The name Zimbabwe came from the heritage of Great Zimbabwe. This historical site was built in the 11th century and has the largest collection of stone ruins in Southern Africa. Part of the monument is situated on a rocky hill, where the chief lived, which offers visitors to the site a short hike. On the top of the hill, you can enjoy the magnificent views of the remainder of the ruins, surrounding landscape and the replica of a traditional Shona village. Great Zimbabwe became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, and a visit to these ruins gives a broader understanding of the country’s history, society and great legends. Great Zimbabwe is situated close to the town of Masvingo, a four-hour drive from the capital, Harare.
WHAT IS SO REMARKABLE ABOUT GREAT ZIMBABWE?
The ruins cover 1,800 acres, making them the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. Once occupied by the powerful empire, the ruins give you an opportunity to learn about the interesting history of Zimbabwe in detail. This archaeological treasure in Zimbabwe is a sight to behold with its 5-metre-high walls built over 10 centuries ago. The main areas of interest you can look forward to seeing are the Hill Complex that gives you amazing views of the surrounding landscapes. The hill is the highest of all the surroundings as it is a steep sided hill towering 80 metres above the general landscape. The museum and the Great Enclosure, which is where the Queen lived, have a number of intriguing artefacts including some pottery from China, a sign that this great empire was engaged in trade with the Far-East. You can also learn about some of the 18,000 inhabitants that once lived in the city.
The Great Enclosure shows the beauty of dry-stone wall masonry and it is an oval space with a 250-metre wall. This makes it the biggest stone structure in Southern Africa. Outside and within the stone enclosures you can see ‘dhaka’, which served as houses and granaries. The museum holds the archaeological artefacts that have been recovered such as soapstone. You will need approximately 5-hours and US$15 entry fee in order to admire the ancient architecture of the stones. It can be very hot in Masvingo, so make sure you have a water bottle, hat and sunscreen. You can bring your favourite refreshments and have a picnic at the large shady picnic area. There is also a neat restaurant at the ruins where you can taste traditional sadza (maize meal / grinded corn).
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO IN AND AROUND MASVINGO?
Visit The famous towers: The Bell Tower is a historical building that will definitely intrigue you. It was used to protect settlers around Fort Victoria during the Matebele rebellion of 1893 and it was armed with Maxim guns. Another National Monument is the Curfew Tower, located about 100-metres northwest of the Bell tower. It housed a gun collection from the first war of liberation in the then Rhodesia. The Curfew Bell was rung from this tower each evening at 9 pm. A three-hour city tour will allow you to see both towers and learn about the history.
Safari walk and game drives at Lake Mutirikwi Recreational Park: The park houses three of the big five; leopard, buffalo and the white rhino can be frequently seen in the park. Over 25 species of mammals roam the park and some rarer species such as ant bears, and the bush pig are present. On the south of the lake, you can enjoy the unique views of granite hills of mostly bare whalebacks, which dominate the landscape. Views of small patches of evergreen riverine species, open miombo woodland and rocky hills will make the game drive more exciting.
From trekking the rhino in the park, you can move on to Chamavara Caves, which are 30 km from the Park. The cave has huge human figure art, unique to Zimbabwean rock art. It represents the lifestyle of the San hunter-gatherers of the region. Forty kilometres from Chamavara Caves is the Dengeni cave in Zaka, which is a nice hidden gem that many people including locals have never visited.
Visit Mushandike Animal Sanctuary: It is a beautiful picnic, recreation and game viewing site. You can go for a boat ride or try fishing at the dam. The area is dominated by Brachystegia woodland, open grassland and rock outcrops. Its vegetation allows duikers, steenboks, impalas, sables and waterbucks to play around. Winter (May-August) is the best season for the scenic drives when the mopane trees are shedding their leaves making a beautiful carpet on the ground.
Chisvingo Cultural Village: an afternoon walk like no other – going through villages, caves and hills. A low impact walk, with only the last part presenting a steep ascendancy. A visit to this traditional village, which is a living museum, allows you to gain insight into the Karanga culture and way of life. It is authentic and balances between staging for tourism purposes and depicting the exact lifestyle the people of Masvingo and Great Zimbabwe lived in the past and have continued to live in contemporary Zimbabwe. You will learn some of the traditional dances, which are all laden with meaning as some of them are for rainmaking ceremonies, fertility among other rituals. This is better done with a guide, serving as the official translator, explaining the history and culture as you go! It is a true anthropological, cultural and historical experience either as a half-day or as a full day tour & of course the overnight stay with a local family is an option.
The chapel of St Francis of Assisi built by the Italian prisoners of war during World War II, and therefore sometimes referred to as the Italian Chapel. The church commemorates their fallen comrades and there is a small cemetery on the premises. Similar to Catholic Cathedrals around the world, the wall and ceiling murals that adorn these buildings are a work of art, and although it is no longer freely open, it is a joy whenever a special Mass takes place.
WHERE TO STAY
HOW TO GET THERE AND TRANSPORT
Masvingo is 250 km from Harare and you will need about 4-hours by car to get there from Harare. If you are coming from Bulawayo, you can connect to Masvingo without going to Harare and you will need about 4-hours as well to cover the 281 km distance. You can hire a car from Impala Car Rental and if you are a large group you can make use of LED Travel & Tours.
If you like to admire the art of the largest ruins in sub-Saharan Africa with our friendly and knowledgeable tour guides, then book with Tiritose Sustainable Travel.
For more inspiration, follow them on their social media handles:
Facebook: Tiritose Sustainable Travel – Home
Twitter: Tiritose Sustainable Travel (@TiritoseTravel)
Instagram: Tiritose Sustainable Travel (@tiritose_sustainable_travel)
Pinterest: Tiritose Sustainable Travel (tiritose_sustainable_travel) – Profile
LinkedIn: Tiritose Sustainable Travel | LinkedIn
