Trip Planner: Africa / Malawi / Central Region / Dedza / Chongoni Rock Art Area

Chongoni Rock Art Area, Dedza

4.4

#8 of 23 in Things to do in Central Region

World heritage site · Landmark · Tourist Spot

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A World Heritage Site, Chongoni Rock Art Area stands as the largest cluster of ancient rock paintings in Central Africa. While the site contains 127 artworks, the guided tour starts with the three that are open to the public, surrounded by massive granite hills and untouched nature. Admire the rock art sites depicting animals, rituals, and symbols, made mostly by BaTwa hunter-gatherers who lived during the Late Stone Age, and Chewa clan folk from the Early Iron Age. To visit Chongoni Rock Art Area and get the most from your holiday in Dedza, create itinerary details personal to you using our Dedza trip itinerary builder.

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Chongoni Rock Art Area reviews

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16 reviews

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4.8

By tysonvo

These rock art panels, which are most commonly found in caves/overhangs, are really impressive, with many different sites and different styles from two distinct eras. We were guided by Samuel...

These rock art panels, which are most commonly found in caves/overhangs, are really impressive, with many different sites and different styles from two distinct eras. We were guided by Samuel... more »
By GundaBoy

Looking at the Sigiriya Frescoes in Sri Lanka (2000 years old) the paintings were not convincing. Nevertheless please go visit. Barefoot Safari's Lodge does one day tours.

Looking at the Sigiriya Frescoes in Sri Lanka (2000 years old) the paintings were not convincing. Nevertheless please go visit. Barefoot Safari's Lodge does one day tours. more »
By Paradise757869

I planned for a two days Visit in Dedza. The first day I planned to hike Dedza mountain and the second day I planned to visit Chongoni. We hiked Dedza Mountain on 28 November 2020, I had a great...

I planned for a two days Visit in Dedza. The first day I planned to hike Dedza mountain and the second day I planned to visit Chongoni. We hiked Dedza Mountain on 28 November 2020, I had a great... more »

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By Dominic McEvoy

Amazing how close you can get. Difficult track to drive on to get too.

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By kevin maina

Am coming asap

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By MIke Dumakude Ngoma

Went to UNESCO #WorldHeritage site CHONGONI ROCK ART AREA, Linthipe Dedza Malawi. we started our climb at Namoni Katengeza Lay centre, a priest who used to oversee things when the missionaries left hence being named after him, we had two goals...to get to the highest point and to visit the cave paintings close to the peak (sort of) The highest point has an altitude of about 1900m above sea level, then we descended to the cave paintings,They reflect the comparatively scarce tradition of farmer rock art, as well as paintings by BaTwa or akafula hunter-gatherers who inhabited the area from the late Stone Age. The Chewa agriculturalists, whose ancestors lived there from the late Iron Age, practised rock painting until well into the 20th century. The symbols in the rock art, which are strongly associated with women, still have cultural relevance amongst the Chewa, & the sites are actively associated wt ceremonies and rituals.Situated within a cluster of forested granite hills & covering an area of 126.4 km2, high up the plateau of central Malawi, the 127 sites of this property feature the richest concentration of rock art in Central Africa, The rock art of the Chongoni sites records the cultural history and traditions of the peoples of the Malawi plateau: the transition from a foraging lifestyle to food production, the subsequent Ngoni invasion of the Chewa people, and the coming of the white man.

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By shehzad s4a

👍

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By Jass

Must visit. Before walking down the distance from entrance to Rock art site we climbed the Rock on the right hand side of the entrance. Trust me it was really exciting, challenging and rewarding experience. The view from the top of the Rock is breathtaking. Throughout your journey from entrance to Rock art site and then hike to forestry college you will witness many beautiful sceneries, which includes vibrant cosmos and other flowers, varieties of trees, several rocks of different shapes and tiny tiny streams.

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