The Khami Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offer a compelling glimpse into Zimbabwe's past. Located on the west bank of the Khami River, about 22 kilometers west of Bulawayo, these ruins stand as a testament to the engineering skills and cultural significance of the Torwa Dynasty in the 15th-17th centuries.
Khami Ruins Entrance
Location and Setting
The Khami Ruins are situated on the west bank of the Khami River, approximately 22 km west of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city. The area around Khami, being riverine, is hot and had problems with malaria. The climate supports a natural vegetation of open woodland, dominated by Combretum and Terminalia trees. Being close to the Kalahari Desert, the area is also vulnerable to droughts, and rainfall tends to vary considerably.
You can view satellite imagery of the Khami Ruins on Google Earth.
Historical Context
Around the middle of the 15th century AD, the city of Great Zimbabwe was abandoned. The abandonment of its capital city marked the collapse of the African Kingdom of Zimbabwe. One of the results of this event was the fragmentation of the kingdom’s former territories.
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In the north, along the Zambezi valley, the Karangas came to power and the Kingdom of Butua took control of the south. One of these zimbabwes was Khami, the capital of the Kingdom of Butua. Khami was founded by the Torwa Dynasty, the first rulers of the Kingdom of Butua. It has been suggested that the Torwa were rebels or outsiders of the Kingdom of Mutapa. It has been suggested that at the end of the 15th century AD, the Torwa decided to break away and establish a new kingdom.
Great Zimbabwe ruins, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
The settlement that we see today was a development of the architectural form that emerged at Great Zimbabwe in the 13th century AD and a local Leopard's Kopje culture that built platforms of rough walling on which houses would be constructed. The complex comprises circular, sometimes terraced, artificial platforms encased by dry stone walls.
Architectural Marvels
Exploring the Ancient Khami Ruins: A Forgotten Civilization in Zimbabwe
It has been pointed out that the Torwa Dynasty’s new capital Khami was built based on the architectural form of Great Zimbabwe. Nevertheless, Khami has its own peculiarities that set it apart from its predecessor. It has been claimed that the builders of Khami took note of the surrounding environment and adapted the original form accordingly.
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The walls of Khami, Zimbabwe
The stone found at Khami (laminar granite) was different from the ones found in other areas of Zimbabwe (biotite). With a mixture of dolerite, this stone was harder to quarry and produced shapeless building stone. It can be estimated that over 60% of the stone produced at these quarries would not be of building quality. The building blocks thus needed to be shaped, but even then the stones were not suitable for building free-standing dry stone walls.
Therefore, the builders of Khami decided to improvise, and built revetments or retaining walls instead. It is said that this is the first instance of such an architectural form in the history of the region. Secondly, building platforms made the houses cooler than those in the open areas below. It also eliminated the problem of malaria for the lucky royals who stayed in the built-up areas.
The walls are gravity retaining walls built without mortar. Unlike at Great Zimbabwe, some of the walls at Khami have foundations built with huge blocks which would have been lifted by at least four people.
Excavations have revealed well-planned buildings especially at the Hill Complex, which was occupied by the king. The complex was first built up by creating terraces of rough walling. These stable walls were then covered up by quality walling of dressed stone blocks. Each terrace was highly decorated with either a checkerboard pattern, herringbone, or a cord pattern. The terraces leaned inwards so that gravity would not cause collapses. The beautifully decorated 6m-high by 68m-long retaining wall of the precipice platform bears a checkerboard design along its entire length. The platforms, rising 2-7m above the ground, carried dhaka (clay) huts and courtyards where those of lower status lived.
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Trade and Foreign Influence
Apart from the architectural innovations developed at Khami, the city is perhaps known also for its trade links. Around the same time as the building of Khami, the Portuguese had succeeded in penetrating the Indian Ocean. The Arab-Swahili trade system that once dominated the east coast of Africa was destroyed, and the seaport of Sofala in modern day Mozambique was seized by the Portuguese.
