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Zimbabwe🇿🇼 | townsPlumtreeBotswana line, railway station, boarding school, border trade | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Plumtree
🌟 Highlighttown ranked #5
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The minibus from Bulawayo slowed to a crawl behind a donkey cart piled with firewood, and the driver leaned out to trade jokes with the boy holding the reins before we rolled on toward the border. That is Plumtree: a quick, friendly handoff between countries. You will find it in the southwest of Zimbabwe, right at the Botswana line. It is a working border town with a railway past, not a resort. The upside is how easy it is to reach, how simple it is to cross onward, and the unhurried people. The downside is a thin travelers scene, few hostels and almost no nightlife. Expect to meet other backpackers in transit rather than at a bar. Plumtree works best as a stopover, so use it. Your first day could start with coffee and a walk along the main road, then a stroll to the railway station and a look at the school grounds.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Zimbabwe Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #5 town in ZimbabweWhat makes it a must-see town

Plumtree earns its place on a route as the clean exit or entry point between Zimbabwe and Botswana, and a night here beats arriving at a border post worn out. The town is small enough to cover on foot in an hour or two. Its history is concentrated in two places: the Plumtree School, one of the oldest schools in the country, and the railway station, which marks the line that once carried goods north from South Africa. You will not find a big sightseeing list, and that is the point. Most travelers stay one night, or a few hours between buses. Overlanders, solo travelers heading to Francistown and slow-travel types who like seeing how a border community really runs will get the most from it. You can eat simple local plates, shop at street stalls and chat with traders who cross the line daily. … read more 👉
Plumtree earns its place on a route as the clean exit or entry point between Zimbabwe and Botswana, and a night here beats arriving at a border post worn out. The town is small enough to cover on foot in an hour or two. Its history is concentrated in two places: the Plumtree School, one of the oldest schools in the country, and the railway station, which marks the line that once carried goods north from South Africa. You will not find a big sightseeing list, and that is the point. Most travelers stay one night, or a few hours between buses. Overlanders, solo travelers heading to Francistown and slow-travel types who like seeing how a border community really runs will get the most from it. You can eat simple local plates, shop at street stalls and chat with traders who cross the line daily. If you want hikes, beaches or a busy hostel scene, push on to the Matobo Hills and Bulawayo instead.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Plumtree

  1. Plumtree School: Founded in the early 1900s, this is the town’s best-known institution, with old brick buildings, sports fields and a long tradition of boarding education. Visit on a weekday morning and ask at the gate before walking in. Entry is usually free, and a look around takes 30 to 45 minutes.
  2. Plumtree Railway Station: The station sits on the line linking Bulawayo to the Botswana border and shows the town’s origins as a railway stop. Heritage-minded travelers can admire the colonial-era station building and the tracks. It is free, and 20 to 30 minutes is plenty. Daylight is best for photos.
  3. Town center and border-side market stalls: The main street is where Plumtree’s cross-border trade shows itself, with small shops, fruit sellers and traders handling goods that come and go through
… read more 👉
  1. Plumtree School: Founded in the early 1900s, this is the town’s best-known institution, with old brick buildings, sports fields and a long tradition of boarding education. Visit on a weekday morning and ask at the gate before walking in. Entry is usually free, and a look around takes 30 to 45 minutes.
  2. Plumtree Railway Station: The station sits on the line linking Bulawayo to the Botswana border and shows the town’s origins as a railway stop. Heritage-minded travelers can admire the colonial-era station building and the tracks. It is free, and 20 to 30 minutes is plenty. Daylight is best for photos.
  3. Town center and border-side market stalls: The main street is where Plumtree’s cross-border trade shows itself, with small shops, fruit sellers and traders handling goods that come and go through Botswana. Go in the morning when stalls are busiest. Browsing costs nothing, a snack runs about US$1 to 3, and an hour is enough.
For longer outings from Plumtree, Bulawayo’s museums, the Khami Ruins and Matobo National Park all make good day trips, and Francistown across the border is also reachable. All of Plumtree’s sights together fit comfortably into half a day.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Plumtree

Full-Day Matobo Rhino Tracking & Rock Art from Bulawayo

Full-Day Matobo Rhino Tracking & Rock Art from Bulawayo

5.0(5)
From €149
per personViator
Khami Ruins & Matopos Silunguzi Village Day Tour!

Khami Ruins & Matopos Silunguzi Village Day Tour!

4.8(5) 8h
From €131
per personViator
Silunguzi Matopos Village & Rock Paintings Visit !

Silunguzi Matopos Village & Rock Paintings Visit !

5.0(4) 6h
From €86
per personViator
Half-Day Matobo Hills Cave Expedition & Ancient Rock Art Tour

Half-Day Matobo Hills Cave Expedition & Ancient Rock Art Tour

5.0(1) 5h
From €82
per personViator
Matopos Park Day Game Drive With Rhino Tracking!

