Matobo National Park
Matobo National Park
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379 reviews
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K72
Melbourne, Australia3,075 contributions
Jan 2023 • Friends
Loved this National Park, such different landscape to other places. Rocky terrain and lush green surrounds. There are many caves within the park, many with ancient rock paintings by the San bushmen.
We were lucky to see 6 large rhinos in the park too. Our guide, Adrian, knew a lot about the plant life within the park too.
Cecil Rhodes final resting place is,also here. That costs 10US to visit but there's a fabulous view without going right up. Viewpoint called World's View. Breath taking.
We didn't see many animals but the rhino were spectacular.
We were lucky to see 6 large rhinos in the park too. Our guide, Adrian, knew a lot about the plant life within the park too.
Cecil Rhodes final resting place is,also here. That costs 10US to visit but there's a fabulous view without going right up. Viewpoint called World's View. Breath taking.
We didn't see many animals but the rhino were spectacular.
Written January 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
huntersmith
Oakland, CA33 contributions
May 2023
This park is not often visited because you won't spot many animals on game drives, and it isn't on the main circuit for tourism. But it's easy to get to from Bulawayo and has spectacular scenery, with hills, rock faces, and boulders that are gorgeous all day and with the sun setting. There are also 13,000-year-old cave paintings and a chance to see rhinos in the wild (even on foot). Very peaceful, pretty, and photogenic.
Written May 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Desmond P
Snohomish, WA2 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
Entrance to the park very steep.We still remember driving through the park on a very hot day. Saw some game-no rhino.though. Entrance fee to climb the kopje to Rhode ‘s grave rather steep. Ah, well , World’s View worth it. It’s a magical place up there. Ignore the monuments, lie on your back, gaze at the cloudless cobalt sky and listen to the song of the wind as it caresses the balancing rocks. Very peaceful. Watch the sun go down .
Written December 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura Lou
Christchurch, New Zealand32 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
Incredible park and team of rangers and tour operators trying to save Rhinos. We had the local legend Ian as our guide for the day and he was amazing. Heartbreaking to hear about the poaching that is still happening. The painting in the park were amazing!! as were the rhino of course. This place is a must visit. You'll have an awesome day and contribute some tourist $'s to helping protect the rhinos.
Written December 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Royalty travel vic falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe74 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
It's a great place for camp siting and mountain climbing and also contains a lot of colonial history matter of fact it's a heritage site
Written December 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J K
Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand203 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
The park is about an hour from the city. On arrival, you pay to enter the park, and later you pay an additional fee to visit Cecil Rhodes’ gravesite and a large cave. The park is known for rock formations, cave paintings, and the gravesite. There is no map available when you enter, but we were told that you can purchase one at the gravesite. (We learned this after bypassing that stop.) Without a map, it was difficult to know where to go. We visited three caves. White Rhino is just off the road. You do have to walk up the hill to it. The paintings are pretty faint but are well worth seeing, as are the views from the top of the hill. We decided to take the road to the dam. Before the dam there’s a small museum where you purchase the second ticket, and the large cave with paintings is also there. The man at the museum told us to go to the third cave, the turn to which is after the dam. It is then about a kilometer walk up to the cave. These paintings are the most best of the three; so it was well worth the trip to get to them. On the way back, we stopped at Cecil Rhodes’ gravesite. There you can learn a little about the man and why he is buried there. You have to walk up the hill to get there, but the views from the top are fantastic.
Written September 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard H
Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe342 contributions
Jan 2013 • Friends
I have been visiting the Matopos since 1982 and can still never get there often enough! It is a beautiful area and there is quite a variety of things to do depending on fitness and time.
Let me start off with a word on the entrance fees. i agree wholeheartedly with one reviewer that this should be explained at the entrance gate but isn't. The park is run by National Parks and what you pay at the entrance will cover most of what you want to do. BUT (!) Rhodes' Grave and the cave painting sites are run by the Museums and you will be asked to pay again. For overseas visitors, I believe the $10 charge is excessive but it is cheaper to pay than to come back again. the ticket is also valid for all the Museums sites so you don't pay for each cave or whatever. It is also my experience that you will only have an attendant to charge you at Rhodes' Grave and possibly, Pomongwe. Retain your receipts/tickets!
Having said all that, I do believe Matopos is an outstanding place to visit. The rock formations are stunning, beautiful dams, endless walking possibilities, fishing, game viewing and so on.
