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Time for a bit of history and culture with a day trip to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins which is world heritage listed National Monument. Setting off early'ish for the 2.5 hour drive with Shiloh, Beauty, Emily, Cody, Elin, and Ida.
We are met by the our guide Phillip who enthusiastically and passionately gives us our history lesson.
The Great Zimbabwe Ruins is said to be the greatest medieval city in sub-Saharan Africa. Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city that was once the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, which existed from approx 1100 to 1400 during the Late Iron Age. The monument which first began to be constructed in the 11th century and was continued to be built until the 14th century, spanned an area of 1780 acres and at its peak housed about 20000 people. Great Zimbabwe was a main regional trading centre, its wealth associated with Arab gold trading, links with East Africa, and fragments of Persian and Chinese pottery has been found at the site. The ruins also acted as a royal palace for the Zimbabwean monarch and was used as the seat of their political power.
The name is believed to come from one of two possible Shona origins: dzimba dza mabwe (great stone houses) or dzimba woye (esteemed houses).
The ruins are some of the oldest and largest structured in Southern Africa and form three distinct architectural groups known as the Hill Complex, the Valley Complex and the Great Enclosure. One of its most prominent features are the walls which were constructed without mortar and some walls more than 10 metres high and 5 metre wide.
First we trek up to the Hill Complex the oldest and was occupied from the 9th to 13th centuries and which remains of a series of royal and ritual enclosures, and overlooked the Valley and Great Enclosures. The almost 360 degree view was incredible.
The Valley Complex is divided into upper and lower valley ruins and is a series of 13th century walls. The Valley Complex was for the citizens and the area yielded metal tools and soap stone birds that became the national symbol of Zimbabwe.
The Great Enclosure thought to have served as a royal compound, and is the structure most identified with Great Zimbabwe. It is nearly 100m wide and 255m in circumference, it's the largest ancient structure in sub-Saharan Africa. The mortarless walls rise 11m and in places 5m thick. The greatest source of speculation is the 10m high Conical Tower, a solid and ceremonial structure that probably had phallic significance. It is said the King had 200 wives who were housed within the Great Enclosure.
We spent the day exploring and partaking in traditional dance in the small village within the ruins.
A great day at Great Zimbabwe.
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