Matopos Park Day Game Drive With Rhino Tracking!

5.0(1)
From €177
per personViator
Bulawayo 4 Days Tour Pass & Victoria Falls Drop off !

Bulawayo 4 Days Tour Pass & Victoria Falls Drop off !

0.0(0) 96h
From €598
per personViator
Half Day Rhino Tracking and White Rhino Cave Tour

Half Day Rhino Tracking and White Rhino Cave Tour

0.0(0)
From €82
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🏘️ NeighborhoodsUnderstanding the local layout

Plumtree is a compact border town, and you can cover every corner on foot in an afternoon. Pick your area and go.
  • Main Street and the Market Area: Follow the tarred road past the small supermarkets, hardware shops and money-changing stalls, where vendors sell airtime, fruit and fried snacks from tables in the dust. Grab a plate of sadza with stew from a basic eatery and you have a proper local lunch for a few dollars.
  • The Border Post Zone: Walk the short stretch to the Botswana crossing and watch trucks, minibuses and traders queue under the sun. It is loud, dusty and fascinating, and you leave knowing exactly how goods and people move between the two countries.
  • Old Plumtree and the Railway Side: Cross toward the rail line and the older streets near the station, where colonial-era brick buildings
… read more 👉
Plumtree is a compact border town, and you can cover every corner on foot in an afternoon. Pick your area and go.
  • Main Street and the Market Area: Follow the tarred road past the small supermarkets, hardware shops and money-changing stalls, where vendors sell airtime, fruit and fried snacks from tables in the dust. Grab a plate of sadza with stew from a basic eatery and you have a proper local lunch for a few dollars.
  • The Border Post Zone: Walk the short stretch to the Botswana crossing and watch trucks, minibuses and traders queue under the sun. It is loud, dusty and fascinating, and you leave knowing exactly how goods and people move between the two countries.
  • Old Plumtree and the Railway Side: Cross toward the rail line and the older streets near the station, where colonial-era brick buildings sit beside tin-roofed homes. Quiet lanes let you stroll freely and chat with residents, and you finish with a real sense of a working railway town.
  • Residential Suburbs and School Areas: Wander the tree-lined roads toward the edge of town, where goats graze the verges and kids in uniform stream past. Evenings are silent, with no nightlife to speak of, so you get big open skies and a sunset sweep across the bush.

⌛️ 1 dayWhat you can realistically do in a day

A slow railway-and-schoolyard day suits Plumtree, with plenty of breaks for tea and talk.

8:00 AM, Main street breakfast: Find a small café or tuckshop on the main road and order tea with bread or a hot plate of local food. Watch the town wake up and traders set out stock before you head off on foot.

9:30 AM, Plumtree Railway Station: Walk to the station and the tracks. The building and the yards explain why the town exists. Keep your camera discreet around the border zone and keep the visit short.

11:00 AM, Plumtree School: Walk or take a short local ride to the school. Ask at the gate before entering, then look at the old buildings and sports fields. It is a part of town few visitors see, and it gives the place real character.

1:00 PM, Lunch in the center: Eat sadza with relish or grilled meat … read more 👉
A slow railway-and-schoolyard day suits Plumtree, with plenty of breaks for tea and talk.

8:00 AM, Main street breakfast: Find a small café or tuckshop on the main road and order tea with bread or a hot plate of local food. Watch the town wake up and traders set out stock before you head off on foot.

9:30 AM, Plumtree Railway Station: Walk to the station and the tracks. The building and the yards explain why the town exists. Keep your camera discreet around the border zone and keep the visit short.

11:00 AM, Plumtree School: Walk or take a short local ride to the school. Ask at the gate before entering, then look at the old buildings and sports fields. It is a part of town few visitors see, and it gives the place real character.

1:00 PM, Lunch in the center: Eat sadza with relish or grilled meat at a local eatery. Linger, ask about the border trade, and refill your water.

3:00 PM, Market stalls and side streets: Wander the stalls and the lanes behind the main road, where traders sell produce, clothing and household goods. Bargain politely and buy something small.

