Chiremba Balancing Rocks

At Epworth on the edge of Harare, granite boulders sit balanced on one another in formations that look deliberately stacked but are the product of weathering: the granite broke along its joints and the softer material washed out from between, leaving the harder cores perched. The best-known group appeared on Zimbabwean banknotes for years. A short path runs among the formations from the entrance. The same weathering has produced balancing formations across much of the Zimbabwean highveld, but this group is the most accessible and the one that became the national image.

What you actually see

• The balanced boulders - granite cores left perched as the softer rock weathered out.
• The banknote formation - the group that appeared on the country's currency.
• The weathering process - the jointing and erosion that produced the shapes.
• The path - the short route among the formations.

When to go

April to October is the dry season. Morning and late afternoon light suits the granite. Weekends bring local visitors.

Honest expectations

The site is small and the visit takes under an hour. It sits on the edge of a dense suburb and the surroundings are not scenic. Guides at the gate expect payment.

Nearby

Harare is northwest, and Domboshava is north.