Chongoni Rock-Art Area
A UNESCO World Heritage Site where more than 120 rock-art sites are scattered through the woodlands of the Dedza highlands, recording a millennium of art from hunter-gatherers to Chewa farmers.
The Chongoni Rock-Art Area was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. Located in the granite hill forests near Dedza, it has 127 rock-art sites and is one of the most concentrated rock-art groups in Central Africa. The early red geometric motifs were made by the hunter-gatherer Batwa people, while the later white images of animals and people are linked to the initiation rites of Chewa farmers and the Gule Wamkulu mask dance ceremony, and they still carry cultural meaning today. Visitors must arrange a guide at the Chongoni heritage office. The dirt roads are rough, so a four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended.
Opening hours
Daytime; guide required
Nearby sights
- Dedza Mountain
- Dedza Pottery
- KuNgoni Centre of Culture and Art
- Kumbali Cultural Village
- Old Town Market
- Lilongwe Wildlife Centre
- Kamuzu Mausoleum
- Parliament Building