Let me mention two personal favourite walks. One is Pomongwe. Start opposite the turn into Maleme Rest Camp, walk up and over the hill to Pomongwe cave (don't have to pay entry if you are just walking!) and then back along the road to the start. It is a steep climb and has some scrambles but great views. Secondly, Nanke Cave. This departs from Togwana Dam and is a long walk. Allow 3-4 hours there and back. Some steep and scrambly bits but not too bad. Just quite a long way over rough terrain. My one proviso is to go with someone who knows the way. There are some arrows and cairns but it is overgrown and rarely frequented and a very remote part to get lost in.
The Game Park : it is a beautiful drive but you can drive round for hours and see very little. that is a warning but not advice not to go. It is a very good place to see rhino which may be just about all you do but for many that would be worth it. I agree with some others that there seems to be less game in the rest of the park but look out for dassies, klipspringer and other antelope. They can be seen.
A word on vehicles : there is a good tar road as far as Maleme but these days I would recommend a high clearance vehicle for the dirt roads including the game park. It doesn't need to be 4WD if you keep to the standard roads.
I didn't stay at Maleme rest camp this time but I don't think it is quite as run down as some people seem to imply. I was there a year ago and it was basic (always has been) but clean and perfectly adequate. Some of the picnic and camp sites are a bit more run down, I will admit. The kiosk at Maleme is now functioning again though don't expect Sainsburys. Take food and plenty of liquids with you, especially if you intend walking.
Finally (I think) on cave paintings. Inswatugi is excellent and accessible by vehicle on a rough road. Nanke is also excellent but only accessible after a long walk (see my comments above). Pomongwe has nothing to see. White Rhino is a pleasant short walk but only an average display of paintings.
Finally, let me make another unequivocal recommendation for Matopos as a place to visit.
Let me start off with a word on the entrance fees. i agree wholeheartedly with one reviewer that this should be explained at the entrance gate but isn't. The park is run by National Parks and what you pay at the entrance will cover most of what you want to do. BUT (!) Rhodes' Grave and the cave painting sites are run by the Museums and you will be asked to pay again. For overseas visitors, I believe the $10 charge is excessive but it is cheaper to pay than to come back again. the ticket is also valid for all the Museums sites so you don't pay for each cave or whatever. It is also my experience that you will only have an attendant to charge you at Rhodes' Grave and possibly, Pomongwe. Retain your receipts/tickets!
Having said all that, I do believe Matopos is an outstanding place to visit. The rock formations are stunning, beautiful dams, endless walking possibilities, fishing, game viewing and so on.
Let me mention two personal favourite walks. One is Pomongwe. Start opposite the turn into Maleme Rest Camp, walk up and over the hill to Pomongwe cave (don't have to pay entry if you are just walking!) and then back along the road to the start. It is a steep climb and has some scrambles but great views. Secondly, Nanke Cave. This departs from Togwana Dam and is a long walk. Allow 3-4 hours there and back. Some steep and scrambly bits but not too bad. Just quite a long way over rough terrain. My one proviso is to go with someone who knows the way. There are some arrows and cairns but it is overgrown and rarely frequented and a very remote part to get lost in.
The Game Park : it is a beautiful drive but you can drive round for hours and see very little. that is a warning but not advice not to go. It is a very good place to see rhino which may be just about all you do but for many that would be worth it. I agree with some others that there seems to be less game in the rest of the park but look out for dassies, klipspringer and other antelope. They can be seen.
A word on vehicles : there is a good tar road as far as Maleme but these days I would recommend a high clearance vehicle for the dirt roads including the game park. It doesn't need to be 4WD if you keep to the standard roads.
I didn't stay at Maleme rest camp this time but I don't think it is quite as run down as some people seem to imply. I was there a year ago and it was basic (always has been) but clean and perfectly adequate. Some of the picnic and camp sites are a bit more run down, I will admit. The kiosk at Maleme is now functioning again though don't expect Sainsburys. Take food and plenty of liquids with you, especially if you intend walking.
Finally (I think) on cave paintings. Inswatugi is excellent and accessible by vehicle on a rough road. Nanke is also excellent but only accessible after a long walk (see my comments above). Pomongwe has nothing to see. White Rhino is a pleasant short walk but only an average display of paintings.
Finally, let me make another unequivocal recommendation for Matopos as a place to visit.
