Getting Around Bulawayo
Bulawayo is Zimbabwe's second-largest city and the hub of the Matabeleland region, and getting around it is generally straightforward for a visitor. The central business district is compact and laid out on wide streets, with suburbs spreading out around it. The city is fairly walkable, and for longer trips you can choose between minibus taxis, metered taxis, and ride-hailing apps.
Walking
The city is fairly walkable, which makes it easy to cover the central business district and nearby areas on foot. Bulawayo's CBD is notable for having the widest roads in the city; these were originally designed to accommodate ox-drawn carts and to let them turn in the street when the town was planned. That legacy of broad streets makes walking around the centre more comfortable than you might expect.
Buses and Minibus Taxis
Local public transport in Bulawayo is mainly provided by 18-seater minibuses known locally as "kombis". These are the workhorse of everyday movement between the CBD and the surrounding suburbs. Fares are low and paid in cash on board, so it helps to carry small change. If you are unsure which kombi to take, ask at your accommodation or at a busy rank in the centre, since routes are typically identified by their destination rather than by published timetables.
Rail and Long-Distance Trains
Bulawayo is historically the hub of Zimbabwe's rail network and the headquarters of the National Railways of Zimbabwe, and the city is home to the Bulawayo Railway Museum. However, for practical travel planning, note that National Railways of Zimbabwe passenger service was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic and remains suspended as of July 2024. You should not count on trains for getting around the city or for reaching other destinations, and it is worth checking the current situation locally before making plans that depend on rail.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis in Bulawayo do not have a particular colour, but they are clearly marked, so they are easy to identify. Fares are typically quoted in US dollars: a trip within the CBD costs around US$2, while journeys outside the city centre limits run at roughly US$1 per kilometre. Ride-hailing is also an option. inDrive is popular in Harare and is probably the best app to book a taxi, and the Vaya app is another way to arrange a ride. Using an app can be convenient because the fare is agreed in advance, which avoids haggling.
Getting from the Airport into the City
The main airport serving Bulawayo is Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport. It handles international and regional flights, with carriers including Air Zimbabwe (Harare, Johannesburg, Victoria Falls), Airlink (Johannesburg), Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa), and Fastjet Zimbabwe (Harare, Johannesburg).
To reach the city from the airport, a taxi is the most straightforward option. As a rough guide, a taxi from the airport into town should cost around US$10, and the price shown on the Vaya app was Z$85. One practical warning: the ATM at the airport does not work, so it is wise to arrive with cash already in hand rather than relying on withdrawing money there.
If you are arriving from abroad, visas are available on arrival. Fees are US$30 for single entry and US$45 for double entry; for UK and Irish citizens it is US$55, or US$70 for double entry; for Canadians, single entry is US$75. If you are heading on to Victoria Falls and plan to visit Zambia or Botswana, buy a double-entry visa. But if you plan to go to Botswana and then Zambia, buy a single-entry visa and obtain a Kaza Univisa for US$50 at the Zambian border — this is valid for day trips to Botswana, though it is only obtainable at the Zambian border.
Arriving by Long-Distance Bus
Bulawayo is well connected by long-distance coach to other cities in the region, and this is a common way for visitors to arrive. Several companies run daily services from Johannesburg, including Intercape, Greyhound, Intercity, Citeliner, and Eagle Liner, with tickets bookable online. Eagle Liner buses depart Bulawayo for Johannesburg daily at 14:30, and the Eagle Liner booking office is at 5th Ave and G Silundika Street. Stallion Cruise also runs buses to Johannesburg, with its terminal at 90 Josiah Tongogara Rd, next to Indaba Cafe. Intercape additionally serves Bulawayo to Victoria Falls and Harare, and Extra City and Stallion Cruise also run buses to and from Harare and Victoria Falls, with many departures in the morning and one overnight service.
For travel towards Masvingo and on to Mutare, buses (including Inter Africa and other companies) depart from a stop at 4th Avenue and Hume Park Road, on the corner with Samuel Parirenyatwa Street, with several morning departures. Minibus taxis also run from the township outside Victoria Falls to Bulawayo in the very early morning.
Practical Tips
- Carry small change for kombi fares, which are paid in cash on board.
- Arrive at the airport with cash, since the ATM there does not work.
- Use the inDrive or Vaya apps to book a taxi with a fare agreed in advance.
- Confirm the current status of rail services locally before planning any journey by train, as passenger service has been suspended.
- Book intercity coach tickets online where possible, and note the specific departure points in the city for each company.