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Victoria Falls & Hwange
Matabeleland: History & Culture
Updated 10 October 2026
Matabeleland is the historic region of south-western Zimbabwe. It is not a single official province. Wikipedia describes it as three provinces: Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo. Together they cover about 130,899 km² between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers (checked October 2026). The region holds Matobo Hills and Khami Ruins, which are UNESCO sites, Hwange National Park, and Bulawayo, its main city and gateway. Victoria Falls is listed under Matabeleland North.
The region is mainly home to the Ndebele. Tonga, Bakalanga, Venda and Nambya communities live here too.
Boundaries vary by source. Expedia, for example, places Binga under Matabeleland South, while Wikipedia places it in Matabeleland North. We follow Wikipedia’s district lists below.
The capital is Lupane. At 75,025 km² it is the largest province in Zimbabwe. The 2022 census counted 827,645 people. It has seven districts: Binga, Bubi, Hwange, Lupane, Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza. This is where Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls sit.
The capital is Gwanda. The province covers 54,172 km² and had 760,345 people in the 2022 census. Its seven districts are Beitbridge, Bulilima, Gwanda, Insiza, Mangwe, Matobo and Umzingwane. It is arid and sits on the edge of the Kalahari. Matobo National Park lies here.
Bulawayo is a city that is also a province, like Harare. The 2022 census recorded 665,952 residents. The city council claims about 1.2 million, so quote the census figure if you need a number (checked October 2026).
Matobo is Zimbabwe’s oldest national park. It was founded in 1926 as Rhodes Matopos and covers 424 km². The wider hills cover about 3,100 km², and UNESCO listed the landscape in 2003. More than 3,000 rock-art sites are registered. Accessible ones include the Bambata, Nswatugi and Pomongwe caves.
The park has one of the densest leopard populations in the world and one of the highest concentrations of breeding black eagles. A game park of about 100 km² holds white and black rhino, sable, giraffe and zebra. Operators offer rhino tracking on foot.
Malindidzimu (World’s View) is Cecil Rhodes’s burial place. It is a contested site, and it is also called the “hill of the spirits”.
Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest reserve at 14,651 km². It became a game reserve in 1928 and a national park in 1961. It has more than 100 mammal species and more than 400 bird species. Beyond game drives, you can visit the Painted Dog Conservation Centre, the Mtoa Ruins and Bumbusi National Monument. Main Camp has a restaurant, The Waterbuck’s Head, but dining in the park is limited (Great Zimbabwe Guide, June 2026).
Khami was the capital of the Torwa dynasty (Kingdom of Butua) for about 200 years from around 1450. Rozvi forces under Changamire Dombo conquered it around 1683. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Its innovative walls use gravity retaining walls and raised platforms.
Bulawayo’s attractions include the Natural History Museum, which Great Zimbabwe Guide calls “arguably the best museum in Zimbabwe”, the National Gallery, the Railway Museum and the Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage (checked October 2026). Naletale ruins in Matabeleland South are another heritage site.
Wikipedia lists the falls under Matabeleland North, on the region’s northern border. See our Victoria Falls town page for the full guide.
Bulawayo is the hub. Wikipedia lists Air Zimbabwe, Airlink (Cape Town and Johannesburg) and Ethiopian Airlines at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport. Airline lists change quickly, so confirm routes with the airline before you book (checked October 2026). The city’s railway links Lusaka and Gaborone, but Great Zimbabwe Guide says rail reliability is currently questionable (June 2026).
Great Zimbabwe Guide (updated October 2024) advises renting a car. Shuttle services such as City Link, Executive Coaches and Inter Africa also run.
Hwange lies between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, with Dete as the nearest town.
The sources disagree on the best season for Hwange wildlife (checked October 2026):
For malaria, Great Zimbabwe Guide says April to October are the best months in Hwange. It also warns that October can exceed 40°C there.
For Bulawayo, Great Zimbabwe Guide (October 2024) recommends March, April, May and August. October is very hot, and December and January bring afternoon rain. June and July days are hot, but you need warm clothing.
Published Hwange fees conflict, so treat these as guides only (checked October 2026). Great Zimbabwe Guide gives US$12 per day for an international visitor staying overnight (June 2026). SafariFind gives US$20 per adult per day for international visitors, US$15 for SADC residents and US$10 for Zimbabwean residents. The difference may reflect day visitors versus accommodated visitors. Confirm the current figure with ZimParks before you travel. We have not published Matobo fees because we could not confirm them from an official source.
Pre-colonial history includes the Rozvi Empire and the later Ndebele Kingdom under Mzilikazi. Sources differ on how Bulawayo began. Wikipedia gives around 1840 as Mzilikazi’s kraal, and also credits Lobengula in the 1860s. Ndebele forces besieged the city during the Second Matabele War in March 1896, but it was never successfully attacked.
The British South Africa Company took control after the First and Second Matabele Wars (1893 to 1897). Baden-Powell’s contact with Frederick Russell Burnham in Matabeleland in 1896 influenced the Scouting movement.
Between 1983 and 1987, massacres known as Gukurahundi took place in Matabeleland. The International Association of Genocide Scholars estimates that more than 20,000 people were killed. Many people in the region still carry this history, so approach the subject with respect and listen before you ask.
Water scarcity is a present-day concern, and promises under the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project remain unfulfilled. Conserve water where you stay.
Great Zimbabwe Guide (October 2024) advises the following:
ZimParks runs basic self-catering chalets and camps in Hwange. Private lodges there range from budget to luxury (Great Zimbabwe Guide, June 2026). Bulawayo hotels and Matobo Hills lodges suit trips based near the city. Browse our stays pages for reviewed options.
No. It is a historic region made up of Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo.
Bulawayo, which is also the gateway for flights, shuttles and road trips to Matobo, Khami and Hwange.
About a 30-minute drive. Distances quoted range from about 35 km to about 40 km (checked October 2026).
Last checked 10 October 2026.
Photo: Christine Donaldson, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Where to Stay
Hwange Safari Lodge, Dete Very Good 8.3/10 lodge near Hwange National Park. 100 rooms. From USD 221/night. Property Details Type: Lodge Guest Rating: 8.3/10 (Booking.com, 45 reviews) Price Range: from USD 221 per night Rooms: 100 Amenities Air-conditioning, en-suite bathroom, garden views, work desk, mosquito nets, in-room tea/coffee, mini-fridge, floor-to-ceiling windows, swimming pool, sun terrace,...
Old Drift Lodge, Victoria Falls Exceptional 4.9/5 lodge in Victoria Falls. From USD 700/night. Property Details Type: Lodge Guest Rating: 4.9/5 (Google, 169 reviews) Price Range: USD 700 – USD 1,367 per night Amenities Private plunge pool, Open-air shower, Air conditioning, Airport transfers included, Town shuttle included, All meals and drinks included, Game drives, River...
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