Bouldering at
Chimanimani
A seldom visited climbing paradise
What is Chimanimani?
Unless you are deep in the bouldering world you are unlikely to have
heard of the mystic bouldering destination located deep within Africa.
“The potential for new boulders and entirely new sectors in Chimanimani is unlike anything I have seen before, the density and quality of rock is quite mind-blowing. Those that make their way to Chimanimani will be rewarded with some of the best climbing of their lives!” – David Naude
Where is chimanimani?
13 hours from Johannesburg and 7 hours from Bulawayo Chimanimani is remote but not inaccessible. The roads to Chimanimani are surprisingly good compared to much of Zimbabwe’s roads.
A 4×4 isn’t needed, but high-ground clearance is a must.
What is the Bouldering like?
The climbing is world class and if the venue wasn’t so remote it would undoubtedly be one of the most renowned bouldering destinations in the world.
The almost marble rock (Pre-Cambrian quartzite) allows for a wide range of climbing with most of the open routes being between V3 and V5 but caters for the harder end of the spectrum with routes open up to V12 and many potential routes on the high-end of the range.
Where to stay?
Most groups choose to make the Mountain Hut the base for the trip, but you might want to consider bringing tents to stay on top of the mountain to avoid having to walk up each day.
Beware, Chimanimani is one of the coldest places in Southern Africa so make sure you pack warm.
How many boulder pads should one bring?
Chimanimani has some mega highball boulders… so if you want to give some of those classics a go, you will want as many pads as you can carry up. However, the walk-in isn’t short and so we only carried one pad per person. You can hire porters to help out (it’s great to support the local community so we recommend doing this)
What does it Cost?
The fees are a little complex with the National park – there are different prices for locals, regional and international visitors. These are the regional fees,
Conservation fee – $4per day
Park fee (accommodation)- $10per day
Porter fees- $20per trip
Ranger fees- $25per day
What about Food?
We recommend bringing as much of your food as possible to Chimanimani as there aren’t very well-equipped stores near the mountains. Freeze-dried meals are a lifesaver as they will enable you to hike up with much lighter backpacks.
However, you can get absolute basics in the town of Chimanimani if need be.
If you are flying in you can get almost everything in Bulawayo or Harare.
