Masvingo

A main street in Masvingo

Masvingo is a city of about 90,000 (2022) in Southeastern Zimbabwe and the capital of Masvingo province. It is right by major Zimbabwe tourist attractions, such as Great Zimbabwe and Lake Mutirikwe.

Get in

Buses to Masvingo leave when full from Harare's Mbare bus station, cost about US$7 and take about five hours. You may be able to get one of the "luxury" buses between Johannesburg and Harare's Roadport to drop you off, but this will be much more expensive and is unlikely to work in the other direction. Minibuses from Bulawayo cost about US$8 and take 4.5 to 5 hours.

• 1 Inter city bus stop to Harare and Bulawayo, Bradburn St (corner with A4 / Josiah Tongogara Rd). Transport from Harare and Bulawayo (US$8, 4-5 hr) arrives here. (updated Jul 2024)
• 2 Inter city bus stop to Mutare and Chimanimani, Jason Moyo St (corner with A9 / Simon Mazorodze Rd, in front of Masvingo Downtown Lodge). Transport from Mutare and Chimanimani (US$8, 4-5 hr) arrives here. (updated Jul 2024)
• 3 Combis to the Great Zimbabwe, Hughes St (in front of the Pick N pay supermarket, opposite side.). Combi vans to the Great Zimbabwe leave when full (US$2, 30 min). You can also get a ride for US$1, which is what the locals pay. Just negotiate. (updated Jul 2024)
• 4 Masvingo railway station. There have been sporadic passenger trains from Gweru, where connections to the main railway network can be made. (updated Nov 2021)

Get around

The town is small and walkable.

See

Entrance to the Great Enclosure of Great Zimbawe

• The Great Zimbabwe ruins 25 km south of town

Eat

• 1 Moira Jane's Blue Bird Cafe, 48 Robertson St (same corner as Backpackers Rest Hostel, further up), ☏ +263 773272473. M-F 08:00-16:00, Sa 08:00-14:00, Su closed. Home-made breakfasts, burgers and pastries to enjoy in a nicely decorated dining terrace with wooden tables or inside, in a room with vintage movies posters.
  There is also a secondhand shop in the back. (updated Jul 2024)
• Pick N Pay Supermarket, Hughes Street. 07:00-19:00. large supermarket. (updated Aug 2023)
• OK Supermarket, Robertson Street. 07:00-21:00. large supermarket. (updated Aug 2023)

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Masvingo Backpacker's Rest, 146, dauth building, Robertson St (corner with A4 / Josiah Tongogara Rd). Old and barebones backpackers vibe. US$15 for dorm beds, US$20 for private rooms with shared bathroom. 
• Great Zimbabwe Ruins Just outside the ruins there is the National Monuments run campsite which has camping for US$5 per person. dorm beds for US$7 per person. and Rondavels (Chalets) for US$15 per person.
• Great Zimbabwe Hotel Between the ruins and the main road have a fantastic campsite with large tents set up, US$25
• Masvingo Downtown Lodge, Jason Moyo Street (Near caravan park). Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 10:00. Dorm bed. US$15 per person. (updated Oct 2015)
• Muunze Lodge (20 km from Masvingo), ☏ +263 773-098477. Camping/dorm beds/room with own bathroom pick up can be arranged from Masvingo. US$8/14/25 per person. (updated Sep 2016)

Go next

The stone ruins of Great Zimbabwe (entry US$15 per person, guided tour 2 hr, US$3) are about 25 km south of the city. You can get a combi from behind the Pick N Pay supermarket just south of the town centre (US$2, 30 min) which will drop you at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel about 2 km from the gate to the ruins. Taking a private taxi is also possible but much more expensive.