Rock Art of Zimbabwe July, 2025 Participants:  5 confirmed     1 tentative  Trip Status:  CONFIRMED

Day 0 - Harare

There are no direct longhaul flights into Harare, the best options are connecting via Johannesburg, or Ethiopian via Addis Ababa. Once we know where everyone is coming from, we'll decide whether to meet at Johanesburg and travel together from there, or everyone makes it individually into Harare.

Day 1 - Harare district

There are a number of rock art sites around the Lake Chivero (formerly Robert McIlwaine National Park) to the west of Harare, including the spectacular crocodile hunt panel. Further west there are some more well preserved paintings at Kentucky Farm, visiting them will easily take a full day. There are some more sites (though I fear mostly damaged and vandalized) in and around Harare itself (Glen Norah, Epworth) whic we can visit as time permits on other days.

Day 2 & 3 Central Mashonaland

There are a number of important sites (Domboshawa, Ngomakurira, Chikupo, Makumbe, Chawadzimu) in Mashonaland 20 - 50 to the North of Harare. With the bad roads and in some cases walking needed to get to the sites, I expect that at least two days will be needed to make a leisurely visit (also taking lighting into consideration where paintings might be exposed to sun at certain times of the day). To save time, I plan to sleep sowewhere north of Harare to avoid driving back and forth. I expect our local guide will be able to show us a number of lesser unpublished sites along the way.

Day 5 - Western Mashonaland

The important site of Zombepata lies about 100km to the north west of Harare, a little removed from the other sites. The day is allotted to visiting this site before returnng to Harare, but possibly there will be some slack in the afternoon to visit at least some of the in-town sites.

Day 6 & 7 - Eastern Mashonaland

There are two more important groupings of sites to the north east of Harare, the first about 80 kilometres away (Mucheka & Murehwa), the others a further 60-80 kilometres away (Ruchera, Gambarimwe, Charewa, etc.). Again we will sleep somewhere in the area, two days out of Harare should be enough to see all.

Day 8 - Harare (reserve day)

This is a spare day in case we are delayed at any stage in the north, as we will not return to Harare after this day. There will probably be a few in-town sites left, plus our giude may well know some more in the vicinity worth visiting, as well as the (few) sights of the city. If the this time is not eaten up, this will also be an opportunity to have a little rest after the seven very packed days.

Days 9 & 10 - Manicaland

One of Zimbabwe's finest sites, Diana's Vow lies about 200 kilometres to the south east of Harare near the Mozambique border, with a few lesser sites along the way and in the vicinity. Given the distance and the condition of the roads, probably a full day will be required to get there and see the site, sleeping somewhere in the general area. The other major site of Manicaland, Muromo Farm is another 100 kilometres to the south, left for the second day, driving towards Masvingo via the Birchenough Bridge in the afternoon.

Day 11 - Masvingo

The Abbé Breuil recorded a number of fine sites (Dandabari/Rumwanda, Dengeni & Chamawara) to the east of Masvingo (former Fort Victoria). The latter two are known, but the first one apparently has not been visited in recent times, hopefully by the time we make our trip I will have gathered some information on its whereabouts. In the evening we will continue to our hotel near Great Zimbabwe.

Day 12 - Great Zimbabwe

While not a rock art site, the great enclosure is one of the principal ancient monuments of the African continent, visiting it and the surrounding smaller satellites will easily take a whole day, spending two consecutive nights at the same accommodation in the vicinity.

Day 13 - Masvingo - Matopo Hills

The Abbé Breuil recorded a number of fine sites in the area of Chibi some 35 kilometres to the south west of Masvingo. Some further sites were reported more recently. The exact location of these sites have apparently faded from memory, hopefully by the time of our trip I will find some contact to a guide who might know them. In any case, they are just a small detour on our way towards Bulawayo and the Matopo Hills which are about 250 kilometres away, we can probably assign the morning to look for the sites.

Day 14 & 15 - Matopo Hills

The Matopo hills are an extremely rich concentration of sites both inside and outside the national park boundary. We will spend two days visiting the more accessible ones (Bambata, Nswatugi, Pomongwe, Silozwane, Gulubahwe, Sikiti, etc.) with four night's accommodation somewhere just outside the park boundary.

Day 16 - Inanke (Matopo hills)

Inanke cave is arguably THE finest rock art site in Zimbabwe. Unlike the others so far on the itinerary, it cannot be accessed till nearby with vehicles, there is a 7km footpath over undulating (but not dificult) terrain to reach the site from the car park. It is a good 3 hour walk each way, visiting the site will take up a full day.

Day 17 - Bulawayo - Victoria Falls

No tour of Zimbabwe would be complete without seeing Victoria Falls. Fortunately there are direct flights from Bulawayo, avoiding the long 400kn drive along the bad roads. Subject to flight schedules, we may visit the ancient city of Khami near Bulawayo, while not as grandiose as Great Zimbabwe the remains are still quite spectacular.

Day 18 - Victoria Falls

Our trip ends at Victoria Falls, from here there are several daily flights to Johannesburg, and also Ethiopian Airlines flies for those who wish to chose this option. Depending on flight schedules there will be an option to stay one or two nights at Victoria falls.

Back to planned expeditions...