Blue Hills

Homepage New - Blue Hills Camp ## Blue Hills, Bulawayo: Ziplining, Hills and an Easy Day Trip from the City Blue Hills is listed across several travel and review platforms as a tourist attraction on the outskirts of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, with the address given as the map plus-code VH3P+PW8, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Rated Those same platforms consistently link “Blue Hills” to Blue Hills Camp Umzingwane, an adventure-focused camp just outside Bulawayo that’s recognised by Zimbabwe’s tourism bodies and local media. Hills Camp What follows is a factual, source-backed guide to what you can realistically expect when you plan a visit. --- ## Where Blue Hills Is and How It’s Described ### Location and access Multiple official and semi-official sources describe Blue Hills Camp Umzingwane as: - Located on the 30 km peg along the Bulawayo–Beitbridge road in Umzingwane District, Matabeleland South. Hills Camp - Roughly a 25–30 minute drive from Bulawayo under normal conditions. Hills Camp Online directories that list “Blue Hills” as a tourist attraction at VH3P+PW8 are pointing to this same experience: the map entry is tied to a place with hiking, biking and a zip line, which matches the activities documented for Blue Hills Camp. Rated Because this is a rural site and mapping data can shift, it’s safest to: - Use both the 30 km peg on the Bulawayo–Beitbridge road and the “Blue Hills Camp Umzingwane” name when getting directions. Hills Camp - Confirm directions directly with the camp via the contact details on its official site or Facebook page before you travel. Hills Camp ### Reputation and reviews The underlying Google Maps place that Top-Rated.online calls “Blue Hills” shows: - A 4.30 / 5 average rating from 22 reviews, categorised as a tourist attraction, with the address VH3P+PW8, Bulawayo. - Recent reviewers describing it as “Great place to chill, have fun, a lot of activities … hiking, biking, there is also a zip line.” Rated On the activity side, Blue Hills Camp Umzingwane appears on TripAdvisor as an attraction near Bulawayo with: - A rating around 4.1 / 5 from roughly 10 reviews, summarised as a place for camping, quad biking, a zipline and outdoor adventures in a mountainous, semi-savanna setting. Ratings change over time as more visitors leave feedback, so treat the numbers as indicative rather than fixed. --- ## What You Can Actually Do at Blue Hills Zimbabwe Tourism Authority material, local news coverage and the camp’s own marketing all describe a concentrated mix of outdoor and adrenaline activities: ### Zipline Blue Hills is best-known for its long dual zipline, which appears repeatedly in: - The camp’s official activities list. - Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s Bulawayo travel information, which highlights Blue Hills Camp for zip lining among other adventure options. and Society TT - Newspaper coverage and excursion operators, who frame it as one of the more substantial recreational ziplines in Zimbabwe. Photos from ByoLife, TripAdvisor and social content show visitors in full harnesses on a high line over tree-covered hillsides, confirming that this is a proper setup with safety gear, not a small playground slide. ### Hiking, mountaineering and bush trekking The camp’s own site and local tourism copy describe: - Mountaineering games and bush trekking in hilly terrain with temperate semi-savanna vegetation. - A setting that’s repeatedly called mountainous and visually backed up by images of rocky slopes and long views over wooded countryside. on Tour One Google review for “Blue Hills” specifically mentions hiking as one of the on-site activities. Rated ### Quad biking and mountain biking Several independent sources confirm that quad bikes and mountain bikes are a core part of the experience: - The ByoLife listing for Blue Hills Camp lists quad biking and mountain biking among the standard activities. - The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority profile repeats quad biking and mountain biking as key offerings. and Society TT - TripAdvisor and YouTube thumbnails show visitors on quad bikes within the camp. ### Mini golf, archery, paintball and games Beyond the headline activities, Blue Hills Camp promotes a cluster of small-group games and sports: - Mini golf / putt-putt, archery, and boot-camp style team games appear in ByoLife’s activity list and in AVM on Tour’s excursion description. - A 2022 article in The Sunday News (syndicated via The Herald) also lists mini golf, archery, a paintball shooting range, darts, table tennis and chess, all available on site. This grouping makes Blue Hills a realistic option for family groups, school outings and corporate team-building, not just hardcore adrenaline travellers. That positioning is echoed in Zimbabwe Tourism Authority copy, which emphasises its suitability for families, couples, colleagues and friends. and Society TT ### Camping, wildlife-adjacent stays and game