Great Zimbabwe Monument Great Zimbabwe Hotel & Lodges

There really is only one reason to be in Masvingo, and that is Great Zimbabwe. There is one other attraction in the area, and that is Lake Mutirikwi, a good spot for boating, fishing or general relaxation.

The Great Zimbabwe ruins remain Africa's largest stone structure after the Egyptian pyramids and share the region with one of the most attractive game parks in the country. These are without doubt the most famous and most splendid ancient ruins in sub-Saharan Africa. The place is surrounded by myths and mystique that have puzzled the experts for years - try a moonlight visit to prove that.

Take your time and a good guide book, or a good guide, to explore both the ruins in the valley and the so-called acropolis on the hill, and marvel at the skill of those ancient architects and stone masons.

It has been thought by many that the origins of these structures were not African, but the excavations of an archaeologist in 1932 proved that the Ruins are in fact, all African.

Although the earliest signs of man's presence date back to 300AD, the first signs of stone buildings and the flourishing country of Zimbabwe only appear in the 13th century. According to historians it was 'a sophisticated complex of buildings that could have housed over 40 000 people at its peak.' Archaeological finds have shown that it was a religious and temporal capital of great significance

	It is also home to the Zimbabwe Bird, seven complete exampels of these enigmatic birds have been found at Great Zimbabwe, most of them were discovered on the Hill above the ruins, where they had been placed on metre high pillars.
		They are about 40cm tall, carved from a greeny-grey soapstone and are thought to have been a family totem or crest. These Birds have been symbolic to both Rhodesia and Zimbabwe, appearing on stamps, in the country's crest and on its currency.

Lake Mutirikwi is the third largest in Zimbabwe (Kariba and Mteri are larger). Built in 1961, just three years after Kariba was completed, the lake covers an area of 90 square kilometres, with an indredibly beautiful, rugged and rocky shoreline. Much of the shoreline has been declared a national park. Scenically it is one of the most attractive parks in the country, its major attraction is a large and thriving population of white rhino which have been able to thrive with the absence of predators and elephants. Game viewing on horseback is a major attraction at the lake, which is about 35km from Masvingo.