Ngomakurira

Ngomakurira means the drums are beating, a name attached to the sound thunder makes among its granite domes, and the massif north of Harare carries some of the better rock painting near the capital: friezes of human figures, animals and abstract forms under overhangs on the way up. The climb over bare granite takes an hour or so to the top, where the country opens out. It is used for church gatherings and has ritual significance.

Highlights

• The painted overhangs - friezes of figures and animals along the climb.
• The granite domes - the bare rock the massif is made of.
• The summit view - the country north of Harare from the top.
• The name - the thunder among the rocks the place is named for.

When to go

April to October is the dry season. The granite is dangerous when wet. Weekends bring church groups and local visitors.

What to expect

The climb is over bare granite with no path and is genuinely slippery when wet. Paintings are unprotected and some have been damaged. Guides are useful for finding the panels.

Nearby

Domboshava is south, and Harare is beyond it.

Key facts