Written January 28, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bongani L
Lagos, Nigeria1 contribution
Dec 2012 • Family
Watch out, you will pay Park fees at the Park entrance, and then again at any of the sites inside. The top of the world view and most caves and San Paintings resort under National Monuments (separate from the Parks), you will pay again for these. I have complained at the unfairness of not publicly displaying (or mentioning) this at the entrance
Written January 4, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ATLpch
Atlanta, GA1,214 contributions
Matobo National Park (a.k.a. Matopos) is a fantastic day trip destination from Bulawayo. The park features amazing rock formations that offer views of beautiful vistas. Don't miss the view from "The Top of the World" where Cecil John Rhodes, founder of Rhodesia, is buried. The bushmen cave drawings are also worth the climb to find. We visited the park last month and loved it! The park admission fee is $5 for locals, $10 for foreigners, and $3 for the map. We skipped the map and found that driving around the park is easy, the signs and destinations are well marked. There were only a handful of visitors on the day we went, and felt that we could really connect with the park's sites without interruption. The Meleme Dam area of the park has picnic area and cottages that offer views of the park. Be sure to bring picnic items, bottled water, trash bags, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Written October 27, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zena S
34 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
Had the best few days here and would highly recommend it, the game drive and scenery was magical. The local markets are a must
Written June 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hallo,
As you vcan imagine it is hard to get info about Matobo before you travel.
The Rhino walks you did was this with a National Park ranger? Where / how did you book? How long do they go for? Is there way you can book before hand, or do you need to wait until you arrive at Matobos. We are staying 2 nights in December at the National Parks Maleme Rest Camp. Are the walks in the morning or afternoon - what time do the start?? I am a bit surprised that they walks only cost $20 - sounds cheap fro Zimanbawe.
What were your highlight of Matobos - game walks, caves, rock paintings, views, dams, swimming holes, picnic place etc
Regards
Kai
Magnetic Island Australia
Written August 14, 2018
Hi do not expect any game here unless at Crack of down say 6am you can see the Leopards
They don't really have any other game was there today 8/9/18
the rock formations and the history is stunning,don't miss that
Dress up in sport wear there is a bit of walking here and there
The top of grave site is extremely cold so anyone with cold allergy like me should have some shawls or scarf handy
Written September 8, 2018
Hi, kaiser6. What would you like to know about this attraction?
Id like to get more info about the Rhino trekking; the USD 20 sounds a great deal for 1/2 day. - is this done by Nat Parks or privately. Who do we contact. Are teenage kids allowed to participate?
Written March 28, 2018
Sorry for the late reply, somehow didn't get the notice before today. In case it is still interesting for someone: the rhino tracking is done by the Parks officials. We simply booked it the day before at the park reception. We were able to take our teenage kids (then 13 and 16). And it was well worth it, you could get really close to these animals, and it was very quiet and peaceful. Enjoy
Written May 9, 2019
All info about entry on the website of zimparks
Written August 31, 2018
Hi, I am planning got visit Matobo and camp in September. We don't have a car so any ideas how we can get there from Bulawayo/ (We are getting a train to there from livingstone) Is there a bus we can get? Would we need a car to travel around the part or is there guided tours? Thanks in advance
Written July 25, 2016
Sorry, no idea as a local friend brought me there ...
Written August 16, 2016
Hello:
I am interested in visiting Matopo NP, and hope to stay in the Amalinda Lodge. My questions are about the Rhino tracking for which the park is famous. I hope someone can answer my questions:
1. Are Rhino really prevalent in the park and fairy easy to find or is it just a marketing gimmick by them?
2. I have read that the Rhinos are all de-horned and tagged for conservation reasons. Is it true they are all de-horned? Did you see any which are not de-horned?
Thanks
Thank You
Written November 24, 2015
Apologies for the delay in answering this , I missed the email. I did not see rhinos on this trip as I was only in the park overnight and out the next morning. I was up at Rhodes grave scattering my mother's ashes.
I have however seen plenty of rhino in the park previously but not been there for some years. Your best bet is to actually phone/email the park and talk to them. Generally in all African parks now they do not like to give out too much information as to where their rhinos are as it is like a red flag to poachers who stop at nothing to get rhino horn.
Written January 13, 2016
Which is the best campsite to stay in?
Written April 24, 2015
We are travelling to Zimbabwe in August 2015, we have hired a camper van and trying to find the best camp site to try to book in Matobo National Park, we are planning to stay for 2 nights, any suggestions?
Written April 9, 2015
Go to Motobo Hills Lodge! (Not sure you could get up the tracks with a camper an though?) It's absolutely stunning; high up with a near 360* view of the STUNNING scenery. Josh, the manager there, is wonderful; incredibly friendly and helpful and he tends to eat with the guests on the Veranda so you can grab loads of local history and info. Campfire often in the evening too! And really beautiful rooms with cheap rates. I'd also recommend tracking rhinos with Ian Harmer of African Wanderer Safaris - our days with him were the highlight of our whole trip.
Written April 9, 2015
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