Finding Burkes' Paradise
GPS Coordinates
- South: 20° 12.75'
- East: 28° 36.05'
Here are a selection of directions for finding your way to us, depending on what mode of transport you are using.
Driving
The roads coming into Bulawayo from Beit Bridge, Harare, and Plumtree all lead directly into central Bulawayo. The road from Victoria Falls is the exception in that you need to turn left from Lady Stanley St onto Masotsha Ndlovu Ave at the T-Junction and then at the first traffic lights turn right into Main St.
Central Bulawayo is laid out in a grid pattern. At the eastern edge of the grid is Samuel Parirenyatwa Road. You should head south on Samuel Parirenyatwa, towards Hillside, to leave the central grid. (The road name changes to Hillside Road as you leave the central grid.) After you have left the central grid you will go through two traffic lights. The first is the intersection with 23rd Ave, the second is at Cecil Ave. Proceed straight across both of these traffic lights. 2.5km after the Cecil Ave traffic lights turn right into Inverleith Drive. (A landmark to look out for is a large mobile phone tower on the right hand side of the road; Inverleith Drive is the next right after the tower). A couple of hundred meters up Inverleith Drive you will come to the entrance into Burkes' Paradise on the left hand side of the road. The entrace is marked by two stone pillars (one on each side) with the number 11 and "Burkes Paradise" painted on them. (See the photo in the gallery.) The driveway is about 100m long. Go all the way to the end and park at Paradise. If we don't come out to greet you then please hoot to alert us to your arrival.
Minibus Taxi
As in some other African countries, Bulawayo's main public transport is provided by minibuses that follow a regular route but will stop anywhere to pick up or drop off passengers. These are variously called Combis, ETs (for Emergency Taxi), Chovas or just Minibuses. The normal cost around Bulawayo is R5 per person (that is five South African Rand, roughly equivalent of 50 US cents).
To get to Burkes' Paradise from central Bulawayo go to the minibus terminus on the 8th Avenue side of the City Hall. This is the start/end point for the route to Burnside (the suburb we're in). Ask someone there direct you to a minibus giong to Burnside. After leaving the city centre the minibus, will go through 2 sets traffic lights, each about 2 km apart. After you have gone through these lights then;
- If you are on the right hand side of the taxi look out for a mobile phone tower on the right of the road and when you see it let the driver (or fare collector) know that you need to get off at the next road, or just say "Inverleith please".
- If you are on the left of the taxi watch the street names and when you see Whitestone Way let the driver (or fare collector) know that you need to get off at the next road, or just say "Inverleith please".
Inverleith Drive is on the right hand side of the road. Walk up Inverleith Drive until you see a driveway on your left marked by two stone pillars (one on each side) with the number 11 and "Burkes Paradise" painted on them. (See the photo in the gallery.) The driveway is about 100m long. Go all the way to the end and come knock on our door to check into Paradise.
Taxi
Taxis are available at the train station and bus stops. The directions above for driving to Burkes' Paradise may be helpful since not all taxi drivers are familiar with all street names in Bulawayo. We are about 10 minutes drive from central Bulawayo and the fare should be around US$8-10.