What tourists need to know about visiting Bulawayo

Are you planning to visit Bulawayo in the near future? If so, you need to start preparing as soon as possible. Your level of preparedness will determine the outcome of your trip for everyone involved. Whether you are traveling alone or with a group, there are various things about Bulawayo that you should be aware of. To help jumpstart your effort, a list of tips_ are provided below.

History

Becoming familiar with Bulawayo's history is a good place to stop. As the second largest Zimbabwe city, Bulawayo is home to more than a million people. Of course, if you have any knowledge of the city you will know that its population was disputed soon after the government the 2012 census. According to the 2012 census, Bulawayo's population was about 650,000. As soon as the City Council got wind of the low population numbers, members filed a dispute against the government. The dispute claimed that the 2012 census got it wrong and the city's population was more like 1.2 million.

Exports

While it is not natural for foreign tourists to learn about Bulawayo's exports, it could play in your favor. Knowing as much as possible will help if you are ever asked an important question about the city's industries, government and national landmarks. The city's top exports include vehicles and parts, electronics, furniture, building materials and food products. Unfortunately, officials have struggled in the past few years to entice manufacturing companies to continue operating in their city. In fact, many of the previous manufacturing companies have pulled up roots and relocated to Harare.

Visiting A Park

Many foreign visitors plan to visit one or more of Bulawayo's parks during their trips. These stops are utilized to educate young children about the city's history and public facilities. You can choose from the Centenary Park, Barham Green, Hillside Dams and Mabukweni. Of the four parks, the most popular is the Centenary Park, which features green laws, a water fountain and amphitheater. Here, you can go for a stroll, enjoy a picnic, play online pokies Australia, relax for a few hours and do some bird watching.

Hillside Dams is a very unique park. Its dams are pretty extraordinary, especially for individuals who have never seen them in person before. There are several dams hidden inside the park. And, they are all a sight to see.

Visiting A Sports Venue

As cities in the United States and Canada, Bulawayo is home to several sports venues. These venues include but are not limited to, Barbourfields Stadium, White City Stadium, Ascot Racecourse, Kumalo Hockey Stadium and the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Grounds.

The city has been the host for various rugby tournaments. Most of these competitions have taken place on Bulawayo soil at the Hartsfield Rugby grounds. The locals are big rugby fans. So, if you happen to be visiting during a tournament, you better book your tickets in advance. Hardcore fans never miss a rugby match if they can help it.

Renting A Car

If you have never visited Bulawayo before, it is probably on your agenda to rent a car. While it is perfectly okay to rent a car before or after you land in Bulawayo, you should be aware of the current road conditions. In 2017, 70 percent of the roads in the city were declared "in poor condition". So, driving a car on Bulawayo roadways will probably be challenging for first-time visitors. With that said, some of the locals and many foreign visitors do not recommend driving on the city roadways without previous experience.

Visiting A Museum

To learn more about the history of Bulawayo, you should one of the city's museums. Three of the top museums in the city include the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo Railway Museum and National Gallery. All of these museums offer guided tours for an affordable price. All foreign visitors are welcome to visit the museums during the hours of operation.

Summary

Visiting Bulawayo is something that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. However, to ensure a fun-filled trip, preparedness is a necessity. It is also important to be prepared to communicate with the locals. Fortunately, the city has a diverse population. So, many of the local merchants can speak English.