Khami Ruins Pdf

[Kum Dana]

Atits entrance is a small museum displaying artefacts, where you can also pick up a copy of the highly recommended booklet on the ruins (US$5) by Rod Barrett. It's especially handy given there's no signage at each site; hiring a guide is also recommended for this reason. Tour operators run day trips from Bulawayo, or take a taxi (US$20 one way).

Just 22km West of the City of Kings and Queens stands the majestic Khami Ruins. The Khami Ruins were founded around 1450 after the disappearance of the state at the Great Zimbabwe. The ruins were the capital of Butua State founded by the Torwa Dynasty.

Khami is made up of a number of terraced decorated stone ruins. The largest was the home of the King and his family comprising of three, tiered platforms with open areas in the valley occupied by the commoners.

The nearby Passage Ruin consists of two adjoining semicircular platforms accessed by a narrow passageway. Like many of the other smaller platforms, it is likely that it was once occupied by one of the elite officials of the state.

Excavations seem to show that the site was not occupied after these Rozvi took over. The Rozvi made another Khami phase site Danamombe, (Dhlo-Dhlo), their new capital. In the 1830s Nguni speaking Ndebele raiders displaced them from Khami and many of the other sites they had established.

The site of Khami reveals seven built-up areas occupied by the royal family with open areas in the valley occupied by the commoners. The complex comprises circular, sometimes terraced, artificial platforms encased by dry stone walls.

The remnants of cattle kraals and huts for ordinary people can be seen below the Hill Complex. The ruins include a royal enclosure or Hill Complex, which had to be on higher ground than other buildings, stone walls and hut platforms and also a Christian cross believed to have been placed by a contemporary missionary.

Amazing place, a large old ruin town in a place near to nowere. Made my fantasy spin, imagining what life must have been like here some 500 (!) years ago. You will get a basic guided tour for your entrance fee, which can be improved if you tip.

Khami Ruins was built by the shona people after the fall of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, it is a spectacular stone structure building which is located about 25 kilometers from Bulawayo. This tour departs daily from Bulawayo, you will leave Bulawayo at around 0900hrs and drive to Khami Ruins. Our Guide will lead your way to see the hill complex, different sections of the ruins, the Portuguese cross and you will also explore the khami river which is the only source of water in the area. By the mid afternoon, you will be dropped back by your hotel in Bulawayo.

Khami Ruins is the second largest complex of stone walls in the country, after Great Zimbabwe. They were originally constructed between 1450 and 1650 as the capital of the Torwa Dynasty, who ruled their kingdom after the collapse of Great Zimbabwe. The style of dry stone walling is somewhat similar to that of Great Zimbabwe but without large free-standing walls and other constructions. The site is a National Monument and was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1986. In 2006 an International Youth Volunteer Camp help to restore some of the larger ruins.

Khami Ruins National Monument is situated c. 22 km West of Bulawayo on a complex of granite hills and outcrops overlooking the Khami River. The vegetation is dominated by mixed miombo and Acacia woodland, often similar to the well-known Matobo Hills, south of Bulawayo. It offers a wide variety of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, typical of this rocky terrain, such as Pavetta gardeniifolia, Turraea obtusifolia, T. floribunda, Commiphora marlothii, Pappea capensis, Gymnosporia matobensis and Aloe excelsa.

Once the capital of the Kingdom of Butua of the Torwa Dynasty, the Khami Ruins date back to the reign of the Torwa Dynasty from the 15th to the 17th centuries and weave a tale of a grand civilization that blossomed following the decline of the Great Zimbabwe Kingdom.

The Torwa Dynasty demonstrated advanced urban planning and architectural skills. The ruins of Khami feature complex stone wall structures and terraced landscapes, indicating the presence of a highly organized and sophisticated society. Furthermore, the discovery of Portuguese artifacts suggests that the civilization had developed trade relations with the Portuguese, pointing to a complex socio-economic structure.

The allure of Khami is rooted in its ability to transport you back in time. The site offers an immersive experience of walking through the annals of history, retracing the steps of a once-thriving civilization, and gaining insights into their way of life, economy, and customs.

The historical significance of Khami is heightened by its aesthetics. Positioned against the backdrop of lush, undulating hills, Khami affords picturesque vistas. The stony terraces of the ruins blend harmoniously with the natural beauty, creating a sublime tableau.

Detailed chevron patterns embellish the stone walls of the ruins, indicating a society with an artistic flair. Prominent features include the Passage Ruin with its decorated walls and the Cross Ruin, named after a cross perched on a wall. The ruins also display various terraces, communal spaces, religious sites, and traces of industrial areas where gold was smelted.

The rugged and weathered ruins are a natural extension of the landscape. Their warm, earthy tones provide a vivid contrast against the vibrant greens of the nearby vegetation. As the day draws to a close and the setting sun casts a golden glow on the ruins, the sight becomes even more enchanting.

Travel enriches us by exposing us to diverse perspectives, allowing us to appreciate our shared history and admire human resilience and creativity. The Khami Ruins offer all this in a captivating package.

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