Last updated October 2026

When to visit

Bulawayo is Zimbabwe's second city and can be visited all year.

• Cool, dry months, about May to August. Sunny days and cold nights, a good time for walking around the city and exploring Khami and the Matobo Hills.
• Hot months, about September to October. Dry and hot before the rains. Plan outdoor visits for the morning.
• Rainy season, about November to March. Warm with afternoon storms; the countryside turns green.

Museums and heritage sites keep their own opening days, so check before you plan your time. TravelHealthPro rates the malaria risk in Bulawayo as very low, so antimalarials are not usually advised for the city itself.

Getting there and around

Bulawayo has an international airport with flights to Harare and regional destinations, and it sits on the main roads to Victoria Falls, Harare, Gweru and the South African border at Beitbridge.

• Around the city. The centre has a grid of wide streets, and the Natural History Museum is in Centenary Park, just south of the centre. Use taxis recommended by your hotel, especially at night.
• Outside the city. Khami, Old Bulawayo and the Matobo Hills are all outside town and not served by convenient public transport. Hire a car, take a tour or arrange a transfer with your accommodation.
• On the road. UK travel advice says to avoid driving outside main towns at night, to stop at police roadblocks and toll gates and get a receipt for any fine, and to fill up with fuel whenever you can.

Museums and day trips

• The Natural History Museum. National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) says it is the largest museum in the country, a circular four-storey building around a courtyard that opened to the public in 1964. Its collections include more than two million insect specimens and what NMMZ calls the largest mammal collection on the African continent. There is a cafeteria on the lower ground floor.
• Khami World Heritage Site. About 22.5 km west of Bulawayo along the Khami road. NMMZ describes terraced stone walls that look like a wedding cake and the longest decorated stone wall in the country. Khami succeeded Great Zimbabwe as the region's main centre. There are picnic facilities.
• Old Bulawayo. About 22 km south of the city, the first Bulawayo, built for King Lobengula in 1870. NMMZ highlights its traditional architecture, the Indaba tree and the nearby Jesuit mission.
• The Matobo Hills. About 30 km south, with granite hills, rock art and rhino. See the Matobo planning guide.

Safety and access

Take the usual city precautions. UK travel advice says:

• Street crime. Mugging, pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in city centres, especially after dark. Keep valuables out of sight and take a taxi at night.
• Cash machines. Be vigilant when leaving banks and cash machines, and do not carry or show large amounts of cash.
• Photography. Do not photograph government buildings, police, soldiers or protests.
• Demonstrations. Avoid political gatherings and rallies.
• Power cuts. Blackouts are frequent, so carry a torch or headlamp.

At heritage sites, stay on paths, do not climb on stone walls, and leave everything as you find it.

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