Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe
The Natural Museum was established in 1900, and the current building (the fifth museum building) located in Centenary Park, Bulawayo was built in 1962.
The Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe is an impressive circular building that was renamed in 1982 after all of the natural science collections were moved here. With its valuable research collections and stunning displays, it is the best museum in Southern Africa.
About the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe
The Museum provides visitors with a singular opportunity to learn about Zimbabwe’s past, present, and natural and cultural heritage all under one roof.
The ground floor galleries feature a wide variety of fauna, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, and large and small mammals. It is also a birder’s paradise, with an incredible representation of Zimbabwean bird life.
This diversity of fauna is displayed in an array of stunning life-like natural habitats that allows the visitor to pause for a moment in time and ponder the diorama before them. Short notes on the species are part of the displays.
The Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe Galleries
The Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe is a renowned center for research, housing some of the largest and most extensive collections on the African continent in the following disciplines:
- Arachnology and Invertebrates
- Entomology
- Ornithology
- Mammalogy
- Herpetology
- Ichthyology
- Paleontology
- Geology
- Archeology
What You Can See At the Museum
The museum is one of the few in the world to showcase the oldest fish species still in existence, the prehistoric Coelacanth, and it also holds the second largest mounted African elephant in history. An Aepyornis egg is also on display, one of the largest birds to live on earth, but went extinct in recent history.
Geology
The geology gallery is highly informative, displaying the origins of the earth and rocks as well as geological processes with a comprehensive display on the mineral and crystal wealth of Zimbabwe.
Paleontology
Meanwhile the paleontology section discusses the pre-historic life forms including an impression of Megapnosaurus (previously Syntarsus then Coelophysis) a uniquely Zimbabwe dinosaur.
Hall of Man
At the upper levels, the Hall of Man transports visitors to the early stages of human evolution through a leisurely journey to the present.
A life-size model of a coal mine allows visitors to witness a miner at work. The Hall starts with a collection of early man and takes the visitor through the art of early hunting, farming, art, medicine, mining, warfare and communication culminating in the Zeederberg Royal Mail Coach, the second only such coach remaining in Southern Africa.
Hall of Kings
In the Hall of Kings the visitor is treated to the history of pre-colonial, colonial, and post- colonial Zimbabwe as well the history of Cecil John Rhodes, the man famed for colonizing Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi with his British South African Company.
Invertebrate Gallery
An opportunity to understand the fascinating and secret lives of our incredibly divergent insect and invertebrate fauna, from the pests to the beneficial, is offered by the invertebrate gallery, which is also located on the top floor.
Facilities
Teas and lunches are available at our restaurant.
Where Is The Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe?
cnr Park Road and Leopold Takawira Avenue
Centenary Park,
Suburbs,
Bulawayo
Opening Hours
Everyday: 9am – 5pm
Open on Public Holidays
Contact The Natural History Museum
Phone: +263-29-2250 045
Website: https://naturalhistorymuseumzimbabwe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NHMZimbabwe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bulawayomuseum_nat.hist/
Anyone wishing to help support the museum in any way, please join the “Friends of the Museum” www.facebook.com/friendsofthemuseumbulawayo
