Kwekwe

Introduction

Kwekwe, formerly known as Que Que, is a city in the Midlands province of central Zimbabwe. It sits within a province whose capital is Gweru, the larger of the Midlands' two main urban centres.

Before you go

Kwekwe sits on Zimbabwe's Highveld at altitude, and that elevation tempers its tropical latitude into a warm temperate or humid subtropical climate. Summers bring a hot, wet rainy season from mid-November to mid-March, when daytime temperatures are warm and can climb higher on the hottest days. Winters, from May to mid-August, are cool and dry, while the stretch from August to mid-November is warm and dry. Plan your packing around which of these seasons you'll be visiting in.

The city is multicultural, and you're assured of coming across Shona, Ndebele, Chewa, Venda, Tonga and Nambya speakers in and around town. Kwekwe is a centre for steel and fertiliser production, and it has been working to diversify its economic base toward education, tourism and services, drawing a growing campus of Midlands State University. The name comes from the Zulu word "isikwekwe", meaning scurvy, mange or scab; the town was founded in 1898 as a gold mining town, originally called Que Que after the croaking frogs that populated the Kwekwe River in the early 1900s. Though the gold found was underwhelming, deposits of chrome and the production of iron, steel, aluminium and glass have kept the city growing since.

Getting there

Kwekwe sits in the Midlands, roughly midway between Harare to the northeast and Bulawayo to the southwest, which makes it a convenient stopover if you are travelling between Zimbabwe's two main cities. Paved roads connect the city with Gweru, Kadoma, Mvuma and Gokwe Business Centre, so you can reach it by road from several directions.

Getting around

Kwekwe is compact enough that its layout is easy to grasp, and the centre makes a natural base, with the main residential suburbs spreading out around it — Mbizo Township, Amaveni Township, Msasa Park, Goldrich, Hillandale, Newtown, Gaika, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Golden Acres, Southwood and Fitchlea. Mbizo and Amaveni are the low-cost townships, while Masasa Park, New Town and Chicago are among the wealthier areas. For drivers, a useful landmark is that the city has only one set of traffic lights, just outside the centre on the road leading to Mbizo. Walking works well for the immediate centre and nearby middle-class suburbs such as Fitchlea, since the streets there are paved, but distances to the outlying townships and industrial areas make it impractical for crossing the city.

Local journeys are road-based. Shared minibuses and commuter services link the centre with the townships and suburbs; ask at your accommodation or at the bus terminus which route serves your destination, and board where local passengers do rather than expecting marked stops. Taxis are the most straightforward option for a direct, private trip, such as between the centre and a hotel or a specific suburb — agree the fare before you set off, and don't count on ride-hailing apps here. The railway along the Bulawayo–Harare line is for longer journeys to and from those two cities, not for getting around town. Kwekwe has no international airport, so plan your arrival through Harare or Bulawayo and continue by road or rail; paved routes also connect the city to Gweru, Kadoma, Mvuma and the Gokwe Business Centre, which intercity buses and minibuses use.

Where to stay

Food & drink

What to see and do

Start at the National Mining Museum, the city's signature attraction, set near the entrance of the Gold and Phoenix mine. It occupies the Paper House, a wood-framed prefabricated building shipped from the United Kingdom in 1894; despite that unusual construction, it remains in excellent condition and is a city landmark in its own right.

For wildlife, head to Sable Park, a privately owned recreational game reserve, or join one of the small operators holding hunting and photographic safari licences on farms and concessions near town, where rhino, elephant, leopard, lion and most big antelope — kudu, eland, sable and tsessebe among them — can be seen. At Sebakwe Dam you can waterski, hunt, view game and camp. Sport fills out the calendar: the Mid West Rhinos, one of the country's major provincial cricket sides, play at the Kwekwe Sports Club, while Lancashire Steel Football Club, named for a local steel company, and Kwekwe Cables Football Club fly the city's football colours. Mbizo Stadium is a major stop for many of the country's music groups.

When to go

Kwekwe's year divides into three broad stretches, and which one you pick shapes your trip. The summer rainy season is hot and wet, with daytime temperatures occasionally climbing above the hottest-day mark and rain a regular expectation, so pack accordingly if you travel then. Winter, from May to mid-August, brings the coolest, driest weather of the year, with little rain settling in over those months.

• Summer rainy season: Hot and wet, with frequent rain and the highest daytime temperatures.
• Winter (May to mid-August): Cool and dry, the coolest stretch of the year with little rain.
• Warm dry season (August to mid-November): Warm and dry, with conditions drying out and warmth building ahead of the returning summer rains.

If you want dry conditions and rising warmth, the stretch from August to mid-November suits before the rains return; if you prefer the coolest weather, aim for the winter months.

Three days in Kwekwe

Day one: Start in the city centre, where Kwekwe's identity as a Midlands town on the Highveld is on full display, and take in the mix of Shona, Ndebele, Chewa, Venda, Tonga, Nambya and Zulu heritage that shapes the place. The Kwekwe River runs through the city, and a walk along its banks gives you a feel for the layout before you head out to the townships. Spend the afternoon in Mbizo Township and Amaveni Township, where everyday life and local food are the main draw. Note that the city's history is tied to the name Que Que, which you will still hear used.

• City centre orientation
• Kwekwe River walk
• Mbizo and Amaveni townships

Day two: Give the day to the residential suburbs, which each have their own character. Msasa Park, Goldrich, Hillandale, Newtown, Gaika, Beverly Hills and Chicago are all worth wandering through to see how the city spreads across the Highveld. If you want an academic or cultural stop, Midlands State University is the obvious anchor. Plan your walking around the weather: summers, roughly November to March, are warm and wet, while winters from May to August are dry and can be bitterly cold on the Highveld, so pack accordingly.

• Msasa Park, Goldrich and Hillandale
• Newtown, Gaika, Beverly Hills and Chicago
• Midlands State University

Day three: Look beyond the city itself. Paved roads connect Kwekwe with Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Kadoma and Mvuma, making a day trip practical, and Gokwe Business Centre is another option if you want to see more of the wider Midlands region. Use the morning for the trip and keep the afternoon free for a last look around town before you move on.

• Day trip toward Gweru, Kadoma or Mvuma
• Gokwe Business Centre
• Final afternoon in Kwekwe