Chinhoyi Caves

Chinhoyi Caves are a group of limestone caves and caverns in Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe, best known for a deep, clear, cobalt-blue pool called the Sleeping Pool. The caves are formed in limestone and include chambers and fissures that open onto the pool.

The central attraction is the underground pool with high visibility, which attracts recreational divers and visitors for its unusual colour and calm surface. Boarded walkways, steps and viewing platforms lead to the main chamber and pool edge for visitors.

The caves have long-standing local significance and were designated and managed as a protected site to preserve the geological features and fragile cave environment. Access is controlled and facilities at the site support guided visits and scuba diving under supervision.

Geographically the caves lie near the town of Chinhoyi, approximately northwest of Harare, and are reachable by road from the capital and surrounding towns.

• Protected status: Managed as a protected area and national park unit, offering guided access, marked trails and visitor facilities near the cave entrance.
• Proximity: Located just outside the town of Chinhoyi and commonly visited on day trips from Harare; the caves are a regional landmark in northwestern Mashonaland West.

What to See #

• Sleeping Pool: A deep, cobalt-blue underground pool within the main limestone cave chamber that is the site's most famous feature; it is noted for clear water and high underwater visibility, and recreational diving is permitted under regulation.