Kwekwe: Architecture and Nature

When choosing Kwekwe as a destination, you can explore two distinct themes: Paper House, a historic building with striking architecture, and Sebakwe Poort, a forest area near the town. The first focuses on a single structure, its materials and its history; the second on a larger natural area and its indigenous tree species. This can help you decide early on whether architecture and local history or landscape and vegetation better match your travel interests.

Paper House: Architecture and History

Paper House in Kwekwe is a prefabricated building with walls made of papier-mâché and wire mesh. Of the three such buildings brought from London to Rhodesia, it is the only one that remains. This brings together an unusual choice of materials and a distinctive history of provenance in a single structure. Its origins in London and its location in Kwekwe are two geographical connections that shape its story.

Paper House was built as a residence in 1894 and later used as the office of the first mine manager at Globe and Phoenix Mine. Its use changed from a residence to a workplace, connecting the building to the history of the mine. In 1975, it was declared a historic building and national monument. Its construction, changing uses and historic designation are different aspects of the same house. If you are interested in Kwekwe’s history, the building offers a tangible point of reference.

Paper House is in fairly good condition. Most of the artefacts in the house are original. Alongside its architectural form, its state of preservation and its contents are among the features that define this historic building. If you are considering a visit, check current visitor information in advance.

Sebakwe Poort: Forest Area Near Kwekwe

Sebakwe Poort is near Kwekwe and offers a different focus. The 262-hectare area is a natural, largely untouched forest. Numerous indigenous tree species grow there, including several Acacia species. Its size gives the forest the character of a broader landscape, while its indigenous species add the diversity of its trees. Unlike the single historic building, the focus here is on landscape and vegetation.

When looking for hotels in Kwekwe, it helps to decide what interests you most: would you like to focus on a historic building and its history, or are you more interested in a forest area and indigenous tree species? Paper House is in Kwekwe, while Sebakwe Poort is near the town. If you are planning to visit either place, check current visitor information and any conditions in advance.

Discover more destinations: Hwange, Harare, Victoria Falls, Chiredzi, Redcliff, Nyanga, Gweru, Chegutu.

For the broader travel overview: Zimbabwe.