on history, from ancient settlements to its modern, bustling streets. The city’s very identity is steeped in its history, reflected in its powerful nicknames. Known proudly as the “City of Kings,” Bulawayo holds a royal lineage that speaks to its historical significance. It is also affectionately called “KoNtuthu ziyathunqa,” a Ndebele phrase that means “the place that continually exudes smoke,” a name that arose from its historically large and robust industrial base.
Highlights
- Explore the “City of Kings”, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city.
- Trace the city’s origins at the historic City Hall precinct.
- Walk Main Street, lined with beautiful old sandstone buildings.
- See the first well and Cecil John Rhodes’s original timber yard.
- Visit the Cenotaph, a solemn World War memorial.
- View art at the historic National Art Gallery.
- Discover Macdonald’s Hall, the birthplace of the national resistance movement.
- Journey through time at the remarkable Railway Museum.
- See vintage engines, including Cecil John Rhodes’s dining car.
Includes
- All activities (Unless labelled as optional)
- A professional driver/guide
- Water and teas (As specified)
- All transportation (Unless labelled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Excludes
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Itinerary
Full-day tour
Your historical journey into Bulawayo’s past begins right from your hotel. We will first make our way to the historic City Hall, a site once known as Market Square and the very epicentre of the city’s early days. In this bustling area, you will be surrounded by landmarks of immense historic interest, all dating back to the first European occupation of Matabeleland in 1893. You will see the location of Bulawayo’s first well, Cecil John Rhodes’s original timber yard, the historic Selborne Hotel, and many other key sites that tell the story of the city’s origins. From there, we will take a fascinating walk down Main Street, a path lined with beautiful old sandstone buildings. This walk will take us to the Cenotaph, a solemn monument where the names of those who died in the First and Second World Wars are listed. Just around the corner is the National Art Gallery, one of the first buildings to be constructed in Bulawayo, which houses a superb collection of art. Our tour then shifts to a pivotal period in the nation’s history as we visit Macdonald’s Hall, the first meeting place where the powerful national resistance movement began in the late 1960s. We will explore other areas of historic significance from this era, offering a poignant look at the struggle for independence. Finally, we will drive to the remarkable Railway Museum. This journey through time allows you to walk among a magnificent collection of vintage engines and carriages, including a special highlight: Cecil John Rhodes’s personal dining car. Following your exploration, we will pause to enjoy a relaxing tea, a perfect moment to reflect on the day’s historical discoveries before concluding your city tour.
