 It
was believed that prior to that the Caves were being used
as a stronghold by an outlaw called Nyamakwere who murdered
many victims by throwing them into the ‘’Silent
Pool’’. The notorious Nyamakwere was eventually
defeated and killed by a Headman called Chinhoyi who became
a Mashona Chief, hence the name Chinhoyi given to the nearby
town. Chief Chinhoyi and his followers used the Caves as a
refuge from raiding tribes such as the Matebele. Until a few
years ago the remains of Chief Chinhoyi’s grain bins
could be seen in some of the underground passages.
The traditional name for the Caves is ‘’Chirorodziva’’
which means the ‘’ Pool of the Fallen’’.
The name was derived from an incident which took place in
the 1830s when the Angoni Tribe, who were moving northwards
surprised people living near the Caves and flung them into
the pool.
The area close to the caves was first declared a National
Monument and in 1957 it was declared a National Park with
its existing boundaries. It was then redesignated as a Recreational
Park in 1975.
The Caves consist of a system of tunnels and caverns. This
system is a dying one (in geological time spans), in that
they are slowly collapsing. These collapses can be noticed
by the sink holes and depressions within the surrounding area.
The Wonder Hole, which is the main feature of the Caves, is
in fact a ‘’swallow hole’’ or a large
cavern with a collapsed roof.
The walls or sides of the Wonder Hole drop vertically down
for 150 feet to the Sleeping Pool. The pool is unbelievably
blue and crystal clear which reflects great depth and non-flowing
water. Exploration by the Zimbabwe Sub-Aqua Spelaelogical
Research Group has revealed that the depth of the water in
the Sleeping Pool varies between 80 metres and 91 metres.
This fluctuation in depths is attributable to the amount of
rainfall received in a particular season. Several under water
passages have been found leading from the Sleeping Pool, but
all those so far explored lead back into the Pool. Near the
end of the Dark Cave is a small cavern accessible only to
diver known as the Blind Cave. A second one connects with
the Sleeping Pool 58 metres below the surface and the third
one is yet to be fully explored.
The Caves are composed mainly of the sunlit ‘’Sleeping
Pool’’ and the artificially lit Dark Cave. The
Sleeping Pool 46 metres below the ground level is accessible
in two ways:
1. Through the main entrance with an inclined passage, where
the view of the water has been compared to the famous Blue
Grotto of Capri
2. Through the Dark Cave, which leads down steps and along
a narrow passage to a point just above the water at the far
side of the Sleeping Pool.
The exit from the Dark Cave is demanding, as the steps are
very steep. Therefore, less agile visitors would be well advised
to avoid this latter option. It seems probable that further
caves remain to be discovered. Research suggests that the
water in the cave is connected to an even bigger body of water
in view of the fact that the temperature in the Sleeping Pool
never varies from 22 degrees Celsius. Excavations in and near
the Caves have revealed that people have stayed around the
area from early times. Pottery and human remains were unearthed
from the area which radio-carbon dated around AD 650.
The Environs of the Caves
Although Chinhoyi Caves Recreational Park covers a large area
only 20 acres of it in the vicinity of the actual Caves are
used by the public. The remainder of the Park is largely taken
up with dolomite mining claims and wooded scrubland.
The Flora and Fauna
The Park’s flora is made up largely of indigenous species
and a few exotics. In the indigenous group, there are: Mukwa
(pterocarpus angolencis), Cape Fig (ficus capensis), Combretum
species, Terminalia species, Msasa (brachystegia), Violet
tree (securidaca longipediculata), Yellow wood (monotas glaber)
and Pink Jacaranda (stereospermum).
Although birds are not numerous, there is a wide variety
of species, especially during the dry months of winter. The
Park’s bird diversity includes the Arnot’s Chat,
Angola Rock Thrush, Mocking Chat, Large Striped Pipit, Woodpecker
species, Black Tit, Redwing Starling, Batis, Flycatcher, Penduline
Tit, Glossy Starling, Bat Hawk, Tree Creeper, Familiar Chat,
Paradise Flycatcher and other species.
There are virtually no large animals in the Park. However,
monkeys, baboons, bushpigs and rock hares can occasionally
be sighted.FACILITIESThe Picnic sites and camp sites are serviced
by three ablution blocks with hot and cold water, baths, toilets
and showers.
Activities
How to get to Chinhoyi Recreational Park
The Caves are located about 9 kilometres north-west of the
town of Chinhoyi, 120 kilometres from the capital city of
Harare. The Park lies along the main Harare-Chirundu Road.
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