The Caves have a historical cultural significance. In the 16th century they were used by the local Shona tribes for storing grain and as a refuge from invading tribes. In the 1890’s Chief Chinhoyi and his followers used the Caves as a refuge from raiding tribes such as the Matebele.
Why Chinhoyi Caves is sacred place? As a strategic niche offering a source of water as well as protection from enemies, the Chinhoyi Caves played a role in political conflicts. The caves also had significant cultural and religious importance, as they served as a sacred religious centre for rainmaking ceremonies (mupwerera).
Then, How much is it to enter Chinhoyi Caves? At the entrance to the cave which is about 100 meters or so down a windy slope, there is an attendant in a small building receiving the US$3 entrance fee (US$4 if you’ll be taking pictures).
What is found at Chinhoyi Caves? The Chinhoyi Caves make up the most extensive cave system in Zimbabwe. The Site is a rare near-natural Karst system composed of limestone, dolomite, and a pool of cobalt blue water which is so clear that silver-hued fish and underwater rock formations are seen many metres below the surface.
FAQ
Why is Chinhoyi Caves water blue?
A mysterious underground world created by drops of water. The enchanted Sleeping Pool, an intense cobalt-blue caused by specks of limestone in the water, is said to imprison an underwater monster.
Who discovered Chinhoyi Caves? His name was Frederick Selous. However, there were many who already knew of the Caves and saw them either as a place to admire or fear. One legend that surrounds the Caves, and inspires their name, involves Chinhoyi, a Headman who defeated and killed the Nyamakwere outlaws.
How deep is the Chinhoyi Caves pool? The pool is surrounded by the vertical rock walls of The Wonder Hole, which only adds to the atmosphere. The water in the main section of Sleeping Pool is between 80 and 91 metres deep, fluctuating due to seasonal rainfall. The depth of the water system is unknown, but the estimated depth is around 172 metres.
What does Chinhoyi Caves look like? The pool is unbelievably blue and crystal clear which reflects great depth non-flowing water . The traditional name for the Caves is “Chirorodziva” which means the “Pool of the Fallen”.
Is Chinhoyi Caves sacred place?
Chinhoyi Caves are also believed to be sacred, and spirit mediums visit the place for ancestral worshipping or to hold cultural ceremonies.
How deep is the Chinhoyi Caves? The caves continue incredibly far underground in a complex limestone formation. The water is so clear and constant in temperature that scuba teams have descended to depths of more than 300 feet (100 meters). They have discovered subterranean passages linking the various pools.
How deep is the blue pool in Chinhoyi Caves?
The pool is surrounded by the vertical rock walls of The Wonder Hole, which only adds to the atmosphere. The water in the main section of Sleeping Pool is between 80 and 91 metres deep, fluctuating due to seasonal rainfall. The depth of the water system is unknown, but the estimated depth is around 172metres.
When was Chinhoyi Caves Discovered? Chinoyi Caves (formerly known as Sinoia Caves) have long been a popular stop off point for travellers on their way to Kariba, campers and day visitors from Harare enjoying a picnic. The limestone caves were first discovered by Frederick Courtney Selous in 1887 which he later described in his writings in 1888.
Is Chinhoyi a city or town?
Chinhoyi town is the capital city of Mashonaland west province and is situated 115km north-west of Harare. It is a home for several government ministries and departments at provincial level; this means the whole of Mashonaland West is administered by Chinhoyi.
Who built Zimbabwe and why?
Begun during the eleventh century A.D. by Bantu-speaking ancestors of the Shona, Great Zimbabwe was constructed and expanded for more than 300 years in a local style that eschewed rectilinearity for flowing curves.
How deep is the sleeping pool? Sleeping Pool
The main feature of the caves, the crystal clear water is a stagnant pool of beauty. Rumoured to be approximately 56 430 ft (172 metres) deep, the silent pool is situated below a high ceiling with a hole that leads up to the sky.
What are sacred places in Zimbabwe? Top Religious Monuments in Zimbabwe
- St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral Bulawayo.
- Njelele Shrine Matopos Bulawayo.
- Mutemwa Prayer Mountain & Leprosy Centre.
Where is Great Zimbabwe located?
Great Zimbabwe is the name of the stone ruins of an ancient city near modern day Masvingo, Zimbabwe.
Why is the Great Zimbabwe important? With an economy based on cattle husbandry, crop cultivation, and the trade of gold on the coast of the Indian Ocean, Great Zimbabwe was the heart of a thriving trading empire from the 11th to the 15th centuries. The word zimbabwe, the country’s namesake, is a Shona (Bantu) word meaning “stone houses.”
Which is the oldest city in Zimbabwe?
The town of Masvingo was founded in 1890 and was the first large settlement to be established by the Pioneer Column of the British South Africa Company which makes it the oldest town in Zimbabwe. It was named Fort Victoria after Queen Victoria.
Which district is Chinhoyi? Overview. Chinhoyi is the provincial capital of Mashonaland West Province, one of the ten administrative provinces in Zimbabwe. It is also the district headquarters of Makonde District, one of the six districts in the province.
Which province is Bindura?
Bindura is a town in the province of Mashonaland Central province, Zimbabwe. It is located in the Mazowe Valley about 88 km north-east of Harare.
Who built Zimbabwe ruins? In 1905, however, the British archaeologist David Randall-MacIver concluded the ruins were medieval, and built by one or more of the local African Bantu peoples. His findings were confirmed by another British archaeologist, Gertrude Caton-Thompson, in 1929, and this remains the consensus today.
Who was the king of Great Zimbabwe?
Around 1430 CE, Prince Nyatsimba Mutota of Great Zimbabwe founded the new Kingdom of Mutapa and established his own royal dynasty. Mutapa grew to eclipse its neighbour, partly due to the internal political instability, famine and the exhaustion of gold mines within Zimbabwe’s territories.
What does the word Zimbabwe mean? Many sources hold that « Zimbabwe » derives from dzimba-dza-mabwe, translated from the Karanga dialect of Shona as « houses of stones » (dzimba = plural of imba, « house »; mabwe = plural of bwe, « stone »).
Where do we find the sacred Chirorodziva pool?
On the outskirts of the city of Chinhoyi lies a huge sacred pool,whose silence is like that of the innards of a grave. The silence as one descends into the intricate network of caves is both eerie and profound. The caves are a system of dolomite and limestone,caves are linked by many passages.
Where is the most sacred place on earth? 9 most sacred places in the world
- Jerusalem. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the location of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. …
- Wat Rong Khun, Thailand. …
- Mecca, Saudi Arabia. …
- Sistine Chapel, Italy. …
- Paro Taktsang, Bhutan. …
- Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Russia. …
- Uluru, Australia. …
- Angkor Wat, Cambodia.
What is the holiest place in Judaism? The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism, which regards it as the place where God’s divine presence is manifested more than in any other place, and is the place Jews turn towards during prayer.
