Matobo Hills Rhino Tracking & Bushmen Paintings from Bulawayo

Summary

Matobo National Park Day Trip with Local History & Wildlife

Step into Matobo National Park with a local guide: track white rhinos on foot, explore ancient San cave paintings, and hear stories of Ndebele warriors. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the hills and take in sweeping views you’ll remember long after the drive back to Bulawayo.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t think I’d ever get this close to a rhino. Our guide, Tinashe, just motioned for us to stay quiet — you could actually hear the crunch of dry grass under their feet before we saw them. The air smelled like sun-baked earth and wild herbs. My heart was pounding (in a good way). I guess I always pictured safaris as something distant, but here in Matobo Hills it felt like we were part of the landscape, not just passing through.

We started out from Bulawayo early — I was still half asleep until the hills came into view. Those balancing rocks look almost impossible, stacked up against the sky. Tinashe told us stories about the Ndebele kings and pointed out where the Shangani Patrol met its end (I’d never heard that story before; it’s kind of wild). Later, he showed us faded San Bushmen paintings tucked inside a cave. You could still see the ochre lines if you squinted — thousands of years old, right there above our heads. He tried teaching us a greeting in Ndebele; I definitely butchered it but he just laughed.

Lunch was under a big fig tree — grilled chicken and sadza, smoky and simple, with cold soda bottles sweating in the heat. There was this moment when everyone went quiet except for birdsong and someone’s radio drifting from far off. We visited Rhodes’ grave too (the view is… well, you’ll see), but honestly it was that silence at lunch that stuck with me most. It felt like time paused for a second.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Matobo Hills Adventure and History

• Journey to Matobo Hills
• Track white rhinos
• Explore San Bushmen cave paintings
• Visit Cecil John Rhodes Grave and Worldsview
• Learn about Ndebele and Matebele warriors
• Discover Shangani Patrol history
• See Malindidzimu - The place of the spirits
• View balancing rocks
• Enjoy African picnic barbecue lunch
• Souvenir shopping

Top questions

How long does the Matobo Hills day trip take from Bulawayo?

The experience is a full-day activity including pickup and drop-off from Bulawayo.

Is lunch included on this Matobo National Park tour?

Yes, lunch is provided during the tour in the Matobo Hills area.

Can special dietary requirements be accommodated?

Yes, special dietary needs are accommodated if requested in advance.

Are infants allowed on this day trip?

Infants are allowed but must sit on an adult’s lap during transport.

Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers?

No, it is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to physical activity involved.

What should I wear for rhino tracking in Matobo?

Wear closed-toe shoes, khakis or comfortable clothes, sun hats, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

Are public transportation options available nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options near the pickup point in Bulawayo.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off from Bulawayo, bottled water and soda throughout the journey, complimentary digital photos taken by your guide, all guiding services by a professional local expert who shares stories along the way, plus a picnic barbecue lunch prepared with local flavors—special diets can be arranged if you let them know ahead of time.