Travels around the world 2009-2024
Exploring our beautiful planet

Chongoni Rock Art

October 6, 2015  —  Malawi

Chongoni, near the town of Dedza, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The area shelters 127 rock art sites dating from at least 2,000 years. Of these 127 sites, only three are officially open for visiting.

The rock art sites are found on the rock cliff or in caves scattered everywhere in the region. There are many small mountains such as the one on the photo.

Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Hard to find a rock art site in these mountains. There are dozens of inselbergs dotting the region.
line-separator

Chentcherere Site

Chentcherere - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #1.

This is the least interesting site among the three open to the public. Nevertheless, it is possible to see some vague shapes of humans or animals.

This site is composed of two panels found in two different small caves.

Chentcherere - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Chentcherere - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Chentcherere - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Chentcherere - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Chentcherere - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #2.
line-separator

Namzeze Site

Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi

Here is the guide who helped me find the Chentcherere and Namzeze sites.

This site is composed of only one big panel.

Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Namzeze - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
View from the cave.
line-separator

Mphunzi Site

Site 3 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #3.

Mphunzi, located near a village, has a total of 8 panels. Many of these panels are near houses or cultivated fields.

Some panels are almost completely erased or not interesting. Here are the best panels.

Site 3 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #3 - the small rock behind the house.
Site 3 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #3.
Site 3 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #3.
Site 3 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #3.
Site 3 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #3.
Site 7 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #7 - a lion.
Site 7 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #7.
Site 7 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #7.
Site 7 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
View from site #7.
Site 7 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #7.
Site 7 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Cave at site #7.
Site 1 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #1.
Site 1 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #1.
Site 1 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #1.
Site 1 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #1.
Site 5 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #5 - a long-necked giraffe.
Site 8 - Mphunzi - Chongoni Rock Art - Malawi
Site #8 - a lizard.