Less visited than Zimbabwe’s other attractions, the Matobos National Park lies about a 45-minute drive outside the city of Bulawayo. The granite hills were formed over 2 billion years ago with granite being forced to the surface, this has eroded to produce smooth “whaleback dwalas” and broken kopjes, strewn with boulders and interspersed with thickets of vegetation.

The Ndebele gave the area its name, meaning ‘Bald Heads’. These kopjes are dotted with Masasa trees which get new leaves in spring in vibrant colours, rather like autumn is meant to be. Guests can come and explore this amazing landscape.
The region was so beloved by colonial magnate Cecil John Rhodes that he asked to be buried here. Guests can hike to see his gravesite at a point called World’s View. Tracking rhino and going on game drives are also popular activities. Guests mostly see antelope on game drives. The region has a high concentration of leopards, but these are shy and seldom seen. The park does not have as much wildlife as Hwange, but a visit is extremely rewarding.