More to do in Matobo

Sep 10, 2026

Huge granite boulders balanced one on top of another, narrow passages to caves tucked into the hills, wide views that go on for as far as your eyes can see…it’s an explorer’s dream. It’s Matobo National Park, or Matopos if you prefer (Matopos is the anglicised version).

Now, we have talked about Matobo before, but there is still so much more to say. The same can be said for Bulawayo and the surrounding areas. There is simply so much to see and experience that you can keep coming back to it and you will have even more to say. There is always another part of Matobo worth discovering.

A visit to one of the many rock art sites, where you can spend time learning about the people who lived in this land thousands of years ago, will leave you looking at everything around you just a little differently. The rock art in Matobo is one of the reasons the destination is so important. There are more than 3,000 registered rock art sites across the area, with paintings created by San communities thousands of years ago. Some are found inside caves and shelters, while others are tucked into rocky overhangs. Seeing them in their original surroundings is very different from seeing ancient artwork behind glass in a museum. You are standing on the very ground where this history was first recorded.

The granite formations are probably the first thing you notice when you arrive, but they become even more interesting once you start exploring them. Some have names and stories attached to them. There are walking trails, caves to discover and viewpoints where the landscape opens up below you. You can spend hours exploring and you will still feel as though you have only seen a small part of the park.

You cannot mention Matobo without mentioning rhino tracking. Both black and white rhinos can be found here, and tracking them on foot gives you a very different perspective from watching wildlife from a safari vehicle. There is something about following tracks, reading signs and walking quietly through the bush that makes you pay much closer attention to your surroundings.

You also can visit Maleme Dam, take a slower drive through the park, stop for photographs or spend some time birdwatching. The changing landscape creates plenty of opportunities for both experienced photographers and anyone who simply enjoys being outdoors. The combination of granite hills, grassland, woodland and valleys means that the scenery can look completely different depending on where you are standing and what time of day it is.

And then you can visit World’s View for the history to bring another layer to the experience. The site is best known as the place where Cecil John Rhodes is buried, and it remains a significant historical site. It also happens to have one of the most expansive views across the surrounding Matobo landscape. Standing there, looking across the hills and granite formations, it is easy to understand why this particular place has attracted so much attention over the years.

You could spend a full day in Matobo and still leave with a list of things you did not get to see. That is perhaps one of the best reasons to visit more than once. One trip might be about the history and rock art. Another might focus on rhino tracking and walking trails. You might return for birding, photography, a picnic beside the dam... So much to explore and experience and it can be overwhelming, in a good way. This is why it is encouraged to plan in advance, to make the most out of your visit. The Gwango Tamarillo Estate team can assist with directions, park entry details and even arrange and lead the excursion if you would prefer to explore Matobo with a guide. If you are planning a visit, we have more information about Matobo, activities in the area and things to do around Bulawayo on our website. Or, if you would rather talk to someone about your plans, contact reservations@gwango.com.

There is plenty to discover in Matobo. And even if you have been there before, there is a good chance there is something you have not seen yet.