Matobo Hills

Matobo Hills

The Matobo Hills are located approximately 24.9 miles south of Bulawayo. This jagged mountain range spans 790,700 acres and was formed through the weathering of regularly alternating lines found in rock art. The Matobo Hills are renowned for their unusual landscapes and rich diversity of flora and fauna, and are one of the richest regions in the world for prehistoric rock art.

Many parts of the Matobo Hills consist of steep ridges, often covered with dense forests on their lower slopes, which are typically divided by valleys that host numerous small rivers, springs, and ponds. These ecosystems draw sustenance from a wide range of vegetation, including lichen, fig trees, and aloe, supporting species with short life cycles. The exceptional stonemasonry is particularly striking, especially the wall in the northeast of the oval enclosure. This wall stands 9.1 meters high with a base thickness of 4.9 meters, and its zigzag-style top structure extends nearly 60 feet along a 244-meter circular wall.

The Matobo Hills feature some of the richest rock formations, where massive boulders provide numerous natural caves that have become focal points for rock art. Rock art is a very fragile form of art, easily damaged and difficult to restore. Fortunately, these relics are currently well preserved.