
Lost city —
Half a millennium ago, Great Zimbabwe was a powerful religious and trading center. Today it's practically deserted.

Labyrinth among the rocks —
At its center, you can find a hill complex where different chambers are linked by a labyrinth of narrow passages.

Conical tower —
Within the inner walls, a conical tower is the most distinctive landmark in the whole of the ancient city.

Important discoveries —
The ancient chambers yielded a set of carved birds that have become important symbols of modern Zimbabwe.

Dry stone walls —
The stones of Great Zimbabwe were assembled without mortar. Each layer was slightly recessed, creating a slope that held it all together.

Monkey standoffs —
With few visitors, monkeys have free rein, occasionally leading to standoffs with travelers.

Great Enclosure —
The Great Enclosure is the largest pre-colonial structure south of the Sahara.

Huge structures —
The Great Enclosure's walls, seen here in the distance, rise up 36 feet and stretch 820 feet around.

Tourism revival? —
After hitting rock bottom in 2008, Zimbabwe is experiencing a tourism revival, but visitors have yet to rediscover Great Zimbabwe.