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The City of Bulawayo is located on an area selected by King Lobengula, the last of the local Matebele Kings, for his personal Kraal.
Government House now stands on the actual site.
The name (originally called ko Bulawayo) is generally interpreted as the place of slaughter or the place of killing, derived from the "Ndebele" word "ukubulala" , meaning to "kill".
It also refers to a Zulu Settlement in KwaZulu Natal, Republic of South Africa from where the local Ndebeles came from when King Mzilikazi and his band of warriors escaped the wrath of King Tshaka in the nineteenth century.
The City boasts such attractions as the Natural History Museum which includes a superb geological gallery, Khami Ruins ,National Railways Museum, Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage, Mzilikazi Arts and Crafts Centre, Caravan Park, Bulawayo Home Industries, Centenary Park to name a few.
The countryside around Bulawayo contains much of interest. The Matopo National Park, half an hour's drive from the City, is set in a sea of fantastic rock formations with many historical sites. Stashed away within the Park is a 100 bed Rest Camp, Bushmen painted caves, Game Park with a variety of game and picturesque dams for boating and camping. A variety of animal species including white rhino, zebra, impala, wildebeest, giraffe, tsetsebe are common residents of the game park together with many rare species of wild birds. Not far from the City Centre are the Tshabalala Game Sanctuary, Umguza and Mazwi Nature Reserves in the immediate hinterland.
Hospitality
The City is home to a number of world class hotels and lodges that include the Holiday Inn, Churchill Arms, Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel, Royal Hotel, and Greys Inn.The School of Hospitality and Tourism serves not only as a regional learning centre for this industry but also as a hotel.
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