> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.travel-info.co.zw/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Old Bulawayo (kwaBulawayo): King Lobengula's First Capital > Old Bulawayo, King Lobengula's capital from 1870 to 1881: history, the NMMZ reconstruction and interpretive centre, its condition in 2026 and directions. **Old Bulawayo (kwaBulawayo) is the site of King Lobengula's first capital, about 22 km south of today's Bulawayo, which he occupied from 1870 to 1881.** National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) rebuilt part of the royal settlement in 1998, but a bush fire in 2010 destroyed most of it. Restoration has been under way since, and in June 2026 Bulawayo's mayor said the site "is not in a good state". Go for the history and the setting, not a finished open-air museum. **Written by [Bryan Fawcett](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/about-this-guide.md).** > [!NOTE] > > **Last reviewed: 25 October 2026** against National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) pages and its online ticket shop, the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, and CITE's report of 1 June 2026. Full list under [Sources](#sources). °, ° [View larger map →](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-20.3023\&mlon=28.6264#map=14/-20.3023/28.6264) Map of Old Bulawayo (kwaBulawayo) Map data © [OpenStreetMap contributors](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright) ## History Lobengula became king of the amaNdebele after the death of his father, King Mzilikazi, in 1868. He made this site his capital in 1870. In 1881, after 11 years here, he moved his capital north to the site of the modern city of Bulawayo and ordered the old settlement to be burned. The Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe notes that the layout of the settlement reflects the complex heritage of the Ndebele people. NMMZ lists its main attractions as the Zulu-style architecture, the settlement layout, the Indaba tree, and the nearby Jesuit mission. For the wider history of the Ndebele state, see our [Historic sites overview](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/historic/index.md) and the [Bulawayo guide](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/destinations/bulawayo.md). ## The reconstruction | Year | What happened | | - | - | | 1990 | NMMZ identified the site as suitable for an educational and tourist centre. | | 1998 | Rebuilt with a wagon shed, outer palisade, Lobengula's palace, eight beehive huts, a cattle kraal and an interpretive centre nearby. | | 2010 | A serious bush fire in August destroyed much of the rebuilt settlement. Only the interpretive centre survived undamaged. | | Since 2010 | NMMZ has been rebuilding the settlement. The Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe describes reconstruction as under way. | | 2026 | On 1 June 2026, Mayor David Coltart said the site "is not in a good state" and the access road is "appalling". | > [!WARNING] > > **Check before you go.** We could not confirm that the restoration is finished, or what is open on any given day. Ask NMMZ in Bulawayo (at the Natural History Museum) or a local guide before driving out. ## What you can see * **Interpretive centre:** the one building that survived the 2010 fire, with displays on the site and the Ndebele kingdom. * **The royal settlement:** whatever stage the rebuilt palace, beehive huts, palisade and cattle kraal have reached. * **The Indaba tree** and the site's layout. * **The landscape:** the open bushveld setting is part of the appeal. ## Getting there | | | | - | - | | **Distance** | About 22 km south of Bulawayo, according to NMMZ. Other sources give 19 to 20 km. | | **Route** | Leave Bulawayo on Burnside Road, which becomes Douglasdale Road. NMMZ says the Mtshabezi road turns west off the Douglasdale road to the site. | | **Road** | Expect a rough final stretch. A high-clearance vehicle is safer, especially in the rainy season (November to March). | | **Public transport** | We found none to the site. Hire a car with a driver or go with a Bulawayo tour operator. | | **Time needed** | 1 to 2 hours, plus the drive | ### Entry fee NMMZ's online ticket shop lists Old Bulawayo at **US\$0** for all visitors on 25 October 2026. That may change once restoration is complete, so carry some US dollars in case a fee is charged on site. ## Combine it with * [Natural History Museum, Bulawayo](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/historic/museums.md): NMMZ's western regional office, and the best place to ask about Old Bulawayo. * [Hope Fountain Mission](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/historic/mission-and-pioneer-sites.md), off the same Douglasdale road. * [Khami Ruins](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/heritage/khami-ruins.md), a World Heritage Site 22.5 km west of Bulawayo. * [Matobo Hills](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/destinations/matobo-hills.md), south of the city. ## Related guides > **[Bulawayo](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/destinations/bulawayo.md)** > **[Zimbabwe's museums](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/historic/museums.md)** > **[Mission and pioneer sites](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/historic/mission-and-pioneer-sites.md)** > **[Zimbabwe history timeline](https://www.travel-info.co.zw/history.md)** ## Sources * [National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe — Western Region, Bulawayo](https://www.nmmz.co.zw/western-region-bulawayo/) (Old Bulawayo location and attractions), accessed 25 October 2026 * [National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe — Monument and Site Entrance Fee (online ticket shop)](https://nmmz.co.zw/product/monument-and-site-entrance-fee/), prices checked 25 October 2026 * [Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe — Old Bulawayo](https://naturalhistorymuseumzimbabwe.com/old-bulawayo/), accessed 25 October 2026 * [Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE) — Coltart calls for urgent restoration of neglected heritage sites](https://cite.org.zw/coltart-calls-for-urgent-restoration-of-neglected-heritage-sites/), dated 1 June 2026 * [Wikimedia Commons — Old Bulawayo interpretive centre](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Bulawayo_interpretive_centre.jpg) (distance from the city), accessed 25 October 2026 * [Wikipedia — Old Bulawayo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Bulawayo) (coordinates), accessed 25 October 2026 * [Zimbabwe Field Guide — Hope Fountain Mission](https://zimfieldguide.com/matabeleland-south/hope-fountain-mission) (Burnside and Douglasdale roads), accessed 25 October 2026 This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.