A Tourist Map of Rhodesia, issued in 1970 by MO Collins Ltd, captures the optimism and spectacle of Southern African travel at the dawn of mass motoring. It portrays Rhodesia—today’s Zimbabwe—with a confident blend of cartographic precision and pictorial flourish, inviting the eye along highways, rail lines, and scenic byways toward storied landscapes and wildlife sanctuaries. Major centers—Salisbury (now Harare), Bulawayo, Gwelo (Gweru), Fort Victoria (Masvingo), Umtali (Mutare), Que Que (Kwekwe), and Gatooma (Kadoma)—anchor the network, while cross-border gateways gesture toward Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa, Beira and Lourenço Marques (Maputo) in Mozambique, and Lusaka in Zambia. The result is both itinerary and icon: a touristic portrait of a country poised between high plateau, riverine escarpments, and lush eastern mountains.

The map’s geographical theater is richly staged. To the northwest, the Zambezi carves its monumental trench, culminating at Victoria Falls—an excursion line that every itinerary seems to honor—before opening into the vast inland sea of Lake Kariba, a marquee attraction for boating and fishing. South and east, the Limpopo and Save (Sabi) Rivers demarcate borders and lowveld, while the Eastern Highlands rise in cool, green tiers toward Nyanga and Chimanimani, promising misty forests and trout streams. Granite kopjes punctuate the country, nowhere more dramatically than the Matobo Hills near Bulawayo, whose contoured shading and named passes hint at hiking routes and storied viewpoints.

Urban cartography and travel planning are treated with equal care. Salisbury appears as the radiating hub, dispatching travelers along tarred arterial roads and rail spurs to Bulawayo, to Umtali and the port of Beira, and across the border toward the South African Rand. Mileage tables—neatly arrayed—translate the dream of distance into practical stages, turning the traverse from Fort Victoria to Great Zimbabwe’s stone acropolis or from Bulawayo to Wankie (Hwange) into a weekend certainty. Rail corridors parallel key highways, a reminder of the era’s blended modalities: overnight sleepers to frontier towns, day drives to game parks, and scenic detours plotted with almost editorial clarity.

Visual storytelling animates the sheet. Pictorial vignettes place elephant herds along Kariba’s shorelines, lion and sable antelope on the Kalahari fringes, and zebra on the central plateau; fish eagles wheel above blue-toned reservoirs, while baobabs and mopane define the lowveld, and msasa woodlands flame seasonally across the highveld. Decorative borders and cartouches frame these scenes with touristic élan, balancing artistry with orientation. Labels for national parks—Wankie, Matopos—and prominent reserves sit beside emblems of flora such as the flame lily, creating an atlas-page that doubles as a naturalist’s primer. The colorwork is at once instructive and evocative, letting wildlife and topography cue where the roads promise authentic encounters.

As a historical document, the map fixes a revealing moment in Southern African travel culture. Produced amid shifting geopolitics, it emphasizes routes, vistas, and heritage—Great Zimbabwe near Fort Victoria, the bridgeheads over the Zambezi, the upland resorts of the east—while quietly registering the period’s contested toponyms and borders. Its language of accessibility—miles counted, tracks traced, capitals connected—speaks to a regional imagination of overland exploration that linked Salisbury to Lusaka, Johannesburg, and the Indian Ocean. In MO Collins Ltd’s hands, tourism becomes cartographic argument: that the very act of movement knits together wildlife, ruins, mountains, and modern cities, leaving us with a rare, candid portrait of Rhodesia on the cusp of change.

Cities and towns on this map

• Harare (Salisbury) (1.5 million)
• Bulawayo (650,000)
• Gweru (80,000)
• Masvingo (80,000)
• Mutare (60,000)
• Kwekwe (50,000)
• Kadoma (40,000)
• Beira (500,000)
• Maputo (1.1 million)
• Johannesburg (5.6 million)
• Pretoria (800,000)
• Lusaka (1.7 million)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Illustrations of various animals and plants native to Rhodesia.
• Major roads and rail routes connecting key locations.
• Prominent geographical features such as lakes, rivers, and mountains.
• A mileage table indicating distances between various towns.
• Decorative borders and cartouches enhancing the artistic aspect of the map.

Historical and design context

• Date created: 1970
• Mapmaker/Publisher: MO Collins Ltd
• Serves as a tourist guide, highlighting key locations, landmarks, and scenic routes.
• Reflects a time when tourism was growing in the region, offering insight into the diverse terrains and attractions.
• Captures the socio-political context of Rhodesia during the era, marking a period of accessible exploration in Africa.
• Topics and themes shown: Natural wonders, historical sites, wildlife, and scenic routes tailored for tourism.
• Countries/Regions shown: Primarily depicts Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), bordered by South Africa, Zambia, and Mozambique.
• Design or style: Combines cartographic elements with pictorial illustrations of wildlife and flora, featuring vibrant colors and artistic details that enhance the tourist appeal.
• Historical significance: Acts as a document that captures the essence of travel and exploration in Southern Africa during the late 20th century, revealing the region's evolving relationship with tourism.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 16in (40cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.