MAPS – masses of them!

Where is Rhodesia?

Rhodesia Location Map

How big is Rhodesia?

Map comparing size of England and Rhodesia
Map comparing the size of Texas and Rhodesia

Map comparing the size of NSW and Rhodesia

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Click on the maps below for a large scale view – and then again for a really detailed look.

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Rhodesia showing main towns and communications - 1973
Rhodesia – main towns and communications – 1973
AA Road Map of Rhodesia 1975 LR
AA Road Map of Rhodesia 1975

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Click below for an AA Road Report from the RBC read by Joy Cameron-Dow.

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Rhodesia Physical Relief Map 1973 - scale 1:1 000 000 Lo Res
Rhodesia Physical Relief Map 1973 – scale 1:1 000 000
Rhodesia Land Tenure Map 1974 - scale 1:1 000 000 LR
Rhodesia Land Tenure Map 1974 – scale 1:1 000 000
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Gazetteer of Rhodesian Place Names based on the above 1:1 000 000 scale maps
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Southern Rhodesia 1927 map at 1 : 1 000 000 scale. LR
Southern Rhodesia 1927 at 1 : 1 000 000 scale. Among points of interest are: The Pioneer Road is shown as Selous Road after the chief scout who guided the Pioneer Column. The road to Chirundu and Kariba goes no further than Urungwe and of course Karoi did not then exist. The site of Beitbridge, which had not yet been built, is between Middle and Main Drift roughly where the BSAP post is located.
Geological Map of Rhodesia 1965 at 1 : 2 500 000 scale
Geological Map of Rhodesia 1965 at 1 : 2 500 000 scale
Map of the Natural Farming Areas of Rhodesia
Map of the Natural Farming Areas of Rhodesia
Soils Map of Rhodesia
Soils Map of Rhodesia

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Surface Water Resources Map of Rhodesia
Surface Water Resources Map of Rhodesia
Mean Annual Rainfall Map of Rhodesia
Mean Annual Rainfall Map of Rhodesia

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SHEETFALL –  1:250 000 SERIES

Complete coverage of the whole country.

Click on the desired region to get a detailed map of that area.

(Cell phone users please use the links below the sheetfall map)

click map

Cell phone users please use the links below for 250 thou maps:

Beitbridge   Binga   Bulawayo   Bumi Hills   Chipinga

Chiredzi   Copper Queen   Dzivanini   Fort Vic   Gwelo

Hartley   Kamativi   Kariba   Kanyemba    Kazungula   Malvernia

Mana Pools    Mangula   Melsetter   Messina    Mphoengs

Mt Darwin   Mtoko   Nuanetsi   Nyamandhlovu   Plumtree

Que Que   Salisbury   Selukwe   Umtali   Vic Falls   West Nicholson

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Rusapi-Inyazura-Odzi at 1:100 000

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1:50 000 SERIES

A selection of more detailed maps at 1:50 000 scale.

Bold type = full map   Plain type = map extract

Balla Balla . Banket . Bindura . Birchenough Bridge . BulawayoCashelCentenaryChipinga

Chiredzi . Chirundu . Chisumbanje . Dett (Wankie Main camp) . Domboshawa . Enkeldoorn 

Essexvale . Fort VictoriaGatoomaGwelo Hot Springs . Inyanga . Inyangani . Juliasdale

Junction Gate (east of Chipinga)KanyembaKariba . Karoi . Kazungula . Lake McIlwaineMacheke .

Mana Pools . MarandellasMelsetter . Mount Darwin . Mount HampdenMt. Silinda . Mutambara .

Mutungagore (east of Centenary) . Odzi . Que QueRedcliff . Rusape . Salisbury . Selous . Selukwe .

Shabani . Sinoia . Tanganda Halt . Triangle . Troutbeck . Umtali .Victoria Falls .

Vumba & Banti . Wankie (town) . Watsomba . ​Worlds View (Matopos)​ . Zimunya (south of Umtali)

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See The Mapping Rhodesia for how Rhodesia was mapped by its own efforts –

a joint programme by the Dept. of the Surveyor-General and the Rhodesian Air Force.

