Great Zimbabwe Ruins

The ruins of Great Zimbabwe are one of the most important archaeological sites in Africa, giving testimony to the lost civilisation of the Shona.

A great city existed here from the 11th century on, with over 10.000 inhabitants. Great Zimbabwe (“stone houses”) was a main regional trading center, its wealth associated with (Arab) gold trading. There were also trade links with East Africa (Kilwa), and fragments of Persian and Chinese pottery has been found at the site.
Arab and European travellers in the 16th century sent marvelling reports home about this place and its impressive stone walls. The site was abandoned in the 15th century (for Khami) because of a lack of food and firewood.

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

Year	Decision	Comments
1986	Inscribed	Reasons for inscription

Reviews

Anand Patel (Zimbabwe):
The Ruins, just in/around Masvingo were actually more than I expected. In times of economic downfalls, rampant inflations and food shortages...this was a little piece of heaven and history. Actually I went 2 times over the weekend I spent there. I found the tour guide, from our hotel, to be clear, concise and well informed. The links of history made it clear that this was once a place envied by other African Leaders as it was the largest trading hub in its day. The structures are not maintained like overseas but the impact of the size and height is still there.
Highly recommend it for people in Zim and those visiting.... although it should be noted that you have to drive there.

Date posted: June 2008

Kaye (Australia):
We visited the ruins in May 2007. We found the staff friendly, helpful and respectful. They were all trying so hard to do their best in these hard times. The ruins were spectacular to see, such a huge site and the guide seemed up to date and knowledgeable. Unfortunately he destroyed any inclination that the ruins were built from aliens from out of space but much more reasonably believed over time the people integrated into other tribes and probably even he was a ancestor of the people who once lived here.
We were only alowed to pay the entry fee in foreign currency.

Wednesday, 14 March 2007
Lion park

Thursday, 15 March 2007
Lion park

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I visited the ruins on a number of occassions and each time could feel a greater, even cosmic connection there. That gold was mined is no surprise, but after a meditation at the sight, it came through as once being a light porthole for off planet visitors, but was recalibrated and then connected to the vile vortice located at Gweru in the Midlands of the country. Hence is why Zimbabwe has numerous reports of Ufo (ET or Alien) activity. This or The Great Zimbabwe ruins, might well hold many a secret connected to Ufo's, just as The Great Pyramid 'Giza'does!!

Robert Winston Burnett www.lulu.comNextagemission and www.nextagemission.com

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Fanciful thoughts - read Richard Hall's 'Prehistoric Rhodesia' for a closer look at the truth. The Karanga were a 'grass-hut' culture and had neither the skills or the inclination to build such a master piece. Suits the gullible and Zim. authorities to believe otherwise. Shame about the museum at the ruins - now a little light on the precious artifact side of things - wonder where they all went???
Having said all that, the ruins still have their mystery.

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I was born in Rhodesia, and sometime around 1956, as a teenager, I and a companion, spent a night in the ruins...A very weird experience under the brilliant light of a full moon...We both agreed that the dreams and feeling of trespass we felt were not simply the result of overactive imaginations, but something far deeper; something unexplainable...If given the chance, I doubt I'd do it again, but would love the chance to re-visit both Zimbabwe the country and the ruins...I have recently (2007) visited Machu Picchu in Peru and experienced feelings of great awe there as well...

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What a wonderful place the Great Zimbabwe is?Everything is fair,nice and fine.I really appreciate the hospitality at the great Zimbabwe ruins and at the hotel.The scenery is attractive and you can even spent the whole day starring at one thing.I have been there for 3 times.Not because i have a lot of money but because i can't withstand my passion for just being there.The staff at the Great Zimbabwe just know that you will never be alone.

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The great Zimbabwe ruins are not only a marvel but a wonder beyond compare in southern Africa and perhaps the whole world. The ruins are immaculately unique and from the scholary ongoing debate of who the real constructors are, their uniqueness is upheld. As a historical association of an African university in southern Africa, we are deeply honoured to having been part of the many who went out to see these magnificient structures. As UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (UNZA HAAS), our explanation of the feeling and reaction one would get upon seeing these huge structures cannot be explained entirely by one or foretold. It is a sight worht seeing, an adventure worth experiencing and a site worth preserving. Go out and have your own feel.
joseph simenda maopu, student unza. (presidentunzahaas)

Razzza (Australia):
I love africa & zimbabwe is just beautiful! the ruins are absolutly spectacular!!!

