The famous ruins at Great Zimbabwe and lesser known sites at Mapungubwe and Thulamela in South Africa are examples of stone cities built between the 12th and 15th centuries.

Similar techniques were used to construct the buildings and artefacts found at the site show that the people who lived there traded with merchants from the Indian Ocean basin.

These sites have provided historians and archaeologists with significant insights into the political and social history of the region.

Both Mapungubwe and Thulamela are located in game reserves enabling tourists to enjoy cultural visits and game viewing on the same trip.