The Great Zimbabwe Ruins are a spectacular UNESCO world heritage site, and of course the inspiration for both the name and the flag of the country Zimbabwe.
The location is dramatic and the walls blend beautifully with the massive granite boulders found on the site.

The city thrived between the 11th to 15th centuries with over 10.000 inhabitants at one time.
The word Zimbabwe refers to “stone houses” and indeed one can only marvel at the stone mason work of the massive, thick dry stone walls today.
Zimbabwe's wealth came from trade, particularly the gold trade which was shipped to the coast at Sofala (in modern day Mozambique) and Kilwa (in Tanzania).
Fragments of Persian and Chinese pottery have been found at the site.
The site was abandoned in the 15th century because of a lack of food and firewood.

The ruins are spread out over three main areas: the Hill Complex, the Great Enclosure and the Valley Ruins.