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I grew up in a small Zimbabwean town and for the first ten years of my life, I thought it was an insignificant and rather remote town compared to the big cities I would see on television. Unknown to me, every year, hundreds of tourists visit this small town, Chinhoyi, which I call home, to see something which for a long time, was quite ordinary to me, the Chirorodziva Caves. This group of dolomite and limestone caves are a walkable distance from my parents’ house, and like many a child in Chinhoyi, I had visited the caves many times, often in the company of visiting friends and relatives who wished to see these caves. The biggest attraction is the ‘Sleeping Pool’ which lies in the heart of the caves. This pool has water so blue that when you stand before it, you can only marvel at this surreal sight. A school trip to the Chirorodziva caves at the age of ten changed everything, how I viewed the caves and my hometown as a whole. On this particular trip, we had a short history lesson before touring the caves. The fascinating stories our tour guide told about the caves, along with the enthusiastic imagination of a 10-year-old girl both brought me to a moment where I realized that what I knew as a very ordinary part of my town, was actually a place filled with mystery and wonder. For the first time, I realized the rare beauty of these calm, still never moving waters. The caves are a system of interwoven tunnels and caverns. The walls of one of the caves have collapsed and formed a sink hole which is 150 feet deep and in it lies a crystal clear blue pool, Chirorodziva, also known as The Sleeping Pool because the water does not flow to or from anywhere. Amazingly, there are many water passages in the pool and all of the passages that have been explored lead back into the pool. The pool can be accessed through The Dark Cave which is artificially lit or the main entrance in to the caves which is less steep. Many legends surround this natural wonder, some of which are very hard to believe. However, historical facts indicate that this beautiful wonder was actually a horrific place in the days of a notorious outlaw named Nyamakwere who used to kill his victims by throwing them into the pool. Nyamakwere was later defeated by a warrior, Chinhoyi, whom the town is named after, who brought an end to this devilish practice. The caves became a hiding place for Chief Chinhoyi and his people from the Ndebele raiders who would attack them time and again. However, in the 1830s Chief Chinhoyi and his people were attacked and thrown into the pool by Nguni raiders. Hence the traditional name for the caves, Chirorodziva (pool of the fallen). As one beholds the sight of the bluest water you can only find at this pool, there is an eerie and a mysterious atmosphere. I recall that day as a 10-year-old visitor to the caves, a tingle down my spine as we descended the steep staircase of The Dark Cave to get the best and closest views of the pool. The guide had given us a stern warning not to talk or laugh at anything we saw as it is believed that this may lead to one disappearing in the caves. The locals claim that sometimes, singing and the beating of drums from those who lived before our time can be heard. For those who are not faint hearted, Chinhoyi Caves is a divers’ paradise as one can explore the different passages in these crystal clear waters. For those who have no desire to dive into the pool, they can enjoy the wonderful scenic views around the caves and visitors are allowed to bring their own picnic baskets. Whether you go to see the Chirorodziva caves in search of the natural beauty of the Chirorodziva Pool or because you are intrigued by the mystery of the legends of the caves, this hidden gem is a sight to behold that will capture you in awe and amazement.