The Epworth Balancing Rocks, also known as the Chiremba Balancing Rocks, are a remarkable natural monument located in the Harare District of the Harare Province in Zimbabwe, on the continent of Africa.
These geological formations are a series of massive granite boulders that have been weathered over millions of years to create stunning, seemingly gravity-defying stacks. Much of Zimbabwe is mountainous and has impressive geological formations including the Chiremba balancing rocks.
Geological Formation
These rocks might look like they were placed by humans, much like the Standing Stones of Scotland, but in fact they are caused by the volcanic origin of the landscape and eons of erosion. The Standing Rocks are made of hard materials like granite and iron ore, which were pushed upward through softer rocks. Over time, the softer rocks were eroded revealing these hard rock formations.
Because granite is so hard, it doesn’t erode as quickly as other rocks, so when the soil is removed by natural erosion, the rocks become free standing.
A Symbol of Zimbabwe
The most famous of these formations is the one that has appeared on all Zimbabwean banknotes since 1981, symbolizing the precarious balance between the nation's development and the preservation of its fragile environment.
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The Chiremba Balancing Rocks in Epworth just outside Harare have been part of the Reserve Bank’s emblem from its beginning in 1980. It is considered a metaphor for the country’s efforts to balance its history and past culture while advancing development.
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These three balancing rocks were once the main design motif of one of the highest of the high denomination currencies in the world, the Zimbabwean dollar. The Zimbabwe dollar are also known for having its famous Standing Rocks on the obverse.
The image of the stones was chosen as a conjoined metaphor for development and environmental protection following the country’s independence from white-ruled Rhodesia. Apparently in the 1960s, the Rhodesian Bank’s Board of Directors wanted a well-known natural feature of the country and chose the rocks as a symbol of strength and stability.
Nowadays, Zimbabwe has a multi-currency system. Money from almost every continent in the world is legal tender: the Aussie dollar, the British pound, the Botswanan pula, the Chinese Yuan, the Euro, the Indian Rupee, the Japanese yen, the South African rand. "Bond coins" of 1,2,5,10, 25 and 50 cent dominations are given out as small change.
But the stones are making a making a comeback in the newest type of money in Zimbabwe’s bountiful currency basket. dollar and is illustrated with those same rocks from the old Zimbabwean dollar.
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Cultural and Historical Significance
The site is not just a geological wonder but also holds significant cultural and historical value, with ancient San (Bushman) rock paintings found in some of the caves. In Epworth, you can explore San rock art - a site worth visiting. San are an indigenous people in Southern Africa and the rock art can be found in Botswana and other places.
The rocks are found near the town of Epworth about 9 miles south of Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital and largest city.
As I recall, it went like this: The one with the tail and what looks like an axe is a semi-human creature often helping humans. They are common in this type of art with tails and long ears and live in a supernatural world. This scene is either an attack from the animals or a healing ceremony of the seated figures, maybe humans.
For now, the art is in excellent condition, and you get an idea of the original paint colours and the fine lines the San painters were capable of drawing on the granite rocks. I was really surprised at their fine condition.
Visiting the Rocks
The rocks themselves can be found in a national park with an abandoned feel in Epworth, a suburb in the thinly signposted outskirts of Harare. Outside the park, some enterprising residents have built their homes among the giant boulders that pock all of Epworth.
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Visitors can enjoy walking trails that wind through the formations, offering excellent photo opportunities and a chance to get up close to these natural sculptures. The best time to visit is during the dry season, from May to October, when the weather is pleasant for outdoor activities. Red, green and grey cover the rock as you climb the hill. You’re only a few kilometers from the largest city in Zimbabwe, Harare, but it’s like another world!
This is spectacular nature and cultural history combined into one and the perfect day trip from Harare. Sometimes history and natural sights go together. Just next to the capital of Zimbabwe, there are two sites with fantastic geological formations and San rock art.
Matopos itself is well worth seeking out. Once inside, visitors can either walk or drive around the Stone Age rock formations with evocative names like the "Giant’s Playground" and "Flying Boat." Even rocks with no honorific convey a silent magnitude.
Visitors to Zimbabwe often travel throughout the country looking for these types of rock formations. Many times they will bring their 2008 demonetized Zimbabwe paper money to Epworth and take pictures of their currency with the real Chiremba Balancing Rocks in the background.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Epworth, near Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Formation | Granite boulders shaped by erosion |
| Cultural Significance | San rock art, symbol of Zimbabwe |
| Currency | Featured on Zimbabwean banknotes |
| Best Time to Visit | May to October (dry season) |
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