Matobo Hills Rock Art The Matobo Hills contain the highest concentration of rock art in the world , with over 3,000 documented painted sites. This extraordinary gallery of San (Bushmen) art was one of the key reasons for the Matobo’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
UNESCO Recognition - The Matobo Hills were inscribed as a World Heritage Site partly because they “contain outstanding collections of rock art and the large number of rock art sites in a comparatively small area makes the hills an exceptional repository of the artistic tradition.”
Overview Key Statistics Number of Sites 3,000+ documented Age Range 13,000 years to ~200 years ago Artists San (Bushmen/Basarwa) peoples Density Highest in the world Protected Since 1926 (National Park) UNESCO Status World Heritage Site (2003)
Why Matobo is Special
Sheer Numbers - More sites per square kilometer than anywhere elseDiversity - Wide range of subjects and stylesPreservation - Many paintings remarkably intactAccessibility - Several sites open to visitorsSetting - Dramatic granite landscape adds atmosphere
What You’ll See Animals The San painted the animals they hunted, feared, and revered:
Animal Frequency Significance Kudu Very common Elegant, spiritual importance Giraffe Common Striking images at Nswatugi Eland Common Most spiritually powerful animal Zebra Occasional Distinctive stripes depicted Elephant Occasional Power and memory Rhino Rare Now locally extinct Lion Rare Feared predator Baboon Common Social parallels
Hunters with bows and arrowsDancing figures in ritual posesRunning figures in hunting scenesFigures in trance (bending postures)Shamans/healers in transformation
Spiritual and Symbolic Motif Interpretation Therianthropes Part human, part animal - shamanic transformation Dotted lines Entoptic phenomena (trance visions) Hand prints Presence, contact with rock Rain animals Water/fertility symbolism Red ochre use Blood, potency, life force
Major Rock Art Sites Nswatugi Cave The most visited and arguably most spectacular rock art site in Matobo.
Highlights:
Life-sized giraffe paintings
Multiple kudu in various poses
Human figures with bows
Exceptional preservation
Dramatic cave setting
Visiting: Location Central Matobo, near Maleme Access Short walk from road Difficulty Easy Time 30-45 minutes Guide Recommended
Pomongwe Cave One of the most archaeologically significant sites in southern Africa.
Significance:
40,000+ years of human occupation
Multiple layers of paintings
Important archaeological excavations
Stone Age tool deposits
Evidence of climate adaptation
Features:
Multiple painting phases visible
Large shelter with good lighting
Interpretive signage
Easy access
Bambata Cave Gave its name to the “Bambata Culture” - a Middle Stone Age industry.
Why it matters:
Type site for archaeological culture
Rock art from multiple periods
Important research history
Combined natural and cultural heritage
Silozwane Cave Home to remarkable paintings including rare depictions of wildebeest.
Features:
Wildebeest images (rare in Zimbabwe)
Multiple animal species
Good preservation
Atmospheric location
Inanke Cave Features both rock art and Iron Age remains.
Note: Access may be restricted - check with park authorities.White Rhino Shelter Features paintings of the now locally-extinct white rhinoceros.
Access: Requires NMMZ permission and guide.Understanding the Art Dating the Paintings Method Timeframe Relative dating Superimposition (newer over older) Style analysis Changes in technique over time Archaeological context Associated deposits AMS radiocarbon Direct dating (limited)
Most paintings are 2,000-5,000 years old , though some may be 13,000+ years old and others as recent as 200 years ago.
The Trance Hypothesis The dominant interpretation of San rock art:
Shamanic healers entered trance through dancingVisions experienced during trance were paintedPower animals (especially eland) featured prominentlyTransformation (human to animal) depictedEntoptic phenomena (geometric patterns) recorded
This interpretation comes from:
Ethnographic records of San peoples
Comparison with /Xam San oral traditions
Analysis of painting content
Neuropsychological research
Reading a Panel When viewing rock art, look for:
Layers - Older paintings underneath newerGroupings - Related figures togetherAction - What’s happening in the sceneUnusual features - Lines from heads, bent posturesContext - Why this location?
Visiting the Rock Art Entry to Park $15 USD (international) Rock Art Sites Included in park fee Special Permits Required for some sites Guides Highly recommended Best Time Dry season, morning light
Guided Tours Why use a guide:
Know exact locations
Explain cultural context
Access to restricted sites
Support local community
Ensure site protection
Where to find guides:
Park headquarters
Maleme Rest Camp
Tour operators in Bulawayo
Lodge staff
Recommended Route Half Day:
Nswatugi Cave (main attraction)
Pomongwe Cave
Return via scenic route
Full Day:
Morning: Nswatugi, Pomongwe
Midday: Bambata
Afternoon: World’s View + additional sites
Multi-Day:
Day 1: Main sites (Nswatugi, Pomongwe, Bambata)
Day 2: Remote sites with guide
Day 3: Wildlife + remaining sites
Conservation Threats to the Paintings Threat Cause Impact Water damage Rain seepage Paint dissolution Vandalism Graffiti, touching Physical damage Dust Visitors, wind Accumulation on surfaces Wasps Nest building Paint covered/damaged Lichen Growth on surfaces Paint obscured
Protection Measures
National Parks management
NMMZ monitoring
Visitor restrictions at sensitive sites
Walkways to prevent erosion
Educational programs
How You Can Help DO:
Keep distance from paintings
Stay on paths
Report damage
Use guides
Pay entry fees
DON’T:
Touch the art (oils damage paint)
Use flash photography
Splash water on paintings
Remove anything
Mark the rocks
Even light touching causes damage. The oils from human skin chemically react with ancient pigments. Please keep hands off all rock surfaces.
Practical Tips What to Bring
Binoculars - For viewing distant paintingsCamera with zoom - Telephoto for detailsWater - Sites can be far from facilitiesSun protection - Little shade between sitesComfortable shoes - Uneven terrainNotebook - Record what you see
Photography Tip Reason No flash Damages pigments over time Morning light Best angle for most caves Polarizing filter Reduces rock glare Tripod Low light in caves Wide + telephoto Context and details
Best Conditions
Time of day: Early morning (8-10 AM)Season: Dry season (May-October)Weather: Overcast can be good (soft light)Day of week: Weekdays for fewer visitors
Connecting to Wildlife Part of the magic of Matobo is seeing animals depicted in rock art alongside their living descendants:
Animal Painting Sites Living in Park? Kudu Many Yes, common Giraffe Nswatugi No (extirpated) Eland Several Yes, rare Leopard A few Yes, elusive Baboon Many Yes, common White rhino White Rhino Shelter Yes (reintroduced)
Seeing a kudu silhouetted on a rock, then viewing 2,000-year-old paintings of kudu, creates a powerful connection to the San artists who lived here.
Beyond Matobo If Matobo inspires your interest in rock art, consider:
Site Location Distance Highlights Domboshava Near Harare 400 km Accessible, good art Chikupo Mashonaland Central 450 km Exceptional formlings Tsodilo Hills Botswana 700 km ”Louvre of the Desert”
Living Art Rock art sites are not museums - they’re places where ancestors communicated with spirits, where rain was called, and where the power of the hunt was invoked. When you stand in Nswatugi Cave, you’re in a space that was sacred for thousands of years.
The Matobo Hills contain the highest concentration of rock art in the world, with over 3,000 documented painted sites. This extraordinary gallery of San (Bushmen) art was one of the key reasons for the Matobo’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
The most visited and arguably most spectacular rock art site in Matobo.
Highlights: