Matabeleland



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.

Cities[edit]

Map
Map of Matabeleland

Other destinations[edit]

The Mother and Child rock in Matabo.

Understand[edit]

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

Baobab trees are common, as are mopani. The grasslands glow in the deep afternoon sun.

Get in[edit]

The main border crossing with South Africa is at 1 Beitbridge on Wikipedia. National road A4/R1 leads to Harare while A6 is the main road into Matabeleland, linking Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

Get around[edit]

See[edit]

  • See the rock formation at Balla Balla.
  • Visit Chipingali Wildlife Orphanage.

Itineraries[edit]

The 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. From Bulawayo one can travel south to Matobo for a day's slow drive thru the exotic landscapes, or westward to Khami Ruins, to see miniature versions of the stone ruins found at Great Zimbabwe.

Do[edit]

Eat[edit]

A 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".

Drink[edit]

Stay safe[edit]

Go next[edit]

This region travel guide to Matabeleland is an outline and may need more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. If there are Cities and Other destinations listed, they may not all be at usable status or there may not be a valid regional structure and a "Get in" section describing all of the typical ways to get here. Please plunge forward and help it grow!