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Commonwealth Scholar, Dr Richard Wood, probably the world’s leading historian on Rhodesian political and military history, has been kind enough to say that he is a regular user of the maps on this site.  Those with similar interests may care to know that I have listed several of his books on the Recommended Reading page

SHEET SD-35-16 MANA POOLS SHEET SD-36-13 KANYEMBA SHEET SE-35-3 BUMI HILLS SHEET SE-35-4 KARIBA SHEET SE-36-1 MANGULA SHEET SE-36-2 MOUNT DARWIN SHEET SE-35-7 BINGA SHEET SE-35-8 COPPER QUEEN SHEET SE-36-5 SALISBURY SHEET SE-36-6 MTOKO SHEET SE-35-5/9 KAZUNGULA SHEET SE-35-6/10 WANKIE & VICTORIA FALLS SHEET SE-35-11 KAMATIVI SHEET SE-35-12 QUE QUE SHEET SE-36-9 HARTLEY SHEET SE-36-10 UMTALI SHEET SE-35-14 DZIVANINI SHEET SE-35-15 NYAMANDHLOVU SHEET SE-35-16 GWELO SHEET SE-36-13 SELUKWE SHEET SE-36-14 MELSETTER SHEET SF-35-3 PLUMTREE SHEET SF-35-4 BULAWAYO SHEET SF-36-1 FORT VICTORIA SHEET SF-36-2 CHIPINGA SHEET SF-35-7 MPHOENGS SHEET SF-35-8 WEST NICHOLSON SHEET SF-36-5 NUANETSI SHEET SF-36-6 CHIREDZI SHEET SF-35-12 BEITBRIDGE SHEET SF-36-9 MESSINA SHEET SF-36-10 MALVERNIA

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Map of the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland showing main centres and lines of communication.
Map of the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland showing main centres and lines of communication.
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, 1962 LR
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, 1962

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Street Map of Greater Salisbury 1:33 333 LR
Street Map of Greater Salisbury 1:33 333
Rhodesia - Map of Major Dams - 1977
Rhodesia – Major Dams – 1977

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Inyanga Tourist Map 1: 63,360 or 1 Inch to 1 Mile LR
Inyanga Tourist Map 1: 63,360 or 1 Inch to 1 Mile
Ministry of Roads and Road Traffic - Maintenance map 1977/78
Ministry of Roads and Road Traffic – Maintenance 1977/78 This map shows the status of all main roads with distances to the nearest 0,1 km. Sadly it does not include the old strip roads many of which were still in a good state of repair and perfectly usable!
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Salisbury through-ways and principal suburbs 1973
Salisbury through-ways and principal suburbs 1973
Bulawayo through-ways and principal suburbs 1973
Bulawayo through-ways and principal suburbs 1973
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Historic Rhodesian Maps 1890 – c 1945

(moved to new page – use link above)

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Rhodesian Maps of Some Neighbouring Countries

(moved to new page – use link above)

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Copies of Maps

I have had a number of requests for copies of various maps and other images.  I have had my own originals professionally scanned on a large format scanner (at no little expense!) so that I can present what you see on my website.  The original scans are not available for sale. Most of the maps posted on the site are of a fairly high resolution and can be downloaded and should print reasonably well. However they would require a large format printer to print from. If you could find such a printer nearby, you would do best simply to download the map and ask them to print it but that might not be cheap for a one off.  Although, if you would be happy with A3 size, you could probably find an A3 size printer fairly easily and this might not be too costly. My other suggestion, for those who seek a good quality printed map of Rhodesia, is that you consider obtaining a copy of the Land Tenure Map an example of which you can see near the top of this page.

The Rhodesian Services Association, based in New Zealand, has had a batch of the land tenure maps printed at a reasonable cost. This map is very colourful and was used widely throughout Rhodesia.  If you click on my example, you will see the amazing amount of detail shown.

Only $60 NZ.  I think it will most likely be sent rolled in a tube. This what they say:
“This is a wonderful reproduction from an old [1977] map. It shows in detail the areas of European farming, TTL, APA, forest, National Park, rivers etc. This has been produced from a high grade scan and is far better quality and value than a similar item on the market. Measures 740mm x 670mm.”  And this is where to buy it: https://www.rhodesianservices.org/posters.htm

If you decide to buy one, please do mention my name or web site – although I get no commission!

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The Major Tribal Groupings in Rhodesia

with approximate percentage of African population.

      Tribe                                Percentage                           No. of  Chiefs
                        NDEBELE ORIENTATED TRIBES
1.    Ndebele                                   14%                                   44
2.    Kalanga                                     5%                                     3
                      SHONA ORIENTATED TRIBES
3.    Rozwi                                        9%                                   20
4.    KoreKore                                 12%                                  20
5.    Zezuru                                     18%                                   22
6.    Manyika                                  13%                                     9
7.    Karanga                                   22%                                   35
8.    Ndau                                         3%                                    11
                   OTHERS
9.    Tonga                                        2%                                    27
10.  Venda                                        1%                                      6
11.  Shangaan                                   1%                                     5

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African Tribes and Languages of Rhodesia 1964

African Tribes and Languages of Rhodesia 1964

showing ethnographic / linguistic groups

(See below for Classification used)

For details: click below and then again


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Place Name Changes

Quite a number of original Rhodesian names still appear on various current maps, however, to assist future readers in locating Rhodesian towns, rivers and dams on present day online maps etc. the following is a list of some of the more important name changes which were made from 1983. They are shown sorted first by original name and then by new name.

