Natural History Museum Of Zimbabwe

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Matobo Hills World Heritage Site

Matobo Hills World Heritage SiteLying south of Bulawayo, the Matobo Hills or Matopos consist of a broken and ancient, rocky landscape with a unique natural and social heritage.

It has one of the highest concentrations of prehistoric rock paintings in Southern Africa, while the hills are still a focus for local community shrines and sacred places. It is the home of the regional oracular cult of the High God, Mwari(Chishona) or Mlimo (siNdebele), whose voice is said to be heard from the rocks.

The Matobo Hills feature in many of the important historical events that have shaped the modern nation of Zimbabwe. There are battle sites, graves, ruins and relics that date back thousands of years through to recent events.

As such this cultural landscape is one of the most important in the country; it captures the soul of the nation.

Matobo Hills Declared a World Heritage Site

In 2003 it was declared a World Heritage Site. NMMZ as one of the custodians of this landscape oversees several of these sites; more especially Bambata, Pomongwe, Nswatugi and White Rhino painted caves as well as World’s View where several prominent colonial personalities are buried.

There is also a small site museum at Pomongwe Cave that covers some of the fascinating heritage of the hills and its people.

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258 reviews on
David Reason
David Reason
26/01/2021
This is a fabulous treasure for Zimbabwe with around 7 separate galleries of very well presented exhibits such as geology, entomology, herpetology, African mammals, colonial history, local African tribes, astronomy, humankind and mycology (fungi). It also houses hundreds of thousands of specimens in around 10 Collections, including arachnids, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), birds, snakes, plants and fungi - these Collections can be seen but by appointment only. The museum staff are pleasant and knowledgeable. There is an onsite café to pick up a snack or two and a public library of really interesting natural history books. There is also good info on the two World Heritage sites managed by the museum, these being the Matobo World View site and the Khami Ruins which are also magical places to go and visit!
Angel Bert
Angel Bert
05/12/2020
It was lovely experience
Fritz Madida
Fritz Madida
03/12/2020
Most fascinating collection of historical artefacrs
CLIVE SIBANDA J
CLIVE SIBANDA J
26/11/2020
Thank you for the important information
Thabo Pricel
Thabo Pricel
22/11/2020
Amaze balls
Nkosinathi Mdudo
Nkosinathi Mdudo
07/11/2020
Such an amazing experience