experience
Among the contoured hills of southeastern Zimbabwe lie the remnants of an ancient kingdom, built of stone. Great Zimbabwe was once the capital of a vast trade empire, the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, that stretched across the Indian Ocean, connecting sub-Saharan Africa with Arabia, India, and East Asia as far back as the 12th or 13th century. By the 1500s, it had largely been abandoned, leaving a legacy of similar stone structures and
artefacts from around the world, scattered across the region. Among the most iconic are soapstone bird sculptures, carved by the local Shona people. One of these birds graces the flag of modern Zimbabwe, a country whose name also honours its proud past. In the Shona language, ‘Zimbabwe’ means ‘houses of stone.’ Evidence of its rich cultural heritage can still be found, and it’s kept alive through the craft, spirit, and stories of its people. In Malilangwe, you can experience it with them.
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