Harare & Chimonyi Caves

Harare is a city full of surprises. Bustling and busy you can find anything and everything here as long as you know where to go. We are amazed at the number of new modern style shopping centres some to rival any Parisian town complete with French patisseries selling almond croissants , strawberry tartlets, chocolate eclairs ( we found 4 in one shopping centre ! ) and a Chocolaterie with a full range of delectable truffles. We indulge ourselves with poke bowls at the trendy Three Monkeys Restaurant for lunch and enjoy a delicious gelato from an ice cream shop. We also browse boutique style clothing stores, linen and candle stores and more on our way to buy vegan products from a specialised shop we find online.

All stocked up again with supplies from Foodlovers Market and ready to go we leave Harare after 2 days and head to Chimonyi where we plan to stay for 1 night and visit the nearby sacred Chimonyi Caves.

A visit to these caves is well worth our time. We pay our entrance fee and after a short walk downhill we see the dark entrance with stone stairway leading down with a patch of dark tanzanite blue water fringed by green trees way below. It’s a steady slow climb down with stops along the way to appreciate the ever approaching breathtaking views of the pool.

As we get to the pool’s edge we stop and take time to sit and contemplate, imagining the first people who lived here and how precious this fresh water pool must have been to them. The peacefulness and deep sense of tranquility lives on in this sacred cave. When we exit the cave we find a baboon troop quietly browsing all around. There are lots of mothers with tiny babies. This must now be their special place where the sacred spirit of Chimonyi lives on.Read more