The Rhodes Matopos National Park is the oldest in Rhodesia. In November 1926 a National Park and Game Reserve was declared within the Matopos hills. In 1963, a change in policy saw the creation of the Matopo National Park and a reduction in the park’s size, with the balance being declared as tribal trust land. However, by Act of Parliament in 1965, the Rhodes Matopos National Park was declared and enlarged by the addition of two farms from the Rhodes Matopos Estate on the northern boundary.
The park forms the core of the Matopos Hills, an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys south of Bulawayo. They were formed by river erosion and weathered into fantastic shapes and deep valleys. The hills are associated with folklore and tradition, some being venerated as dwelling places of the spirits of departed Ndebele chiefs. The hills contain gigantic caves (notably Bambata, Nswatugi, and Silozwane) with Khoekhoe paintings, and there are Stone and Iron Age archaeological sites.
Flora & Fauna
Things to Do
References
- Britannica: Matopo Hills
- National Parks of the World: Africa, Asia, Australasia, and Oceania (1972) – Kai Curry-Lindahl, Jean Paul Harroy
- Wikipedia: Matobo National Park
