Drive through Matobo National Park on the main drag south-west out of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and you’ll hardly notice Camp Amalinda, which wraps itself around a collection of large granite boulders within this majestic corner of  the country. Established in 1953, Matabo National Park isn’t known for its big game, but for its geological beauty and golden sunset vistas.

Amalinda’s small collection of a 9 thatched rooms are spacious and welcoming, each unique in aspect and arrangement. Rooms are flanked by a central dining area, library and swimming pool, all within a stone’s throw of each other. This small community provides an ideal escape for southern African overland trips, but also works well for a group of around 20 people.

As for access, Amalinda is 35km south of Bulawayo which has a domestic airport connecting with several other Zimbabwean towns. Other drive distances include: Harare (439km), Victoria Falls (437 km), Beitbridge on the South African Border (322 km) and Plumtree on the Botswana border (102 km).

Despite the recent controversy surrounding Cecil Rhodes’ memorial at the University of Cape Town, his grave remains firmly clad by a bronze plate on the top of Malindidzimu, ‘hill of benevolent spirits’. It’s these types of rock formations and surrounding landscape that is enticing for endurance athletes, even if to-date it has been better known for recreation tourists exploring by hikes and 4×4’s.

Amalinda serves as an outstanding launchpad for some rigorous outdoors pursuits, with a network of empty roads and even quieter trails open to mountain bikers and trail runners in this pocket of in south-west Zimbabwe. I’m yet to explore them myself, but have made the following notes for anyone who wants to explore this corner of African adventure with a streak of speed.

Endurance races in Matobo Hills

The whaleback granite surfaces and connecting trails look like ideal terrain for a stiff hardtail. The 3-day Matobo World Heritage MTB Challenge is the signature mountain bike race in the area. Taking place in September is another multi-day race, the Matopos Classic MTB.

The Matopos 33 Miler Ultra-Marathon is held annually on the first week-end of April (unless this coincides with Easter). The 33 Miler starts at 5:30am in the Matobo Hills and as the sun rises over the hills, the runners cover the Circular Drive, before the haul back to Bulawayo and the finish line at Bulawayo Athletics Club. It is the only Ultra-marathon in Zimbabwe. From 2017 there will also be a 10km race, as well as the Half Marathon and 5km fun run. There is also a relay run, with five runners covering the full Ultra-marathon route.

The Matopos Heritage Trail Run will also be an annual event, held in March each year.

For multi-discipliner experts, Ironwill is one mighty Zimababwean even, held in different parts of the country each year. In 2017, the race returns to Matobo Hills…

2017 dates

18 February: Matopos Lumane MTB
8 – 12 March: Matopos Heritage MTB Challenge
17 – 19 March: Matopos Heritage Trail Run
2 April: Matopos 33 Miler Ultra-marathon
6 – 9 April: Zimbabwe Ironwill (Matopos)
25 – 27 August: Matopos Classic MTB

Drop Camp Amalinda an email at reservations@amalindacollection.co.zw to find out availability. They’ll be able to offer advice on mountain bikes, and have plenty of ideas for your stay for trails and day outings.