5:30 PM, Evening on the edge of town: Finish with a quiet walk away from the traffic and a cold drink at a simple bar or your guesthouse, ready for an early start across the border or back toward Bulawayo.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

Plumtree is most comfortable from May to August, when days are dry and sunny. This is semi-arid country with a single rainy season.
  • Cool Dry Season (May to August): Days reach 22 to 26°C (72 to 79°F), while June and July nights can fall to 3 to 6°C (37 to 43°F). Daylight lasts about 10.5 to 11 hours. Crowds are thin and prices stay steady.
  • Hot Dry Season (September to October): Heat builds to 30 to 35°C (86 to 95°F) and the bush turns dusty. Walking is best done at dawn.
  • Rainy Season (November to March): Afternoon storms arrive, with highs of 28 to 33°C (82 to 91°F) and about 13 hours of daylight. Dirt roads outside town can turn muddy, though the landscape is green.
  • Border Rush (December and April): Holiday travel packs the crossing and transport fares rise.
Cross the border on a midweek morning to dodge the longest queues.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Stay close to the main road and market area of Plumtree, where guesthouses and basic lodges are within walking distance of buses and shops. Dedicated hostels are rare here, so budget beds mean simple guesthouse rooms or small lodges, usually US$15 to 30 a night for a private room. Choose one with a secure gate and working water.

The area near the border post is the second option. It suits an early crossing, because you can reach the queue in minutes, but trucks idle and rumble through the early hours, so pack earplugs. Streets here are busy by day and quiet after dark.

The residential suburbs … read more 👉
Stay close to the main road and market area of Plumtree, where guesthouses and basic lodges are within walking distance of buses and shops. Dedicated hostels are rare here, so budget beds mean simple guesthouse rooms or small lodges, usually US$15 to 30 a night for a private room. Choose one with a secure gate and working water.

The area near the border post is the second option. It suits an early crossing, because you can reach the queue in minutes, but trucks idle and rumble through the early hours, so pack earplugs. Streets here are busy by day and quiet after dark.

The residential suburbs toward the edge of town are calmer and feel safe on an evening stroll, though they sit a longer walk from transport. Book ahead around holidays and weekends, when cross-border traffic fills rooms. If rooms are full, Bulawayo is the fallback, with far more hostels and a regular minibus connection.
Best hostels in Zimbabwe


Best quality hotels in Zimbabwe

🚌 Getting aroundHow to get around Plumtree

From the railway station and bus stops, the center of Plumtree is a flat walk of five to ten minutes along the main road, and you can hail a shared taxi if you carry heavy bags. The town is small, traffic is light apart from trucks heading to the border, and public transport is informal but frequent on the main route. Most backpackers arrive on a long-distance bus or minibus and walk from there.
  • Walking: Free, and it covers everything in town. You pass the market, the shops and the border approach in under 20 minutes, and you soak up every dusty, busy corner at your own pace.
  • Minibus (kombi): Shared minibuses run between Plumtree and Bulawayo (about 100 km, 1.5 to 2 hours) for roughly US$4 to 6. They leave when full, usually from early morning until late afternoon. Expect a squeeze, loud music
… read more 👉
From the railway station and bus stops, the center of Plumtree is a flat walk of five to ten minutes along the main road, and you can hail a shared taxi if you carry heavy bags. The town is small, traffic is light apart from trucks heading to the border, and public transport is informal but frequent on the main route. Most backpackers arrive on a long-distance bus or minibus and walk from there.
  • Walking: Free, and it covers everything in town. You pass the market, the shops and the border approach in under 20 minutes, and you soak up every dusty, busy corner at your own pace.
  • Minibus (kombi): Shared minibuses run between Plumtree and Bulawayo (about 100 km, 1.5 to 2 hours) for roughly US$4 to 6. They leave when full, usually from early morning until late afternoon. Expect a squeeze, loud music and plenty of conversation.
  • Long-distance bus: Coaches along the Bulawayo to Botswana corridor stop here, with tickets around US$5 to 8 to Bulawayo and US$10 to 20 for onward cross-border routes. Services run mostly in daylight, and the seats let you watch the bush roll by.
  • Shared taxi or local cab: Short hops within town cost about US$1 to 3. Drivers wait near the market and border, and a ride gets you to the edge of town quickly with your pack.
  • Hitching and truck lifts: Common on the highway, though less reliable. Agree on a price first, and keep to daylight, since a lift lets you meet drivers who know every stretch of road.

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

Plumtree costs most backpackers about US$38 a day in high season, and the town is cheap if you eat locally. Prices are in US dollars, which are widely used alongside local currency.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$12 to 20 (low season US$10 to 15)Dorms are scarce, so expect a basic guesthouse room or shared bed.
MealsUS$6 to 12Sadza with stew costs US$2 to 4, and takeaway chicken and chips costs a little more.
Local transportUS$2 to 5Short taxi hops and shared rides within town are inexpensive.
Basic activities/entry feesUS$0 to 5Wandering the market and border area is free, and nothing else here charges entry.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$3 to 6Covers airtime, water, snacks and the occasional small tip.
Total Daily BudgetUS$38Roughly US$30 in low season.
Buy food from the market … read more 👉
Plumtree costs most backpackers about US$38 a day in high season, and the town is cheap if you eat locally. Prices are in US dollars, which are widely used alongside local currency.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$12 to 20 (low season US$10 to 15)Dorms are scarce, so expect a basic guesthouse room or shared bed.
MealsUS$6 to 12Sadza with stew costs US$2 to 4, and takeaway chicken and chips costs a little more.
Local transportUS$2 to 5Short taxi hops and shared rides within town are inexpensive.
Basic activities/entry feesUS$0 to 5Wandering the market and border area is free, and nothing else here charges entry.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$3 to 6Covers airtime, water, snacks and the occasional small tip.
Total Daily BudgetUS$38Roughly US$30 in low season.
Buy food from the market stalls and local eateries rather than guesthouse kitchens, since you can eat well for half the price.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsWhere to go beyond the main area

