Matobo-Nationalpark

The Matobo National Park or Matopos National Park (older name) is located approximately 35 km south of Bulawayo in Matabeleland in Zimbabwe. He is the oldest national park in the country, founded in 1926 as a Rhodes Matopos National Park.

He is among the most visited parks, not only because Cecil Rhodes and others are buried here in the Matobo hills, but also because of the impressive rock formations, the contrasts between lieblichem grassland and rugged granite. The Mpopoma River Valley with its " Balancing Rocks " valid scenically very attractive. The deep traces of erosion in these 200 million years old hills are considered to be breathtaking. In the park there are several small dams, the lakes are filled depending on the season and particularly suitable for stalking after animals. The National Park lies within the Matobo Hills that have been declared a World Heritage Site because of its cave paintings by UNESCO.

In the park, there are more antelope such as kudu or eland, but also the black ( spitzmaul ) and the white ( square-lipped ) rhinoceros, big cats and giraffes, zebras and six species of eagles and many other bird species. Its area covers 3100 km ², is agricultural land of which 440.

History

The San lived here 2,000 years ago, and have left a rich legacy of rock engravings. In many caves and niches clay ovens and other historic artifacts were found.

The hills were the place where the meeting between Cecil Rhodes and the leaders of the Ndebele took place on the 1896. Rhodes named this place because of its stunning views 'View Of The World '. Many early settlers are on the hill Malindidzimu next Cecil Rhodes is buried.

These hills are considered by the Shona and many other tribes in southern Africa as sacred. You are still places of worship.

The park's name Matobo came in the film The Interpreter available from the year 2005, in which the fictional Democratic Republic of Matobo plays a role.