To get to this cave, we had to drive through the “Makaya’s” or Communal Lands. This involved some pretty nifty guesswork and driving skills – most of the traffic there is a scotch cart or donkey with bags hanging over its whithers.
We just followed the power-line – its what we usually do when faced with some of the “interchanges” we come across in our travels.
I couldn’t resist stopping and snapping this very clever cattle kraal up against the rock feature…
And THEN…a school painted Viagra Blue????? Why is it, that against the back drop of yellow ochre and burnt sienna, people must paint things that terrible colour? It should be banned, that paint. What kind of message are we giving the children?
After that shock to the system: this…
Matopos has some strange rock features, but this one must take the cake. It’s a huge boulder, seen in this picture end on. It stretches away from you for miles and miles. We surmised it formed in this strange way because it is the last of the truly big rocks in the Matopos before the Tuli valley.
This tree invited us into the area. We parked the car and walked through a very unMatabeleland-like forest. Huge trees and soft underfoot. And then we climbed and climbed and climbed and I died…I have no photos of that, cos it wasn’t a good death – I was red in the face and wheezing and swearing.
I had to stop here…I couldn’t walk another centimeter…this view is looking towards Tuli-Makwe Dam (sort of south.)
Below is a picture of the cave
I have thousands of pictures of the rock art, you will probably have to email me if there are any you particularly want…
Baboons on the rocks, taken on the way down, show the sheer size of the boulders in the Matopos…
Did you go in the cave? Wow…that blue does stand out!!
Yes – we did go into the cave. There appears to be quite alot of newer art work in there, as well as some very old ones that are no longer clear. We have a piece of software that removes all colours except one. So for example it will remove all the reds and browns and leave only the yellow. We are hoping we can use it to bring out some of the art in different shades hidden underneath. But its certainly a project for a rainy day. It will take some time. Once I have identified all the art with one colour, I can stitch them together into the full length of the cave. I imagine we would have a red one, a yellow one and white one.
Stunning photo’s as usual you never let us down old friend
Thanks for that, Nick and thanks for dropping by. Next time you are down our way, Matopos is on the cards, hear?
Stunning photo’s as usual you never let us down old friend
Thanks for that, Nick and thanks for dropping by. Next time you are down our way, Matopos is on the cards, hear?
Thanks for sharing your explorations, very interesting
It’s a pleasure, Philicity – we have allota fun driving around the country – thanks for your visit
Thanks for sharing your explorations, very interesting
It’s a pleasure, Philicity – we have allota fun driving around the country – thanks for your visit
Fabulous photo’s interesting to me as I didn’t know about that cave, or that strange rock, there is a lot I didn’t see.
Thanks – me too! Before this trip, I had not been to the Matopos National Park for more than 30 years!! I have been in the TTL’s nearby and to Diana’s Pools! I aim to go back with my new camera, so watch this space for more of the Matopos! Thanks for popping in!
Fabulous photo’s interesting to me as I didn’t know about that cave, or that strange rock, there is a lot I didn’t see.
Thanks – me too! Before this trip, I had not been to the Matopos National Park for more than 30 years!! I have been in the TTL’s nearby and to Diana’s Pools! I aim to go back with my new camera, so watch this space for more of the Matopos! Thanks for popping in!
I remember visiting this cave when I was a youngster along with Pomongwe and Bambata. Great photos. I remember buying the book Matopos and intending to visit all the caves listed there but life moves on and you never do it. Visited Zimbabwe a few years back and reclimbed Inungu though.
The climbing certainly gets harder the older one gets! Matopos has so many kopies one could never climb them all!
I remember visiting this cave when I was a youngster along with Pomongwe and Bambata. Great photos. I remember buying the book Matopos and intending to visit all the caves listed there but life moves on and you never do it. Visited Zimbabwe a few years back and reclimbed Inungu though.
The climbing certainly gets harder the older one gets! Matopos has so many kopies one could never climb them all!
Wonderful account thanks! How long was the walk/ climb up to the cave approximately? Thinking of taking the family there while in Bulawayo next month…
Other than Galabuquwe cave on the Old Gwanda Rd, this one is one of the easiest to climb. I usually park in the carpark below the cave, but because I was with an elderly lady who didnt think she could make it up there, I went around the long way to the museum (And you will need a bakkie to go there.) The climb is too much for an elderly person, or someone with an injury, but is fine for a fit person. Very good for children. There are clearly defined steps and the climb is about 30metre, but fairly steep at the end. I had slightly sore calves by the time I got to the top, but Im not the fittest person around. In comparison to Silozwane or Inanke, its a breeze.
Wonderful account thanks! How long was the walk/ climb up to the cave approximately? Thinking of taking the family there while in Bulawayo next month…
Other than Galabuquwe cave on the Old Gwanda Rd, this one is one of the easiest to climb. I usually park in the carpark below the cave, but because I was with an elderly lady who didnt think she could make it up there, I went around the long way to the museum (And you will need a bakkie to go there.) The climb is too much for an elderly person, or someone with an injury, but is fine for a fit person. Very good for children. There are clearly defined steps and the climb is about 30metre, but fairly steep at the end. I had slightly sore calves by the time I got to the top, but Im not the fittest person around. In comparison to Silozwane or Inanke, its a breeze.