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Sorted by original name
Original New
Balla Balla Mbalabala
Banket Lower Mujeni
Belingwe Mberengwa
Bembesi Mbembesi
Bhebe Dam Bhebbe
Biriwiri Piriviri
Bubye Bubi
Bulalima-Mangwe Bulilimamangwe
Centenary Muzarabani
Chakara Chikara
Chibi Chivi
Chibvi Dip Chibvi
Chigoma Dam Chingoma
Chilimanzi Chirumanzu
Chimandhu Dam Chimhandu
Chimwemwe Dam Muneni
Chinyauwhera Chinyauhera
Chipfika Dam Chipfiko
Chipinga Chipinge
Darwendale Dam Manyame
Dett Dete
Dewure PL Devure
Dutchman’s Dam Lower Zivagwe
Eben Dam Mupfurudzi
Enkeldoorn Chivhu
Esquilingwe Weir Nyajena
Essexvale Esigodini
Fort Victoria Masvingo
Frogmore Dam Upper Ruya
Gatooma Kadoma
Gulamalaka Dam Chinakwa
Gwaai Gwai
Gwelo Gweru
Hartley Chegutu
Henry Hallam Dam Harava
Hunyani Poort Dam Chivero
Hunyani River Manyame
Ingezi Ngezi
Ingwezi Dam Ingwesi
Inyanga Nyanga
Inyati Inyathi
Inyazura Nyazura
Kanyongore Dam Kanyongoro
Khami Dam Khame
Kyle Dam Mutirikwi
Lesapi Dam Rusape Dam
Lomagundi Makonde
Lower Gwelo Manyame
Lower Impali Dam Shurugwi (dam)
Lower Maynard Weir Chirudzani
Lower Seigneury Weir Angler’s Rest
Lower Umgusa Dam Lower Mgusa
Lundi Runde
Lute Dam Luthi
Maleme Dam Lower Maleme
Mamanda Dam Mamande
Mangula Mhangura
Manyeni TTL Manyene
Marandellas Marondera
Maranke TTL Marange
Mare Dam Nyangwe
Mashaba Mashava
Matopos Matobo
Mawuto Mauto
Mayfair Dam Insiza
Mazoe Mazowe
Melsetter Chimanimani
Miami Mwami
Mphoengs Mphoeng
Mrewa Murewa
Msengezi PL Musengezi
Mtali Dam Mutora
Mtepatepa Mutepatepa
Mtilikwe TTL Mutirikwi
Mtoko Mutoko
Mtorashanga Mutorashanga
Mtsheleli Dam Mutsheleli
Mufundisi Dam Mfundisi
Mvurwi Suoguru
Mzarabani TTL Muzarabani
Mzinyatini Mzinyathini
Mzolo Mzola
Narira Nharira
Ndhlumbi Ndlumbi
Ngungunyane Ngungunyana
Nkai Nkayi
Nuanetsi Mwenezi
Nyamatara Nyamutora
Nyamunga Nyamhumga
Palawan Dam Ngezi
Poole Dam Dziva
Prince Edward Dam Seke (dam)
Purdon Dam Saunyami
Que Que Kwekwe
Quested Dam Bulilima
Range Dam Chikomba
Rhodes Dam Nyanga (dam)
Rixon Dam Upper Insiza
Sabi Save
Sabi North TTL Save
Salisbury Harare
Seki (TTL) Seke
Selukwe Shurugwi
Shabani Zvishavane
Shabani Weir Zvishavane Weir
Sikiro Dam Svikiro
Sinoia Chinhoyi
Sipolilo Guruve
Somabula Somabhula
Three Sisters Dam Upper Maleme
Tiyabenzi Dam Shangani
Tjolotjo Tsholotsho
Tobgwe Dam Tongwe
Tuli Thuli
Udu Valley Dam Udu
Umfuli River Mupfure
Umgululu Dam Mgululu
Umhlanga Dam Mhlanga
Umniati River Munyati / Sanyati
Umtali Mutare
Umvukwes Mvurwi
Umvuma Mvuma
Umzingwane Dam Mzingwane
Urungwe Hurungwe
Victoria (district) Masvingo
Vila Salazar Sango
Wankie Hwange
Wozhele 1 (dam) Hozheri 1
Wozhele 2 (dam) Hozheri 2
Zawi Zave

