Matobo Hills : World Heritage Site

Location : Matabeleland, Zimbabwe
The area has great archaeological, historical and spiritual significance.
Date of inscription : 2003

Historical

The Matobo Hills has one of the highest concentrations of rock art in Southern Africa.

Archaeology and the rock paintings provide an insight into the interaction between the Stone age communities and the landscape they inhabited and is also representative of religious traditions.

The Mwari religion, centred on Matoba, which may date back to the Iron Age, is the most powerful oracular tradition in southern Africa.

Matobo Landscape

imagine huge granite masses which have been split, sculpted and shaped by time and weather, huge boulders randomly piled high on top of one another.

Scan the horizon for 3000 sq. kilometres and you are looking at the Matobos.

Matobo Hills

This sacred area is also the resting place of Cecil John Rhodes and the grave of Mzilikazi.

There is a high density of birdlife in the Matobo Hills National park including raptors such as the Black Eagle, Wahlbergs eagle, the Tawny eagle, Peregrine and Lanner falcons.

Black shouldered kites, snake eagle, little sparrow hawk are also to be found.

tourist attractions in Bulawayo

• Art Gallery
• Centenary and Central Parks (putting green, miniature railway
• City Halls and Gardens (flower sellers, basket and crochet work)
• Hillside Dams
• Cycle and Bike Hire
• Horse riding safaris
• Jairos Jiri craft Shop
• Khame Ruins
• Matobos Hills
• Museum of Natural History (well worth a visit)
• Railway Museum (steam locomotives, rolling stock – a MUST for the steam enthusiast)
• Tshabalala Game Sanctuary (good birdlife and small dam)