matobo matopos zimbabwe africa — Clambering over lichen-covered rocks against the backdrop of a golden sun – such is the essence of Matobo.

The Matobo edit: Our family’s self-catering stay in the National Park

Our 20-day independent Africa trip was nearly at an end, but we had one more stop before Harare: Matobo National Park. This post includes reasons why we included Matobo in our Zimbabwe itinerary, how we booked our stay, details about our accommodation, and some of the places to visit in this spectacular area.

Transport: We self-drove from Hwange to Matobo National Park, near Bulawayo, and the journey took us 3 hours on the same road as before (slightly shorter duration than in the other direction, I don’t know why). This was in 2024. You can also ask your accommodation to organise a shuttle or air transfer for you.
Accommodation & food: We stayed in a self-catering tented camp in Matobo NP (details further down). We bought food supplies from the excellent large supermarkets at Zonkizizwe Shopping Centre in Bulawayo town.
- Suggestions for accommodation include: Rowallan Camp, The Farmhouse Matopos, Big Cave, Matobo Hills Lodge and also look at the National Parks (Zimparks) accommodation in Matobo if on a budget.
Top tip: You will need to pay National Parks fees to ZimParks for each day of your stay. This is paid at the entrance, usually in US Dollar or Zim cash. Rates can be found on the ZimParks website here.

Why we included Matobo in our Zimbabwe itinerary

Our flights to Zimbabwe from the UK landed in Harare International Airport, so we always knew our Zimbabwe circuit would start from Harare. We wanted a wildlife safari experience, so we chose Hwange National Park for this, the biggest of Zimbabwe’s wildlife areas.

The route by road from Harare to Hwange is too long to easily traverse in one stint, so we decided to break up the journey by staying in Bulawayo on the way to Hwange, and Matobo on the way back. This was one of the main reasons why we visited Matobo – it fits so well into the route between Harare and Hwange. Matobo is located around 6 hours from Harare and around 4 hours from Hwange by road.

Secondly, Matobo National Park, also called Matopos, is iconic for its dramatic rock-mountains, ancient rock paintings, and excellent hiking. It’s an amazing place to visit in its own right. You can see it at number 4 on the map below.

How we booked our stay

We were looking for a family-friendly, affordable accommodation in Matobo for our self-drive trip. I approached a few places for quotes and availability.

Eventually we chose Rowallan Camp, which has a number of accommodation options. Their Umkhombo Tented Camp was a good fit. We booked it via email directly with the camp, from the UK in advance.

Our accommodation at Rowallan Camp

I haven’t been paid for this post, we paid for our stay ourselves. I just want to share this info, because sometimes Zimbabwe independent travel can seem like an enigma to those who haven’t done it before.

We stayed at Rowallan Tented Camp, specifically their area called Umkhombo Tented Camp. We were in Tent 4, which is a family unit comprising two enormous ensuite semi-permanent tents.

It is self catering. We bought food in Bulawayo (Zonkizizwe Shopping Centre) as we drove through from Hwange National Park, as previously mentioned.

There are 6 ensuite tents at Umkhombo Tented Camp, with a shared kitchen and braai area.
I loved how thoughtfully designed this place is. The recent rebuild and renovations make it a peaceful and easy base for exploring the Matobo Hills.

Our family safari tent had a kingsize bed and ensuite bathroom.

The family safari unit also has a separate kids’ tent, less than 5 steps away, with two single beds and a bunk bed – and its own bathroom.
In the shared kitchen, you can store your food safely away from the monkeys, and make tea/coffee. It’s simple but practical, with lots of prep space. Boerewors was a must for the braai!

The viewing deck makes the perfect spot for a sundowner on the rocks.

If you’re feeling energetic, you can also climb up nearby Sunset Rock for an even better view of the hills.
Rowallan Camp is located inside the Matobo National Park boundary, so you need to pay entry fees separately at the gate.

Prices for this accommodation is in the photo below.

Top tip: Firewood was an extra US$5 per day.

More details about Rowallan Umkhombo:

Self-catering
Semi-permanent, ensuite tents
Hot water boilers
Linen provided
Solar lights & fans
Parking right next to the tents

If you do contact Rowallan Camp after seeing this post, I’d be grateful if you could mention that you saw it on GreatZimGuide!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Beth | Zimbabwe Travel Blogger (@greatzimguide)

Activities in Matobo National Park

Take an easy hike up World’s View, refreshments on hand, to absorb the rock-framed sunset. Here’s a throwback post on my visit to World’s View in Matobo.

Explore the ancient rock paintings, natural granite sculptures and small wildlife of Matobo on foot. You can do this as a self-guided activity (get info & maps from the ZimParks reception gate), or ask your lodge if they offer a walking tour. Sites include Bambata Cave, Inungu and Pomongwe.
Go rhino spotting in one of the world’s last strongholds for wild black and white rhinos. You can try your luck at doing this with your own vehicle (don’t go offroad), but your chances are better with an expert.
- Matobo tour/activity operators (if not booked through your lodge) include Bushmen Travel Company and Black Rhino Safaris.
Visit one of the dams such as Malema or Mpopoma for a scenic picnic.

This Matobo visit was part of our 20-day Cape Town and Zimbabwe holiday, which we self-booked and self-drove. You can read the in-depth article of how we planned the entire 20-day trip here. Also check out my articles Bulawayo travel guide and Best things to do in Bulawayo.

I’ll sign off with some more photos of our time in beautiful Matobo.