Overnight rail travel between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls is back on the timetable, and with it a new surge of interest in slow, scenic journeys across Zimbabwe.

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has restored regular passenger services on the Bulawayo to Victoria Falls route, repositioning the line as both an affordable transport corridor and a powerful engine for domestic tourism along one of the country’s most storied tracks.

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A Historic Line Reopens To Regular Travelers

The Bulawayo to Victoria Falls line is one of Zimbabwe’s classic railway routes, threading roughly 470 kilometers from the country’s second city to its flagship tourist attraction on the Zambezi.

Once a staple of the national timetable, the service fell quiet in recent years as NRZ grappled with aging infrastructure, financial pressures and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on passenger operations.

That hiatus has now ended. In mid-October 2025, NRZ formally reintroduced scheduled passenger trains on the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls corridor, alongside the Harare–Mutare route, following successful tourism-focused trial runs during the Sanganayi/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo.

The restored service currently operates as an overnight train twice a week, departing Bulawayo on Friday evenings and returning from Victoria Falls on Sunday nights, timed to deliver travelers into their destinations on weekend mornings.

For Zimbabwean authorities, this is more than a nostalgic gesture. Officials and railway executives describe the move as a deliberate effort to bring rail back into the mainstream of domestic mobility, reduce strain on the country’s roads and unlock tourism potential along a line that passes within reach of key wildlife and heritage areas.

Tourism Train Concept Becomes Mainstream Service

The revival of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls passenger train builds directly on NRZ’s tourism experiment under its Rail Leisure division.

During the 2025 edition of the Sanganayi/Hlanganani expo, the operator ran special tourism trains, complete with sleeper and dining cars, to showcase rail as a scenic, value-for-money alternative to highway coaches and domestic flights.

The public response was immediate and emphatic. NRZ reported strong load factors and enthusiastic feedback from passengers attracted by the slower pace, social atmosphere and the novelty of overnight rail travel.

The trial highlighted a clear appetite for rail-based tourism among Zimbabweans and regional visitors, especially those seeking more affordable ways to reach classic destinations like Victoria Falls and the Eastern Highlands without sacrificing experience.

Armed with that data, NRZ shifted from one-off charter runs to a regular timetable. The reintroduced Bulawayo–Victoria Falls service uses standard and economy-class coaches rather than the fully premium configuration employed during the expo, a deliberate step to broaden access and reposition the train as a blended tourism and public transport option rather than an occasional luxury product.

Affordable Fares Open Up Victoria Falls To Domestic Travelers

One of the most striking features of the revived service is its pricing. Economy-class fares on the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls route have been set at around 9 US dollars per adult one way, undercutting most long-distance bus tickets on the same corridor and coming in dramatically below airfares to the country’s tourism capital.

That low fare is central to the service’s domestic tourism rationale. For many Zimbabwean families, groups of students, church associations and low-income travelers, a trip to Victoria Falls has long been aspirational but financially out of reach.

By anchoring fares well below competing modes, NRZ is positioning the line as the budget gateway to one of Africa’s marquee attractions.

The affordability story does not end with basic tickets. On some departures, the train offers a mix of seating and sleeping accommodation, including second-class berths, allowing passengers to trade up for more comfort on the 15-hour journey while still staying within the cost of a typical bus trip and a night’s budget accommodation.

For inbound regional tourists already facing flight and visa expenses, the overnight train also serves as a built-in hotel on wheels, bundling transport and lodging into a single fare.

A Scenic Corridor Through Wildlife Country

Part of the attraction of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls train lies in the route itself. After leaving Bulawayo in the evening, the train runs north-west across Matabeleland, passing close to Hwange National Park and through settlements such as Dete and Hwange that serve as gateways to some of Zimbabwe’s richest wildlife territory.

Passengers who rise early can watch the landscape shift from dry savanna to teak forest and Kalahari sandveld as the train approaches the Zambezi escarpment.

Rail aficionados have long spoken of glimpses of elephant, giraffe and antelope from the carriage windows, particularly on the stretches skirting parkland and communal grazing areas.

While wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, the possibility itself sets the experience apart from most road journeys, where traffic and speed can make the landscape feel like a blur.

Tourism boards and local operators are now exploring how to better integrate the train into regional packages.

Concepts under discussion include combined rail-and-safari itineraries using the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls train as a spine, with road transfers into Hwange lodges and community conservancies, as well as heritage-focused journeys that link the historic architecture of Bulawayo, the Matobo Hills and the colonial-era engineering of the Victoria Falls Bridge into a single rail-based circuit.

Railway Revival And The Push To Decongest Roads

The scenic revival has a hard-headed transport logic behind it. Zimbabwe’s long-distance highway network has carried the bulk of intercity passenger traffic in recent years, with fleets of buses and smaller vehicles servicing routes that were once the domain of the national railway.

That shift has contributed to congestion and road safety challenges on corridors like Bulawayo–Victoria Falls, particularly during peak holiday periods.

By returning intercity passenger trains to service, NRZ and the government aim to rebalance this mix. Overnight trains remove dozens of heavy buses and smaller vehicles from the asphalt while offering a safer, more controlled environment for travelers.

For freight planners, the presence of active passenger services can also justify investment in track, signaling and rolling stock that benefits cargo operations during daytime windows.

