The Matobo Hills

The Matobo Hills are one of Africa’s most extraordinary landscapes — and one of its most overlooked. A UNESCO World Heritage Site south of Bulawayo in southwestern Zimbabwe, the hills cover 3,100 square kilometres of ancient granite domes, balancing boulders and cave formations that have been sacred to the people of this region for thousands of years. Within this landscape: the highest concentration of San Bushman rock art in southern Africa, the highest density of Verreaux’s eagle anywhere in the world, Zimbabwe’s most reliable white rhino population, and the grave of Cecil John Rhodes.

The Ndebele call the hills Amatobo — “bald heads” — for the smooth, rounded domes that protrude above the valley floor like the skulls of giants. Rhodes was so taken with the landscape that he asked to be buried at the highest point, a granite outcrop he called World’s View. He lies there still, looking north toward the continent he spent his life trying to control.

Where is Matobo?

The Matobo Hills National Park is 35 km south of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city. Bulawayo is served by daily flights from Harare (45 minutes) and by the overnight train from Harare. The park is a 45-minute drive from the city on a good tar road.

White rhino tracking on foot

Matobo offers one of Zimbabwe’s finest wildlife experiences: white rhino tracking on foot in the Whovi Wild Area of the park. The rhino population is well-established and the animals are calm around guided walking groups. The open granite terrain allows close approach and extended observation — a fundamentally different experience from watching rhino through a vehicle window. Armed rangers accompany all walking groups. Guides track from fresh sign and typically locate rhino within 30–60 minutes of entry.

The San Bushman rock art

Over 3,000 San rock art sites have been identified in the Matobo Hills — the largest single concentration of San paintings in southern Africa. The art spans a period of at least 13,000 years. The most accessible and best-preserved site is White Rhino Shelter (named for its painted rhino figures), which has detailed human and animal figures including a famous hunting scene. Other major sites include Pomongwe Cave and Inanke Cave, requiring longer guided walks to reach.

Verreaux’s eagle (black eagle)

The Matobo Hills support the world’s highest recorded density of Verreaux’s eagle — a magnificent large raptor with striking black-and-white plumage that is entirely dependent on the rock hyrax as prey. The hyrax colonies on the kopjes provide the food base; the cliff faces provide the nest sites. The combination has produced 60+ breeding pairs in the park, making Matobo the single best place in the world to observe this species.

World’s View

The highest granite dome in the area, World’s View provides a 360-degree panorama over the hills and, on a clear day, well into Botswana. Cecil Rhodes is buried in a simple grave cut into the bare rock at the summit — alongside his friend Leander Starr Jameson (of the Jameson Raid) and a small number of other figures from the colonial era. The site is accessible by a short steep walk from the car park.

Combine Matobo with…

• Hwange National Park — 4 hours northwest for Big Five game drives.
• Victoria Falls — 5 hours northwest; fly from Bulawayo.
• Great Zimbabwe Ruins — 3 hours east for Zimbabwe’s other great stone heritage site.

Frequently asked questions about Matobo

Is it safe to walk among white rhino in Matobo?

Yes — with armed rangers following established protocols. The Matobo rhino are well-habituated to guided groups and incidents are extremely rare. The experience requires following the ranger’s instructions precisely.

How does Matobo compare to Kruger or Hwange?

Matobo is a completely different safari experience — intimate, on foot, focused on specific species (rhino, eagle, rock art) in a dramatic geological setting. It is not a Big Five game drive destination but one of Africa’s finest specialist wildlife and cultural experiences.