位于马拉维中部高地的琼戈尼岩石艺术区(Chongoni Rock Art Area)是一个被大多数非洲游客忽视的宝藏地。这片区域占地约126.4平方公里,在郁郁葱葱的花岗岩山丘间,散落着127处珍贵的岩画遗址。作为联合国教科文组织于2006年评定的世界文化遗产,这里不仅是中非密度最高的岩画群之一,更是记录了从晚期石器时代到现代切瓦人社会演变的无声史书。如果你厌倦了常规的驱车游猎,想在海拔1600米的高原地带进行一场深度的人文徒步,琼戈尼绝对会带给你完全不同的震撼。
琼戈尼的岩画并非出自同一时期的人类之手,而是由两个截然不同的群体在不同历史阶段创作的。走进这些天然石棚,你会发现岩壁上的图案在颜色和风格上有显著差异。这种视觉上的对比,实际上是马拉维土地上两代文明交替的缩影。
最早的画作可以追溯到晚期石器时代,是由名为巴特瓦(Batwa)的狩猎采集者创作的。这些画作主要呈现为深红色,线条纤细,多以写实的手法描绘当地的野生动物和人物活动。巴特瓦人将这些岩壁视为与神灵沟通的媒介,红色颜料通常取自当地的赭石。当你站在陈彻雷(Chentcherere)遗址前观察那些斑驳的红色线条,能感受到几千年前原始人类对自然界的敬畏与观察力。
到了铁器时代,随着切瓦(Chewa)农民的迁徙和定居,岩画的风格发生了剧变。切瓦人更倾向于使用白色粘土或石灰作为颜料,创作出大量抽象、几何化的图案。这些白色岩画与切瓦人的秘密社团尼奥(Nyau)有着千丝万缕的联系,其中很多图案其实是祭祀仪式中使用的面具和兽形服装的抽象化表达。即便在今天,当地社区依然视这些岩画点为神圣之地,这种文化脉络的延续性在整个非洲都非常罕见。
去琼戈尼游玩不能抱着逛主题乐园的心态,因为这里的遗迹分布极其分散。如果缺乏准备,你可能在山里转上半天也找不到一处像样的画作。这里的魅力在于那种野生的、未经雕琢的真实感,但也意味着交通和向导的安排需要费点心思。
德扎(Dedza)是通往琼戈尼的最佳门户,距离首都利隆圭(Lilongwe)大约85公里。由于地处高海拔地区,这里的早晚温差极大,清晨出发时冷到需要套上一件厚实的抓绒衣。镇上的德扎陶艺馆(Dedza Pottery)不仅提供住宿,也是获取当地旅游信息的非官方中心。从德扎镇出发前往主要的岩画点,大约需要30到50分钟的车程,路况以土路为主,雨季时非四驱车很难通行。
这里没有现代化的游客服务中心,如果你直接导航到某个岩画点,大概率会迷失在茂密的灌木丛或农田中。比较稳妥的做法是先去德扎镇上的林业局(Forestry Office)或通过当地陶艺馆联系一位经验丰富的向导。向导不仅能带你找到那些隐藏在巨石后的洞穴,还能讲解岩画背后的切瓦族神话。关于门票和导游费,目前并没有严格的全国统一标准,通常建议准备好马拉维克瓦查现金,向导费可以根据行程长短与对方协商,大约在10到20美金等值的本币比较合理。
虽然总共有127处遗址,但只有少数几处是对公众开放且容易到达的。对于时间有限的旅行者,挑选最具有代表性的点位比盲目乱撞要高效得多。
陈彻雷(Chentcherere)是琼戈尼名气最大的一处遗址,它由六个主要的石棚组成。这里的看点在于红色巴特瓦岩画与白色切瓦岩画共存,你可以清晰地看到不同时代的文明如何在同一块岩石上叠加。站在石棚下往远处看,整个德扎平原的景色一览无余,视野非常开阔。攀爬到这里需要一点体力,建议穿上防滑的徒步鞋。
南泽泽(Namzeze)则以其精美的白色线条画著称,这里的图案大多与求雨仪式有关。切瓦族女性在传统社会中扮演着重要角色,而南泽泽的部分岩画被认为与女性成人礼或生育祭祀相关。这里的壁画保存相对完好,线条依旧清晰可辨。由于这里位置偏僻,周围几乎没有游客,那种安静肃穆的氛围会让你觉得自己是几百年来唯一踏足此地的访客。
建议选择5月到10月的旱季前往,这段时间马拉维天气晴朗且凉爽,山间土路状况较好,非常适合户外徒步。避开11月到次年3月的雨季,否则泥泞的路面会让车辆动弹不得,且茂盛的植被会遮挡寻找岩画的视线。
如果只是看最核心的1至2处遗址,从德扎往返大约需要4到5小时。如果你是深度摄影爱好者或考古爱好者,建议在德扎镇住上一晚,安排一整天的时间深入林区,这样可以走访3到4个风格各异的点位。
一定要穿耐磨的徒步鞋,因为很多岩画位于花岗岩坡面上,普通平底鞋容易打滑。另外建议穿长裤以防被草丛中的倒刺划伤。由于高海拔紫外线极强,即便感觉凉爽也得涂好防晒霜并带够饮用水,山里没有任何补给站。
安全系数相对较高,但并不建议独自行动。这主要是因为地形复杂且标识极其匮乏,外地人很容易在山林中迷路。建议至少聘请一名当地向导陪同,这不仅能保证安全,也能避免不小心闯入当地人的私人农地或圣地而引发尴尬。
YAGH A beautiful unique place, the art is mysterious as they come and a treat for the imagination. Guidance was very good - it is not an easy path by motor
Ngonidzashe Munzeiwa We had a very good time Chongoni Rock art area is a good place with friendly hike and good place to visit to learn more about the early settlers of Malawi ..We went as a group and the name of the group is Greatness Adventures which is based in lilongwe below are some of the pictures we took at the site
Dominic McEvoy Amazing how close you can get. Difficult track to drive on to get too.
Mike Dumakude Ngoma Went to UNESCO #WorldHeritage site CHONGONI ROCK ART AREA, Linthipe Dedza Malawi. we started our climb at Namoni Katengeza Lay centre, a priest who used to oversee things when the missionaries left hence being named after him, we had two goals...to get to the highest point and to visit the cave paintings close to the peak (sort of) The highest point has an altitude of about 1900m above sea level, then we descended to the cave paintings,They reflect the comparatively scarce tradition of farmer rock art, as well as paintings by BaTwa or akafula hunter-gatherers who inhabited the area from the late Stone Age. The Chewa agriculturalists, whose ancestors lived there from the late Iron Age, practised rock painting until well into the 20th century. The symbols in the rock art, which are strongly associated with women, still have cultural relevance amongst the Chewa, & the sites are actively associated wt ceremonies and rituals.Situated within a cluster of forested granite hills & covering an area of 126.4 km2, high up the plateau of central Malawi, the 127 sites of this property feature the richest concentration of rock art in Central Africa, The rock art of the Chongoni sites records the cultural history and traditions of the peoples of the Malawi plateau: the transition from a foraging lifestyle to food production, the subsequent Ngoni invasion of the Chewa people, and the coming of the white man.
Jyo Must visit. Before walking down the distance from entrance to Rock art site we climbed the Rock on the right hand side of the entrance. Trust me it was really exciting, challenging and rewarding experience. The view from the top of the Rock is breathtaking. Throughout your journey from entrance to Rock art site and then hike to forestry college you will witness many beautiful sceneries, which includes vibrant cosmos and other flowers, varieties of trees, several rocks of different shapes and tiny tiny streams.