Nestled in the heart of Southern Africa, Zimbabwe is renowned for its enchanting landscapes, rich natural and cultural heritage, and vibrant tapestry of languages. The nation boasts of a diverse range of environments including the iconic Victoria Falls and Hwange national parks. Zimbabwe’s vegetation is equally varied, encompassing lush woodlands, savannas, and arid deserts, as well as verdant forests, thornveld, and mopane woodlands in the drier regions. The country is also home to many plant species, including the iconic flame lily (Gloriosa superba) which is the national flower of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s population is characterised by its warm and resilient people, enriched by a diverse mix of ethnic groups, including the Shona, Ndebele, Tonga, Ndau, Shangani, Chewa, and Nambya.
The country is home to several significant historical and cultural sites including the famous dry stone walled palace of Great Zimbabwe which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. These sites played a crucial role in the birth of modern-day Zimbabwe and the development of African nationalism, and inspired the country’s name, ‘Zimbabwe’ meaning ‘house of stone’.
Of the country’s rich natural and archaeological heritage, five are on the UNESCO World Heritage list (Great Zimbabwe, Matobo Hills, Khami Ruins, Victoria Falls and Mana Pools). These sites are preserved and managed by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) and the Parks and Wildlife Authority of Zimbabwe, who are dedicated to their conservation for educational, recreational, and research purposes. Zimbabwe has a wealth of other archaeological sites with 178 of them declared as National Monuments. These sites and monuments are safeguarded and managed through the National Museums and Monuments Act [Chapter 25:11] which has enabled continued documentation and research on over 1,000 archaeological sites, shedding light on the country’s rich history and a captivating narrative of the past.
Below are just a few of Zimbabwe’s diverse cultural heritage sites. Click through the gallery to uncover the stories of these sites and read more about NMMZ.
-
Diana’s Vow Rock Art Cave
Eastern Region -
Matendera
Eastern Region -
Bambiri Rock Engravings
Eastern Region -
Naletale Cluster
Central Region -
Chikupo Cave
Northern Region -
Kubiku Stone Enlosure
Western Region -
Matobo Hills
Southern Region -
National heritage custodians and project collaborators
Heritage fieldwork in Zimbabwe
Staff from the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) and the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences (ZMHS) with Uppsala University are continuing to conduct ‘ground-truthing’ surveys that add to knowledge about the country’s rich heritage. During 2023, two field missions to Hwange National Park of the greater Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area in northwestern Zimbabwe and the Mutoko region of northeastern Zimbabwe were conducted with the aim to verify information recorded about sites from both existing legacy records and newly created remote sensing data.
Covering diverse time spans from the Early Stone Age to the Late Farming Community periods and environmental contexts including semi-arid to sub-tropical, over 40 sites have been revisited or newly documented and assessed for future monitoring.
-
Kundishora Chipunza, Godhi Bvocho and Moses Mkenala from NMMZ and ZMHS documenting a lithic scatter in Hwange National Park, northern Zimbabwe
By Ezekia Mtetwa, Uppsala University (2023) -
View of Mtoa Pan, a Middle to Late Stone Age site in Hwange National Park
By National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (2023) -
Recording of dry stone walling at Bumbuzi, Hwange National Park
By National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (2023) -
Ground foot survey of area identified through remote sensing in the Mutoko Region of eastern Zimbabwe
By National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (2023) -
Documenting the Late Stone Age site of Ruchera Cave, Mutoko Region
By National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (2023)
