31/07/2026
CHINHOYI CAVES, ZIMBABWE 12/6/26
About 115 km along the Harare-Chirundu road and 9km after Chinhoyi town we visited Chinhoyi Caves and the Sleeping Pool, also known as Chirorodziva, the Pool of the Fallen.
The caves have a mysterious, eerie atmosphere about them. The steps down to the Sleeping Pool have no handrails and are steep and worn to a smooth and treacherous finish. Descending the stairs you look down into the incredibly unusual blue of the pool which creates an illusion of the cave descending down, down into the water and drawing you down with it. A troop of baboons rushed down into the cave as we were descending, adding a further unnerving element to the descent.
The pool is believed to have earned its name from the many victims thrown into the pool by raiders or outlaws over time and it is believed that the bones of the fallen still lie at the bottom, giving the site a haunting quality. A treasure rumored to belong to an ancient tribe is said to be hidden within the caves protected by Mudzimu, a mystical spirit, believed to guard the caves and its hidden treasures.
We always enjoy visiting cave systems on our travels as these always have a fascinating, ancient feel about them but this time I was glad to see the light at the top of the steps as we left the Pool of the Fallen!
