A day in Matobo National Park

Jul 24, 2025

However you decide to call it, both Matopos and Matobo refer to the same place in Zimbabwe. Matobo is the more accurate, traditional name, while Matopos is the anglicised version.

Matobo is the oldest national park in Zimbabwe and one of the most unique. It’s not a park built around big game, though it has that too. What mostly draws people here is something much harder to describe. People who have visited say “It’s the history... It’s the landscape... Something about it just feels...” On the other hand, those who live here say it’s “a sacred place... somewhere you go when you need to think.” Whichever way it’s described, you can’t mention Matobo without thinking of the rock formations and the caves that give it a character that feels older than time itself.

If you’re interested in history, the park has over 3,000 registered rock art sites. Some of the best-preserved San paintings in Southern Africa are found here. These artworks, created thousands of years ago, still speak through their detail and setting. You climb into the caves and find scenes painted with natural pigments, still clinging to the stone walls. It’s basically a museum, but outdoors. And without the barriers.

Not far from those caves is World’s View, one of the park’s most visited points. The view is wide and open and the walk up is steep in places, but manageable. At the top, there’s a memorial to Cecil John Rhodes, who is buried here. For many visitors, this brings up questions about history and legacy. Conversations that often continue as people descend, lingering in thought long after the visit. What’s undeniable is the vantage point. You can see for kilometers on end and the stillness at the top is something that stays with you.

Matobo is well known for its rhino population. If you are up for it, you can track white and black rhinos on foot under the guidance of experienced rangers. Watching these animals from a safe distance, without the sound of a vehicle, is something everyone should experience at least once.

There are also parts of the park that feel more tucked away. You can spend time at Maleme Dam, walk one of the marked trails, or just drive slowly through the landscape. The balance of open grassland, wooded valleys and rocky terrain makes for a park that always feels different around the next bend. Birders will appreciate the variety of species here. Photographers will find plenty of light and texture to work with. And those who just want space to breathe will find that too.

Matobo is a place that doesn’t need much explanation. You just need to go and walk the paths, climb the rocks, take the quiet in and if you can, stay long enough to see how the light changes in the late afternoon.

There are plenty of accommodation options in convenient locations for exploring Matopos. Gwango Tamarillo Estate is one of these places. For those choosing to stay here, Matopos will be an easy day trip. You can head out in the morning and be back in time for an early dinner. The lodge team can assist with directions, park entry details and even help connect you with local guides or if you prefer, they can arrange and lead the excursion themselves.

For bookings at Gwango Tamarillo Estate or help with planning a visit to Matobo, contact reservations@gwango.com