So here we are at Great Zimbabwe! It is the greatest ruins site in southern Africa. It is so significant to the psyche of this people that the country took its name from this site in the 1980s, and the local currency bears its image.
Last comment 05/20/14.
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Our guide and Sara wait for me at the outer entrance. This medieval city was built in the 13th and 14th centuries. Colonial governments long tried to attribute its construction to non-Africans, but it was established in 1932 that it was indeed constructed by the local Bantu peoples.
Last comment 04/19/22.
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The two main structures are a Hill Complex where the king lived and The Great Enclosure down below where his wives were said to live. We are heading up the only passage to the Hill Complex. It is steep, narrow and hence easily defended.
Last comment 05/15/22.
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The view of the valley from atop the Hill Complex.
Last comment 02/11/12.
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The workmanship of the walls is remarkable! These passages are over 700 years old.
Last comment 12/16/16.
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I find the countryside around here to be so beautiful. No wonder the king wanted to live up here!
Last comment 07/17/22.
Viewed: 1253 times.
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This is the Great Enclosure. It is the largest ancient structure in sub-Saharan Africa.
Last comment 11/06/12.
Viewed: 1388 times.
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Inside the outer wall of the Great Enclosure is the 200 feet long Parallel Passage. The outer wall is 18 thick thick at the bottom and 12 feet thick at the top, tapering gradually over its 30 feet in height.
Last comment 01/20/17.
Viewed: 1519 times.
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Before the age of bombs, this would be an incredibly tough wall to knock down. Here is a tunnel through the wall to show how thick it is.
Last comment 07/16/22.
Viewed: 1308 times.
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