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Sorted by new name
New Original
Angler’s Rest Lower Seigneury Weir
Bhebbe Bhebe Dam
Bubi Bubye
Bulilima Quested Dam
Bulilimamangwe Bulalima-Mangwe
Chegutu Hartley
Chibvi Chibvi Dip
Chikara Chakara
Chikomba Range Dam
Chimanimani Melsetter
Chimhandu Chimandhu Dam
Chinakwa Gulamalaka Dam
Chingoma Chigoma Dam
Chinhoyi Sinoia
Chinyauhera Chinyauwhera
Chipfiko Chipfika Dam
Chipinge Chipinga
Chirudzani Lower Maynard Weir
Chirumanzu Chilimanzi
Chivero Hunyani Poort Dam
Chivhu Enkeldoorn
Chivi Chibi
Dete Dett
Devure Dewure PL
Dziva Poole Dam
Esigodini Essexvale
Guruve Sipolilo
Gwai Gwaai
Gweru Gwelo
Harare Salisbury
Harava Henry Hallam Dam
Hozheri 1 Wozhele 1 (dam)
Hozheri 2 Wozhele 2 (dam)
Hurungwe Urungwe
Hwange Wankie
Ingwesi Ingwezi Dam
Insiza Mayfair Dam
Inyathi Inyati
Kadoma Gatooma
Kanyongoro Kanyongore Dam
Khame Khami Dam
Kwekwe Que Que
Lower Maleme Maleme Dam
Lower Mgusa Lower Umgusa Dam
Lower Mujeni Banket
Lower Zivagwe Dutchman’s Dam
Luthi Lute Dam
Makonde Lomagundi
Mamande Mamanda Dam
Manyame Darwendale Dam
Manyame Hunyani River
Manyame Lower Gwelo
Manyene Manyeni TTL
Marange Maranke TTL
Marondera Marandellas
Mashava Mashaba
Masvingo Fort Victoria
Masvingo Victoria (district)
Matobo Matopos
Mauto Mawuto
Mazowe Mazoe
Mbalabala Balla Balla
Mbembesi Bembesi
Mberengwa Belingwe
Mfundisi Mufundisi Dam
Mgululu Umgululu Dam
Mhangura Mangula
Mhlanga Umhlanga Dam
Mphoeng Mphoengs
Muneni Chimwemwe Dam
Munyati / Sanyati Umniati River
Mupfure Umfuli River
Mupfurudzi Eben Dam
Murewa Mrewa
Musengezi Msengezi PL
Mutare Umtali
Mutepatepa Mtepatepa
Mutirikwi Kyle Dam
Mutirikwi Mtilikwe TTL
Mutoko Mtoko
Mutora Mtali Dam
Mutorashanga Mtorashanga
Mutsheleli Mtsheleli Dam
Muzarabani Centenary
Muzarabani Mzarabani TTL
Mvuma Umvuma
Mvurwi Umvukwes
Mwami Miami
Mwenezi Nuanetsi
Mzingwane Umzingwane Dam
Mzinyathini Mzinyatini
Mzola Mzolo
Ndlumbi Ndhlumbi
Ngezi Ingezi
Ngezi Palawan Dam
Ngungunyana Ngungunyane
Nharira Narira
Nkayi Nkai
Nyajena Esquilingwe Weir
Nyamhumga Nyamunga
Nyamutora Nyamatara
Nyanga Inyanga
Nyanga (dam) Rhodes Dam
Nyangwe Mare Dam
Nyazura Inyazura
Piriviri Biriwiri
Runde Lundi
Rusape Dam Lesapi Dam
Sango Vila Salazar
Saunyami Purdon Dam
Save Sabi
Save Sabi North TTL
Seke (dam) Prince Edward Dam
Seke Seki TTL
Shangani Tiyabenzi Dam
Shurugwi (dam) Lower Impali Dam
Shurugwi Selukwe
Somabhula Somabula
Suoguru Mvurwi
Svikiro Sikiro Dam
Thuli Tuli
Tongwe Tobgwe Dam
Tsholotsho Tjolotjo
Udu Udu Valley Dam
Upper Insiza Rixon Dam
Upper Maleme Three Sisters Dam
Upper Ruya Frogmore Dam
Zave Zawi
Zvishavane Shabani
Zvishavane Weir Shabani Weir