An historical site well worth the detour

This impressive site of imposing stone walls, high conical towers and large internal chambers provides an important link to Southern Africa’s past.

The historic ruins of Great Zimbabwe are found to the south of the town of Masvingo, a little on the way to nowhere but a big draw nonetheless as this is one of the most important archaeological sites in the whole of Southern Africa. It's certainly one of the more unusual places to visit in Zimbabwe.

Much conjecture exists about who built and lived in the ancient walled city, although experts agree that it was constructed in the 11th century and abandoned at some point in the 15th century, before the site was formally “discovered” and investigated in 1867. According to an age-old legend it was the Capital of the Queen of Sheba... Comprised of towering stone walls, high conical towers and large internal chambers, this is an impressive site, even in its current state of disrepair, and provides an important link to Southern Africa’s past. Indeed, the symbol of Zimbabwe, a falcon crouched on a stone plinth, is a copy of statues found at Great Zimbabwe by early prospectors, many of which were taken and later returned to the site. You'll discover all this for yourself on a bespoke Great Zimbabwe tour.

A tailor-made Great Zimbabwe holiday offers visitors the chance to take a guided tour of the ruins, learn more about their history from the guides and get an insight into just what they mean to the people of Zimbabwe. Whilst heading up here may be regarded as a detour from the traditional safari routes, Zimbabwe’s improving road network does make a trip here more and more feasible and it's a great way to break up a safari holiday. Accommodation at Great Zimbabwe is reasonably limited, with a large hotel and smaller lodge style properties close to the site, as well as hotels in Masvingo, but the closer you can stay the better.