A taste of authentic colonial history - well worth a visit
Stepping from the dusty, bustling and noisy street of this African town, between the white pillars of a grand white portico, you might be forgiven for blinking a few times, doing a double-take, and rubbing that same dust from your eyes. Standing surrounded by dark panelling and the glassy-eyes of late African beasties in the lobby of the once gentleman-only Bulawayo Club, you’ll probably quickly realise that you are in something of a pristine colonial relic and a museum to boot.
The Bulawayo Club was founded in 1895 and three buildings later, on the same spot, it remains an extraordinary piece of Zimbabwe’s history. Like other similar establishments in other ex-colonies, the Club was established as a social hub for officers of the armed forces and other gentlemen. Ladies were allowed in once or twice a year on special occasions, provided they enter through the side door. The Club has recently been refurbished but every effort has been made to retain its original features as far as possible (except in the Ladies washroom where a minor but effective rebellion in pink and purple has taken place).
The Club is laid out around an open atrium, three storeys high. Various lounges, dining rooms, card rooms and function rooms lead off from panelled corridors and broad staircases. There is a fascinating and extensive collection of art and museum pieces pertinent to the lives of Sir Cecil John Rhodes and his contemporaries, including a dour portrait of the man himself donated by his estate. Fifteen en-suite bedrooms, rendered light and airy without losing their classic feel, line the upper floor along with an informal resident’s lounge.
Bulawayo might not normally spring to mind as a suitable stopover on a safari itinerary, however, on visiting the Club and speaking to people there, it is clear that there is a great deal to see and do. The Club can organise historical tours of the town itself, the Khami Ruins (in the style of Great Zimbabwe), and koBulawayo – the royal capital of the Matabele State in the late 1800s in addition to trips to the very impressive Natural History Museum.
A stay of one or two nights at the Bulawayo Club can be neatly combined with itineraries that include Matobo National Park, Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls, for example. There are international flights from Johannesburg to Bulawayo.
The rate is on bed and breakfast basis and does not include drinks, activities or transfers, although we would put together a package of various activities based on specific interests.
A colonial member's club turned small-town hotel
A taste of authentic colonial history - well worth a visit
_450_253_80_s_c1.jpg)
Bulawayo is the main town in the southern part of Zimbabwe and the capital of Matabeleland, where the majority of people are from the Ndebele (or Matabele) tribe. Its roots lie in the northern advance of the Matabele king, Mzilikazi (a breakaway nation of the Zulus) in the 1840s and the subsequent conquest of the town by the forces of Sir Cecil John Rhodes and the British South Africa Company. These two powerful histories are evident in the town and its surrounds. Read more?
Once a hallowed safari destination, Zimbabwe has emerged from a few troubled years and remains a safari destination to be reckoned with. Although travel around the country is not as easy as it once was, there are some real gems here that are definitely worth considering. Read more?
Can't find the camp you're looking for? Just let us know and we will be sure to help.
Catherine's long experience of, and enthusiasm for Africa, makes her a mine of travel information. Add to the mix her vivacious character and inscrutable attention to detail and there are few people you'd rather have plan your holiday.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.
