The Matopo National Park forms the core of the Matobo or Matopos Hills, an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 35 kilometres south of Bulawayo, southern Zimbabwe. The hills were formed over 2 billion years ago producing “whaleback dwalas” and broken kopjes, strewn with boulders and interspersed with thickets of vegetation.
Mzilikazi, founder of the Ndebele nation, gave the area its name, meaning ‘Bald Heads’ and he is buried in the Matobo Hills.
Cecil John Rhodes is buried in the Matobo National Park, at the summit of Malindidzimu -‘hill of benevolent spirits’-. A place which he referred to as the “view of the world.”
Malindi Dzimu – the place of benevolent spirits – was renamed the “View of the World” by Cecil John Rhodes and the site where he chose to be buried. The vantage point provides a dramatic view over the surrounding sea of granite formations and hills.
Maleme dam is a good picnic site for lunch. Nswatugi cave paintings (about 200 metres, walking distance) for San paintings.