Date posted: March 2006

paul wilson (USA):
I visited the Zimbabwe ruins on safari last year and was told they were created hundreds of thousands of years ago by "gods!" Documentation is found in the oldest writings--Sumerian tablets. An advanced race "fell down" to earth (as even the Bible states) and humankind was created genetically as slave labor by these so called "Annanaki" to mine gold from African sites. There's a fine line of translation between "fallen angels" and what we now call UFO visitors. Seems we're not the first to know about DNA, cloning, space shuttles, etc. There are mines in Africa that are over 50,000 years old. The tour guide claimed the gold was needed by the Annanaki and slave labor was the answer. After all, it's a strenuous ordeal to mine gold from ore; early humankind didn't do it just to wear shiny baubles--they were forced to! I came away from the tour scratching my head, but I admit I was fascinated by the different interpretation.

Date posted: March 2006

David Davis (USA):
My parents were American missionaries in Cheredzi from 1969-1974 and then in Salisbury and Marandellas from 1975-1979. We often took our holidays camping near Fort Vic at Kyle Dam. Father always took a morning to take the family to the ruins. Even as a child my memories are vivid of the awesomness and mystery of this place. It takes one back to our origins and echos of a distant time and place where ones imagination can still smell the wood fires and hear the bustle of an ancient chiefs court and place of commerce. Many secrets lie here. I miss you Rhodesia....Zimbabwe my heart lies in thee still!

Lourdes (USA):
Years ago I travelled to Zimbabwe from NYC for a cycling trip through this breathtaking country. This was one of the stops that we made and I remember the mixed feelings I had when encountering the ruins. As a black woman, a professional Architect, I was angry and dismayed that I never learned about this in all my schooling! I never knew the Zimbabwe Ruins even existed and it seemed so important that children of color should know about it. I was also awed by the culture that built these and this was a wonderful discovery.

haatembo mooya (zambi):
i learnt about the ruins at university and was fascinated by the work i read. however, the amazement and fascination was nothing compared to the real thing. the huge structures, the massive walls, the marvelous hill complex and the inexplicable great enclosure made me believe that you've never really experinced 'it' until you've really been there.

prudance mwando (Zimbabwe):
The great zimbabwe is located in the southern part of africa in a country called zimbabwe. It was built in 400AD buy the shona people.It is believed that these ruins were built as cities and they had to build the king or chefs huose on top of the mountain or the hill but it really was because it had beentheir

Bonnie Boudreau (Australia):
I just came back from a trip to Zimbabwe (Aug 2004). Great Zimbabwe was one of the stops on our ten-day safari. It was nice to forget about all the bad press and experience this great piece of Zimbabwean history. I felt frustration, but was really not surprised, when our wonderful Zimbabwean tour guide told us how, for centuries, white man repeatedly tried to rewrite history, arrogantly refusing to believe Africans could be capable of creating this remarkable village. Our guide always explained these historical events with such class; with perhaps a slight hint of regret in his speech but never making derogatory comments about whites or anyone else. He had obvious pride for his ancerstors and was honored to tell us all about it, which is how we found most of the people we've met all over Zimbabwe. While alot of the structures in the ruins have been turned upside down and stripped by treasure hunters, what remains is definitely worth seeing. You don't often get the chance to sit where kings previously sat and you can't help but feel perhaps they are looking down on you today. Do it either pretty early in the day or towards the evening to avoid the midday heat, and bring water.

Lea Newstead nee Stewart (Kent, England):
As a child, I went to Boarding School in Gwelo, and often passed the ruins on my travels to or from school. I always felt that this place was where we all came from. It has a real draw to it and feels important to the soul. A must for anyone visiting Zimbabwe.

John Sweeny ():
As a child I lived in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, and we drove to Zimbabwe for a weekend1m 1929. It was a fascinating visit, and at that time the tales of the Queen of Sheba, King Solomon and the like were the wisdom of the day. The natives, of course, couldn't have erected such works, we were told. I can still see my fathertrying to insert a knife blade between the rocks. Even today, the memory is vivid.

Emily (England):
A fantastical and memorable experience. We had a guide namew Stephen who pretendid his hands were a microphone so we actually couldn't hear a word he said. THe most memorable part was hiking up to the top where plays were put on and sitting where a guest of the King's may have sat previously all thos years ago. Definately worth a visit, unless it is raining!!!

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