This photo story features the Valley Ruins of Great Zimbabwe, situated across the landscape below the Hill Complex, offering a glimpse into the daily life of the ancient residents. These stone structures, built using the same impressive dry-stone technique, once housed families, artisans, and traders who formed the core of this powerful civilisation.

Although less monumental than the Hill Complex or the Great Enclosure, the Valley Ruins reveal the human side of Great Zimbabwe — the community that supported its spiritual and political centres. The scattered walls and foundations reflect a city alive with activity, craftsmanship, and culture.

This gallery captures the textures and atmosphere of the Valley Ruins: weathered stones bathed in golden light, remnants of homes and workshops, and the enduring legacy of a society that thrived here for centuries.

Today, the Valley Ruins stand as an integral part of Great Zimbabwe’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation — a testament to African ingenuity, resilience, and history.