Bambata Cave

Zimbabwe · Africa · ✦ UNESCO World Heritage Site

Notable

A Matobo Hills cave whose delicate San paintings gave their name to a whole prehistoric culture.

Age

~13,000 yrs

Period

Late Stone Age

Setting

Cave

Art form

Paintings

Discovered

1918

Status

Open to Visitors

⧗ See it on the timeline

Set among the granite domes of the Matobo Hills, Bambata Cave holds fine San paintings of eland, giraffe and human figures, and its excavated deposits defined the “Bambata” industry of southern African prehistory. The surrounding hills form one of the world’s densest rock-art landscapes.

Notable Features

◦ Delicate San eland paintings
◦ Type-site of the Bambata culture
◦ Heart of the Matobo Hills rock art

Depicted Subjects

Eland AntelopeGiraffesHuman Figures

Plan a Visit

AccessThis cave can be visited.

Sources & Further Reading

≡ Wikipedia ✦ UNESCO listing ➤ Directions

Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.