Cities and regions／Zimbabwe
Place of interest ·

Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe is an archaeological complex comprising the Hill Ruins, the Great Enclosure and the Valley Ruins. Built between the 11th and 15th centuries, the Shona city brings together dry-stone architecture and places with continuing spiritual significance.

Curving wall and conical tower of Great Zimbabwe’s Great Enclosure at dawn.
Photo by amanderson2 Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 2.0
The place

What makes it special

  • Great Enclosure walls and conical tower.
  • Hill passages and enclosures; domestic groupings in the Valley.
  • Museum finds that place the site within wider exchange networks.
Stone passage among granite outcrops in Great Zimbabwe’s Hill Complex.
Photo by Fanny Schertzer Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 3.0
Low walls and landscape of Great Zimbabwe’s Valley Ruins.
Photo by Edwin Smith and Andrew Dale Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel atlas

Articles in Great Zimbabwe

Guides to this place

1 article

Great Zimbabwe

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

1 related guides

Curving wall and conical tower of Great Zimbabwe’s Great Enclosure at dawn.

Exploring Great Zimbabwe’s Hill, Great Enclosure and Valley

The useful question is not how long to spend in front of the tower, but which part of the ancient urban landscape allows you to understand—and explore—it attentively. This guide structures a visit to Great Zimbabwe around mobility, interests and respect for a place that still holds spiritual meaning.

Read guide →
Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 27/09/2026