Last updated October 2026

When to visit

The Midlands lie in the middle of the country, between Harare and Bulawayo, and can be visited all year.

• Cool, dry months, about May to August. Sunny days and cold nights. The best time for exploring outdoor sites such as Danangombe and Naletale.
• Hot months, about September to October. Dry and hot. Visit open-air ruins early in the day and carry water.
• Rainy season, about November to March. Warm with storms. Gravel roads to rural monuments can become difficult after heavy rain.

TravelHealthPro says malaria risk is high below 1,200 m from November to June, and very low in Harare and Bulawayo. Ask a travel clinic about the areas you plan to visit, especially lower-lying rural sites.

Getting there and around

Gweru is the main city of the Midlands and sits on the main road between Harare and Bulawayo, which makes it a natural place to break the journey. Kwekwe lies on the same road to the north-east, while Shurugwi and Zvishavane are to the south.

• Getting around. The region is easiest to explore by car. Use taxis recommended by your hotel in town.
• Rural monuments. National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) says Danangombe lies about 86 km south-west of Gweru, reached by an all-season gravel road. Naletale is in the same area. Confirm the route, and ideally use a high-clearance vehicle.
• 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 monuments

• The Zimbabwe Military Museum, Gweru. Opened in 1974 as the Midlands Museum and renamed in 1985, with army, police, Guinea Fowl memorial and aviation galleries, NMMZ says. The Trim Park Aviation Museum, with aircraft in a double hangar, is about half a kilometre to the south.
• Danangombe (Dhlodhlo) National Monument. The capital of the Rozvi state from about 1693 to the early 1800s, with Khami-style stone walling and terraces, house remains and a site museum.
• Naletale. NMMZ calls it architecturally the most satisfying monument in the country, its wall decorated with five patterns: chevron, check, herringbone, dentelle and cord.
• The Paper House, Kwekwe. The focal point of the National Mining Museum: a prefabricated papier-mâché building from 1894, once home to the first manager of the Globe and Phoenix mine, and a national monument since 1975.

Confirm opening hours and entry fees with NMMZ before you set off, especially for the rural monuments.

Safety and access

• In town. UK travel advice says mugging, pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in city centres after dark. Keep valuables out of sight and be vigilant at cash machines.
• At monuments. Dry-stone walls have no mortar and can collapse. Do not climb on them, stay on paths and leave everything in place.
• Wildlife. At places such as Antelope Park, follow the guidance of staff and guides at all times.
• Photography. Do not photograph government buildings, police, soldiers or military sites; Gweru is home to an air force base.
• Power cuts. Blackouts are frequent, so carry a torch or headlamp.

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