Plumtree works as a quiet base, and the highway links you to bigger sights, though most trips need an early start since transport thins out by afternoon.
Bulawayo:
The nearest city is about 100 km away and takes 1.5 to 2 hours by minibus for roughly US$4 to 6 each way. You get museums, markets, colonial architecture and proper restaurants, with a full day costing about US$20 to 35. Go between May and September for comfortable walking. Many first-timers leave too late, and the last minibuses back run in the afternoon.
👉 Explore Bulawayo
Matobo National Park:
The granite hills of Matobo, with balancing rocks, ancient San paintings and Cecil Rhodes’s grave at World’s View, lie south of Bulawayo. From Plumtree it is a long day, so plan on 3 hours each way with a change in Bulawayo. Entry is around … read more 👉
Plumtree works as a quiet base, and the highway links you to bigger sights, though most trips need an early start since transport thins out by afternoon.
Bulawayo:
The nearest city is about 100 km away and takes 1.5 to 2 hours by minibus for roughly US$4 to 6 each way. You get museums, markets, colonial architecture and proper restaurants, with a full day costing about US$20 to 35. Go between May and September for comfortable walking. Many first-timers leave too late, and the last minibuses back run in the afternoon.
👉 Explore Bulawayo
Matobo National Park:
The granite hills of Matobo, with balancing rocks, ancient San paintings and Cecil Rhodes’s grave at World’s View, lie south of Bulawayo. From Plumtree it is a long day, so plan on 3 hours each way with a change in Bulawayo. Entry is around US$15 to 20, and transport adds US$15 to 30 depending on whether you share a ride. Dry months give the best wildlife viewing among the rocks.
👉 Explore Matobo National Park
Francistown, Botswana:
Across the border, the Botswana city is about 90 km from the crossing and takes 1.5 hours by bus or minibus for US$5 to 10. You see a busy trading town with shopping malls and markets. Carry your passport and check visa rules beforehand, because passing the border queue can take an hour or more.

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Plumtree is generally calm, and most problems involve the border rather than the town itself. Around the crossing and market, pickpocketing happens in crowds, so keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket and your daypack zipped. Unofficial money changers approach travelers with attractive rates and sometimes shortchange you, so count notes slowly or use a bank instead. Touts may offer to help with paperwork for a fee, and you can politely decline since official procedures are free of such helpers. Solo travelers, including women, can walk the main road in daylight comfortably, though side streets are poorly lit after dark, so take a short taxi ride at night. Police roadblocks on the highway are routine, and a calm greeting plus your passport copy usually settles things quickly.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Plumtree is mostly a stopover, and the town itself has little beyond the border crossing, market and a railway-town atmosphere. Most travelers stay one night before heading to Bulawayo, about 100 km and 1.5 to 2 hours away, or on to Botswana. If you enjoy everyday local life, a few hours of walking Main Street is enough.
Plumtree needs only half a day to one night. A morning covers the market, the border approach and the old railway streets, and a basic guesthouse costs about US$15 to 30. Add a day only if you plan a side trip toward Bulawayo or the Matobo hills.
Plumtree can be visited as a day trip from Bulawayo, since minibuses cover the roughly 100 km in 1.5 to 2 hours for about US$4 to 6 each way. You leave early, spend a few hours at the market and border area, and catch an afternoon minibus back. Allow extra time if you also plan to cross into Botswana, because queues can run an hour or more.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Zimbabwean towns near Plumtree

Explore more nearby:

  • Sanyati—Cotton harvest, mission hospital, growth point stalls, river banks| 323 km away
  • Victoria Falls town—Spray-soaked viewpoints, bungee bridge, Zambezi cruises, baobab, craft stalls| 352 km away
  • Chivhu—Highway tomato stalls, Enkeldoorn streets, stretch-your-legs stop| 362 km away

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Plumtree works best as the first or last night of a Zimbabwe and Botswana loop, paired with Bulawayo’s museums and the Matobo Hills on one side and Francistown on the other. It will not fill days, and that is fine. I would arrive early, see the school and station, then sleep before an early crossing.

✈️ When did I visit Zimbabwe?
I have backpacked Zimbabwe all the way back in 2001.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Zimbabwe, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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