Take an educational journey into Zimbabwe’s rich cultural past with a rock painting walk in the Matobo Hills. The area is encased in history, with a myriad of archaeological sites accessible from your safari lodge in the Matobos.
The Matobo Hills in southern Zimbabwe are a spectacular cultural landscape, known primarily for its granite rocks and covering an area of around 3,000 square kilometres. The Matobo Hills are a continuously inhabited region where crucial phases of human history and development have taken place for 100,000 years. The first settlers were the San, who lived as hunter-gatherers and created the rock art that can be found throughout the landscape. In the 19th century the Ndebele settled in the area and in the 1890s the British conquered the region and incorporated it into a new nation state known as Southern Rhodesia. This state was named after Cecil Rhodes, a prominent figure in the expansion of the British Empire in Africa and Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896.
In 2003, the hills were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to their formation over 2 billion years ago, with granite being forced to the surface. Over 3,000 registered rock art sites are present in the area, and during your rock paintings walk, you can explore these sites, which contain various archaeological finds dating as far back as the Pre-Middle Stone Age.
In 2003, the hills were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to their formation over 2 billion years ago when granite was pushed to the surface. There are over 3,000 registered rock art sites in the area, which you can explore as you hike through the rock paintings. They contain various archaeological finds dating back to the Mesolithic period. The Matobo Hills are home to the largest concentration of rock art in Zimbabwe and on the entire African continent. This art shows a variety of patterns that include human and animal figures as well as depictions of plants and abstract symbols. In addition, the material culture of the landscape includes numerous burial sites, monuments and shrines from the colonial era.
A rock painting walk in Matobo Hills is truly like no other African safari experience. A professional guide will lead you along the paths of history on your cultural journey as you peek into the past. Walk in the footsteps of giants, read the tales of ancient rock art and feast your eyes upon granite formations. This experience will leave you appreciating the landscapes that represent the cultural foundations of Zimbabwe. The best place to stay in Matobo Hills is Big Cave Camp.
Perched on a massive granite ridge, Big Cave Camp offers breathtaking views of the famous Matobo National Park. Influenced by African aesthetics, the architecture seamlessly blends huge boulders into a luxurious thatched lodge surrounded by ancient Khoisan rock art. As the day draws to a close, guests can relax by the natural rock pool and on the sundeck, unwind in the Leopard’s Lair lounge and bar, enjoy a pre-dinner drink in the cave-like boma or explore the lodge’s library. The eight charming thatched cottages have en-suite bathrooms and private balconies and showcase the essence of African art. Discover the tranquillity of this secluded retreat, reminiscent of the original Kalanga granaries amidst the rocky landscape.
