Chapungu Sculpture Park

Chapungu was founded in 1970 to show Zimbabwean stone sculpture in the open air, and it grew into the main showcase for the movement, with work set out across landscaped grounds and carvers working on site so visitors can watch pieces being made. Its collection has toured internationally and a permanent set of works stands in Colorado. The park also holds performances of traditional dance on some days. The name is the Shona word for the bateleur eagle, a bird that carries meaning in Shona belief, and it was chosen deliberately for a project that set out to present the sculpture on its own terms.

What you actually see

• The outdoor collection - stone sculpture set across landscaped grounds.
• The working carvers - artists cutting stone on site.
• The serpentine and springstone - the local stones the movement works in.
• The dance performances - traditional performance staged on some days.

When to go

April to October is the dry season for the outdoor grounds. Carvers work on weekdays rather than weekends. Performance days should be checked.

Honest expectations

The park has had funding difficulties and the grounds are not always well kept. Carvers may not be present on any given day. The retail side is prominent.

Nearby

Harare centre is west, and Chiremba is south.