We will be making our first trip into Bulawayo over the summer, and will probably stay overnight. Is there anything fun to do there??

And where should we stay??

Thanks for the advice.

A beautiful place to stay is Nesbitt Castle. Go and visit the Museum in Bulawayo and have a meal at a restaurant called Roosters.

Cheers

Haven't been there since 2004 but used to spend quite a bit of time with friends there. So I always stayed with them so really have no idea of accommodations there. I do remember there was a place called ,I believe, the Cattleman that served the absolutely best steak and seafood I had in Africa. And by American standards it was practically free. I too can heartily reccommend the Museum also. It is full of Zimbabwe early times and when I was there it was in very good condition. I never failed to buy a pair of Courtney Boots at GEKAS (they had the absolute best selection in Bulawayo at that time, I traded there for 8 years, excellant selection of clothes also). When I was there there were no retail sales from the factory. I got a tour from the owner as I had met him at an SCI convention in Las Vegas. Pay particular attention to the native rock walls around some of the places. The workmanship and design are like no other I have ever seen and I pay attention to such things when I travel. Also look at some of the thatching on some of the roofs.

My wish list

Is the Bulawayo Club still an option? I know ownership changed recently.

Sittingjn bulawayo now. I have stayed at the castle before, it is pretty cool. Matopos park is about 25 minutes out of town, I think anout $10 to get in. Well worth it. There are some rhino in there as well as other plains game. Not alot, but the views are worth it. Throw in a pair of hiking boots to climb up the rocks and go to Cecil Rhodes grave.
Contact terry anders of forever african safaris, he lives here and has proper A frame tents with ensuite facilities set up in hillsdie dam park right in bulawayo and can do a nice bush dinner.

Texas Blue Devil,

As Thierry says the Nesbitt Castle is a good place to stay and has a quirky atmosphere. Another spot is the Banff Lodge Hotel with a New Orleans atmosphere. Make sure to ask for a room with a shower and not just a tub. Great food and drink there.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by The BLB:
Is the Bulawayo Club still an option? I know ownership changed recently.

I stayed there a coupl of years ago, the service was good but if you need aircon they didn't have it. For me it was a good place- bit of history in there- for spending the night before being picked by my PH the following morning.

Just checked on the net and the Cattleman is still in service and the reviews are favorable. Appears just as I remember it. One of the sons of my friends (he is now a PH) always liked to go there as he loved Prawns and they had huge ones. When I was there the beef was typically superb Zimbabwe beef.

[EMAIL] [/EMAIL]

The museum is worth visiting.

Thierry provides good advice here. Nesbitt Castle is an amazing oasis of beauty, castle antiquity and good service. It really does look like a castle.
Roosters offers good food and is owned by a local professional hunter, not Thierry.
Bulawayo Club is like a museum. Accommodations were Spartan but it was a trip back to Rhodesian dignity with pictures and memorabilia of better times.

Take a drive to Matopos Park.
The museum is really cool.
Visit Fazaks in the center of town for tourist shopping and let the prick owner follow you around the store quoting you inflated prices.
Cal

At the museum of natural history(Ithink it is called) is Cecil Rhodes death mask, a live mount elephant and all in all some pretty cool stuff. Obviously a lay over from the white rule.It is close t Nesbitt castle or the Bulowayo club.

I spent two days in Nesbitt castle in 2014, it is worth to stay, beautiful out look, grand rooms, marvelous lush green garden and food at rooster is awesome.
Highly recommended.
IH