Great Zimbabwe Overnight Tour: Guided Ruins & Stay

A couple of days exploring Great Zimbabwe's stone complexes with a guide and overnight stay

An overnight tour from Harare to the Great Zimbabwe ruins includes private transportation, a guided tour of the Hill Complex, Valley Complex and Great Enclosure, accommodation at a hotel or lodge, and breakfast before the return drive. The guide provides detailed history of the site, built during King Munhumutapa's reign. Children from age 3 are welcome, and all areas are wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tour Great Zimbabwe and Masvingo

• Depart for Masvingo Town
• Stop for photos and rest
• Lunch in Masvingo City
• Photo opportunity and see historic buildings
• Guided tour of Great Zimbabwe ruins
• Visit Hill, Valley, and Great Enclosure
• Stop at Shona/Karanga Village
• Dinner at hotel or lodge
• Overnight at hotel or lodge

Day 2: Return to Harare with stops

• Breakfast and check out
• Depart for Harare
• Stop at market
• Arrive in Harare

The experience

You leave Harare at 8am and drive to Masvingo Town with rest and photo stops along the way, arriving by noon. After lunch in Masvingo City with a brief look at historic buildings, you head to the ruins at 1:30pm for a guided tour that covers the Hill Complex, Valley Complex and Great Enclosure, then finishes at the Shona/Karanga Village. Dinner happens at your hotel or lodge that evening.

Day two starts after breakfast and checkout. You depart for Harare around 10am with a stop at the market, arriving back by 1pm. The guide speaks English, Spanish or French and travels with you throughout, so the commentary is live and you can ask questions as you move through each section of the ruins. The air-conditioned vehicle stays with you both days, and bottled water is provided.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation both days.
• bottled water.
• accommodation at a hotel or lodge.
• breakfast on day two.
• guided tour of the ruins with commentary in English, Spanish or French.
• hotel or lodge dinner on day one.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Wenhau Africa Safaris & Tours

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, Spanish or French, so if you're comfortable following live commentary in any of those languages, you'll get the full history as you move through each section. The overnight format means you're not rushing the ruins or the drive. You have time to absorb the site and rest before heading back to Harare the next afternoon.

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is the Great Zimbabwe ruins?

Great Zimbabwe is a stone monument built during the reign of King Munhumutapa. The site contains three main sections: the Hill Complex, the Valley Complex and the Great Enclosure, each with its own layout and history that the guide explains as you walk through them.

How much time do I spend actually at the ruins on the first day?

You arrive at the ruins around 1:30pm and tour the three complexes plus the Shona/Karanga Village before dinner at 6pm, giving you roughly four hours at the site itself.

Is there time to see Masvingo on this tour?

Yes. You stop in Masvingo Town for lunch and a brief look at historic buildings, and on the return journey the next morning you visit the market and can see Kyle Dam Wall on a scenic drive through town.

What's included in the overnight accommodation?

Accommodation at a hotel or lodge is included, along with breakfast the next morning before you depart for Harare. Dinner on the first night is at the same hotel or lodge but is not included in the tour price.

Is the tour accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes. All areas and surfaces at the ruins and along the route are wheelchair accessible, and the transportation vehicle is equipped for wheelchair access.