viewing Blue Hills Camp markets itself as a place to camp and stay overnight, not just a daytime adventure park: - The camp promotes wildlife camping and bush trekking as part of its activities. - Tourism Authority text notes game viewing, and the Herald article mentions visitors sometimes seeing zebras and impalas moving through the area once things are quiet. and Society TT Those references are specific to the camp landscape; they don’t imply a full national-park style safari experience, but they do indicate that some plains game is present in the surrounding hills. --- ## Accommodation, Food and Facilities Blue Hills Camp’s own website and partner listings are consistent about what’s on offer. ### Where you can stay The camp describes three main accommodation types, all en-suite: - Couples’ rooms – aimed at pairs on a short break. - Dormitories – sleeping up to about 11 guests per unit in a bunk-style setup. - Chalets – larger units accommodating groups of up to 6 people. ByoLife adds that the camp offers a “unique indoor camping adventure” with bright rooms and skylights, which matches photos of airy dorm-style rooms with mezzanine platforms and multiple beds. In practice, that means visitors can choose between traditional camping and simple lodge-style rooms without leaving the property. ### Restaurant and braai Several sources describe an on-site restaurant: - A restaurant with à la carte and braai menus, using seasonal ingredients, appears in the ByoLife description for Blue Hills Camp. - The 2022 newspaper article notes that Blue Hills serves different meals and can adjust menus to suit guests, with indoor and outdoor eating areas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Taken together, these indicate that you can eat on site without needing to self-cater, though details like menu range and pricing should be checked directly as they can change quickly. ### Conferencing and events Blue Hills is also positioned as a small conference and events venue: - The camp advertises private, well-equipped conference facilities for up to around 80 guests, with a dining room and balcony suitable for intimate functions. - Local coverage highlights it as a venue for team-building, church camps, birthdays, graduations and corporate retreats. That combination – accommodation, catering and activities on one site – is relatively unusual around Bulawayo, and it’s part of what makes Blue Hills show up repeatedly in “things to do near Bulawayo” style guides. and Society TT --- ## Practical Details: Hours, Costs and How to Visit ### Opening hours (and why you should double-check) Here the data is not perfectly consistent, and that matters: - The ByoLife listing shows Blue Hills Camp as “24 hours open” with a price range of approximately US$5 per activity. - The TripAdvisor attraction entry for Blue Hills Camp Umzingwane lists opening hours from 07:00–19:00 daily (slightly later on Sundays). - A 2022 article in The Sunday News notes that entry to the camp was free at that time, with guests paying for activities, food and refreshments instead of a gate fee. All three are from different years and platforms. Given Zimbabwe’s fast-changing economic environment, it is not safe to assume that entry is still free or that prices and hours remain unchanged. Best practice: - Contact Blue Hills Camp directly (phone and email are listed on their official site) and confirm current opening hours, whether there’s a gate fee, and the latest activity prices before you go. Hills Camp ### Getting there What’s consistent across the official site, local tourism info and excursion operators: - Blue Hills Camp sits on the 30 km peg of the Bulawayo–Beitbridge road, about half an hour’s drive from Bulawayo under normal road conditions. Hills Camp Organised day trips (like the AVM on Tour excursion) typically: - Depart from Bulawayo CBD, - Drive straight to the camp, - Then give participants several hours on site for the zipline, quad bikes, mini golf, archery and paintball before returning. on Tour If you’re self-driving, use both the camp name and the 30 km peg in your navigation app, and cross-check with the camp’s directions. --- ## Accessibility, Inclusivity and Safety ### Physical accessibility There is no detailed, official accessibility statement published for Blue Hills Camp on its main marketing channels. However: - Photos from TripAdvisor, YouTube and ByoLife show thatched shelters, activity platforms and paths on uneven, sloping ground, along with steps and dirt tracks. From those images, it is fair to say: - Some key areas are not step-free, - Surfaces are often unpaved and uneven, - And wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility would need to confirm in advance which areas and activities are realistically accessible. Anyone with mobility, sensory, or health-related needs should contact the camp before booking and explain requirements so staff can advise on room choice, activity suitability and support. ### Social inclusivity