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Rock Art of Zimbabwe July, 2026
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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 1-2 - 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 and surroundings, visiting them will easily take two full days. There are some more sites in and around Harare itself (Glen Norah, Epworth) which we can visit as time permits or on other days.
Day 3 & 4 Central Mashonaland
There are a number of important sites (Domboshawa, Chawadzimu, Chikupo, Lion's head, Echo Farm,) in Mashonaland 20 - 50km to the North of Harare. With the bad roads and in some cases walking needed to get to the sites. Two days will be needed to make a complete visit, taking in Domboshawa, Chawadzimu and Chikupo on the first day, Lion's Head and Echo farm and some smaller sites near Bindura on the second day.We will spend a night at the town of Bindura in a small but perfectly adequate lodge.
Day 5 & 7 - Eastern Mashonaland
There are three 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.), the third about 60-70 kilometres to the east of Harare (Goromonzi, Mbware, Gwangwadza). We will sleep for two nights at a very pleasant lodge in Mutko, spending a full day at each of the clusters, returning to Harare on the evening of the 3rd day.
Days 8 & 9 - 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 at Rusape. 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, spending two nights at a basic but lovely local lakeside lodge close to ou target for the next day.
Day 10 - Rumwanda
The Abbé Breuil recorded a very fine site, Dandabari (also known as Rumwanda/Impey's cave) to the east of Masvingo (former Fort Victoria). The precise location is not known, we failed to find it in 2025, this tme a day is allotted to make sure we get to it.
Day 11 - Masvingo area
Breuil copied another two sites, Dengeni & Chamavara in the vicinity of Masvingo. We may visit both before continuing 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 Great Zimbabwe Hotel, within walking distance of the ruins.
Day 13-14 - 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. 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. Some further sites were reported more recently, the approximate locations of which were marked on the Survey of Rhdesia maps, but little else is known about them. Using Chibi as a base (if I can find some accommodation) we will spend two days looking for these sites, then we'll continue towards Bulawayo and the Matopo Hills on the afternoon of the second day.
Day 15 & 16 - 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 17 - 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 18 - Bulawayo
In the morning we will visit the ancient city of Khami near Bulawayo, while not as grandiose as Great Zimbabwe the remains are still quite spectacular. Our trip ends in Bulawayo, from here there are several daily flights to Johannesburg.
Learning from our 2025 experience, we will not drive to Victoria Falls, the road is in dismal condition and while there is some ongoing repair, I doubt it will be any better by the summer of '26. Thise who wish to see Victoria Falls may do so as an add-on, taking a flight via Harare. From Vic Falls there are numerous connections to Johannesburg, also Ethiopian flies to Addis Ababa.
For information on expected costs, planned dates and any further questions, please send me an email.
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