Thirty kilometres from Masvingo, in the granite country of south-eastern Zimbabwe, stands a wall that has held its shape for about six centuries.
It curves for roughly 250 metres and rises to 11. Its granite blocks are fitted without mortar, so the whole structure stands on weight, friction and the accuracy of the cutting. This is the Great Enclosure. It is the image most people know, and it is only one part of the site.
The city
Great Zimbabwe has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. The site covers almost 800 hectares in three parts: the Hill Complex, the Great Enclosure and the Valley Ruins. Estimates of its population at its height vary, but UNESCO records more than 10,000 people in the 14th century.