Therefore, through the agency of the Portuguese, the Torwas were able to take part in the Indian Ocean trade. At Khami, there is archaeological evidence for the Torwa’s involvement in the Indian Ocean trade. For instance, a diverse range of imported objects has been unearthed at Khami. Amongst these artifacts are 15th and 17th century Spanish porcelain, Rhineland stoneware, and Chinese porcelain from the Ming Dynasty. Many of these foreign objects are now on display in the Natural History Museum of Bulawayo. In exchange for these imported items, traditional trade goods, including gold and ivory, were exported.
Decline and Abandonment
The fall of Khami came about around the middle of the 17th century. In the 1640s, a political dispute occurred amongst the Torwa rulers. A power struggle and civil war ensued, and the defeated party was forced to flee.
The Portuguese seized this opportunity to intervene in the conflict by sending a small army under the command of Sismundo Dias Bayao to Khami, which resulted in the fall of Khami. Nevertheless, the Torwas continued to stay in power until the 1680s, and ruled from their new capital about 150 km to the east of Khami. After that (the traditional date is 1683), it was conquered by Changamire Dombo who led an army of Rozvi rebels from the Mwenemutapa ("Monomotapa") 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.
Layout and Key Features
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 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. There are also ruins on the eastern side of the Khami River. Other platforms are believed to have been cattle kraals and a retaining wall with a chequered pattern.
Khami is dominated by a series of terraced stone ruins, often highly decorated. The largest comprises of three, tiered platforms that was the home of the King and his family.
The main platform is reached by bearing left at the game board by the museum walking along the fence and following the path.You will arrive at the impressive decorated tiers of the main platform which mark the front of the royal residence. The open area in the front could have been used as a Royal Court.
As you follow the path along the banks of the Khami river you will soon see the dam wall. Walk away from the main concrete wall towards the water’s edge there is a narrow path leading to the Precipice Platform. This is the largest of the stone platforms and was built on a low ridge next to the river.
Preservation and Management
Khami Ruins National Monument is managed by National Museums and Monuments as overall responsible Agency. The government of Zimbabwe partly funds conservation work and also makes available funds for capital improvements through its Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). National Museums and Monuments provide some funds raised through entrance fees, filming fees, etc. for conservation. A management plan, which derives from a master plan for resource conservation and development, exists and is currently being implemented in accordance with National Museums and Monuments Act.
Khami river in background
Visiting Khami Today
If you’ve ever wanted to explore one of Zimbabwe’s hidden archaeological gems, the Khami Ruins Day Trip offers a compelling glimpse into the country’s past. The Khami Ruins Day Trip takes you out of Bulawayo for a visit to the second-largest stone-built monument in Zimbabwe.
Your adventure begins with a pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle, ensuring comfort from the start. Once there, the tour focuses on the 16th-century capital of the Torwa Dynasty. The main features include a series of dry-stone walled platforms-a striking display of craftsmanship. Particular attention is often given to the chief’s residence (Mambo) on the Hill Ruin, offering a panoramic view of the site and its surroundings.
Travelers report that guides were exceptionally knowledgeable, providing detailed explanations that enhanced understanding of the site’s significance. The tour costs $80 per person, which is quite reasonable considering the private service, snacks, bottled water, and transport included.
A Personal Journey
As I stood before the ancient walls of Khami Ruins under the warm Bulawayo sun, camera in hand, my heart was full of anticipation. The first thing that struck me was the silence. It wasn’t an absence of sound but a presence of stillness - a deep, dignified calm that enveloped the site.
Khami is not just about the past - it’s a mirror reflecting what we can reclaim. For Zimbabweans and Africans, sites like Khami are testaments to a time when our civilizations thrived, traded, governed, and worshipped long before colonial borders were drawn. They invite us to celebrate a lineage of innovation and identity rooted in our soil.
Key Facts About Khami Ruins
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | 22 km west of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
| Historical Period | 15th-17th centuries AD |
| Cultural Affiliation | Torwa Dynasty, Kingdom of Butua |
| Architectural Style | Terraced stone platforms, retaining walls |
| UNESCO Inscription | 1986 |
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