Great Zimbabwe

The largest stone ruins in Africa south of the Sahara/World Landmarks

Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city in southeastern Zimbabwe that was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe during the country's Late Iron Age (11th-15th century). The Great Enclosure, the most iconic structure, has walls up to 11 m high and 5 m thick, built entirely of granite blocks without mortar. The complex covers about 722 hectares and once housed up to 18,000 people. The word 'Zimbabwe' derives from the Shona dzimba-dza-mabwe, meaning 'houses of stone.' The ruins give the modern nation its name.