The Bulawayo–Victoria Falls line sits at the crossroads of several regional rail connections to Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

As NRZ works to improve reliability and journey times, there is scope for the corridor to become part of broader cross-border tourism flows, with visitors arriving from Johannesburg, Gaborone or Lusaka using through-ticketed combinations of regional links and Zimbabwe’s domestic overnight train.

Onboard Experience: From Vintage Coaches To Premier Class

For now, the core Bulawayo–Victoria Falls service relies on standard and economy coaches, some of them heritage rolling stock with wooden paneling and classic compartment layouts.

These cars provide a tangible link to the golden age of southern African rail, a feature that NRZ is learning to market rather than hide, particularly to overseas visitors for whom vintage rail travel is a draw in its own right.

Alongside the mainstream service, NRZ is refining its higher-end Premier Class product on the same route. Designed as a hotel-style train for holidaymakers, Premier Class departures layer in private berths, hot showers, onboard dining, bar facilities and hosted activities at the destination.

Passengers sleep on the train even while it is stabled at Victoria Falls, effectively turning the consist into a rolling lodge.

This dual-track approach allows the railway to serve very different markets on the same infrastructure. Budget-conscious travelers can opt for the basic overnight train, while those seeking comfort and curated experiences can book into Premier Class or other specialist tourism charters.

Industry observers say the model is similar to arrangements in South Africa, where regular passenger lines share tracks with high-end tourist operators, but with the difference that in Zimbabwe the national railway itself operates both tiers.

Economic Ripple Effects For Communities Along The Line

The resumption of regular trains is already beginning to reshape the micro-economies of stations and communities along the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls corridor.

At intermediate stops, local vendors once again have access to a captive market of rail passengers for snacks, crafts and basic supplies, reviving a small but meaningful income stream that had all but vanished with the suspension of services.

In Victoria Falls town, hoteliers, guesthouse owners and activity providers welcome the additional arrivals that a scheduled train brings in on predictable days of the week.

For operators targeting domestic tourists, the ability to market packages that include a 9 dollar rail ticket instead of a significantly higher bus or flight cost can be the difference between a hard sell and a viable product.

Bulawayo, too, stands to gain as a rail gateway city. The restored link strengthens its position as a hub for excursions to Matobo National Park, Lake Kariba via road connections, and historical tours that delve into the city’s industrial and cultural heritage.

As passenger numbers grow, more small businesses are likely to cluster around Bulawayo station, from tour desks and luggage storage facilities to cafes catering to evening departures and early morning arrivals.

Challenges Ahead For A Sustainable Rail Tourism Model

Despite the positive headlines, the scenic railway revival faces structural challenges. NRZ must maintain aging tracks and rolling stock across thousands of kilometers of network, often within tight fiscal constraints.

Ensuring that the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls service operates reliably, with minimal delays and acceptable comfort levels, will require consistent investment in maintenance, staff training and basic amenities such as lighting, security and sanitation at stations and on board.

Safety remains a central concern, particularly at level crossings and in rural areas where livestock and informal settlements sit close to the line. The success of the tourism train depends in part on NRZ’s ability to reassure travelers that overnight rail is not only scenic and affordable, but also secure.

This means visible onboard personnel, clear communication channels and coordination with local law enforcement and transport regulators.

There is also the question of scale. For now, the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls service runs just twice a week and primarily on weekends, limiting options for business travelers or tourists whose itineraries do not align with the schedule.

Expanding the frequency without eroding load factors will require careful market analysis and, potentially, partnerships with tour operators who can guarantee block bookings on particular departures.

FAQ

Q1. What days does the Bulawayo to Victoria Falls passenger train currently operate?
The reintroduced service typically departs Bulawayo on Friday evenings and returns from Victoria Falls on Sunday evenings, operating as an overnight train in each direction.

Q2. How long does the journey between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls take by train?
The overnight trip usually takes around 15 hours, with departures in the early evening and arrivals the following morning, depending on operational conditions and intermediate stops.

Q3. How much does a ticket cost on the Bulawayo to Victoria Falls route?
Economy-class fares are set at about 9 US dollars one way per adult, with higher prices for standard seating or sleeping berths where available.

Q4. What kind of onboard accommodation is available?
The regular service offers economy and standard-class seating, and on some departures second-class sleeping berths, while selected tourism-focused or Premier Class trains provide upgraded sleeper cabins with additional amenities.

Q5. Is the train mainly for tourists or for general passengers?
Although the route is heavily associated with tourism to Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park, the revived train is structured as a public passenger service that caters to both local travelers and holidaymakers.

Q6. Can passengers see wildlife from the train?
Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, but because the line runs near Hwange National Park and through rural areas, passengers sometimes report glimpses of elephants, antelope and other animals, especially around dawn and dusk.

Q7. How can travelers purchase tickets for the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls train?
Tickets are typically sold through NRZ reservation offices at main stations such as Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, with many passengers buying on or close to the day of travel; travelers are encouraged to confirm current sales arrangements locally before their journey.

Q8. Is the revived train service suitable for families and groups?
Yes, the low fares and overnight schedule make the train particularly attractive for families, school groups, church trips and other organizations looking for economical group travel to Victoria Falls.

Q9. How does the train compare with buses or flights on the same route?
The train is generally slower than road or air options but often much cheaper than flying and more spacious and social than most long-distance buses, while also providing a unique scenic and heritage experience.

Q10. Are there plans to increase the frequency of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls service?
Railway officials have indicated that the current weekend-focused timetable could be expanded over time if demand remains strong and resources allow, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen passenger rail across Zimbabwe.