Ancient Destinations Zimbabwe  

One of the most exotic countries in the world to visit is Zimbabwe. It is a land rich in both natural beauty and resources. While wildlife is plentiful here for enthusiastic animal lovers to see, Zimbabwe's past also caters to history buffs seeking an historical travel destination.

Photo: Kevin Walsh

The ruins of Great Zimbabwe (AD 1100 - 1500) are about 160 miles south of Zimbabwe's capital city of Harare. Archaeologists claim the area was used for ritual ceremonies and may also have been used for trading with visiting coastal traders from afar. The site is scattered across 1800 acres and is attributed to a group of peopla known as the Shona. Some speculate that the Shona people built Great Zimbabwe to serve as an observatory so that they can map the stars and predict important dates. (More Photos)

There are three major areas that are part of the Great Zimbabwe site. The first is the Hill Complex, the second is the Valley Complex and the third is the Elliptical Building. This building is an enormous oval enclosure made entirely of large stones. Its wall reaches a height of 32 feet and is about 17 feet thick in width. It is an impressive structure that was once part of a city very rich in gold. No one knows why the Shona people built the Elliptical Building. It still remains a mystery to this day.

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