Khami Ruins National Monument


World Heritage Identification Number: 365

World Heritage since: 1986

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

Continent: Africa

UNESCO World Region: Africa

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Khami Ruins National Monument: A Testament to Ancient Trade and Civilization

The Khami Ruins National Monument, situated approximately 22 kilometers west of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, stands as a significant remnant of the Kingdom of Butua of the Torwa dynasty. This archaeologically rich site has garnered international recognition, earning a place among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1986.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Khami, which developed after the capital of Great Zimbabwe had been abandoned in the mid-16th century, is of great archaeological interest. The discovery of objects from Europe and China shows that Khami was a major centre for trade over a long period of time.

Encyclopedia Record: Khami

Khami is a ruined city located 22 kilometres (14 mi) west of Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe. It was once the capital of the Kingdom of Butua of the Torwa dynasty. It is now a national monument and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

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Additional Site Details

Area: Not available

UNESCO Criteria: (iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape

Coordinates: -20.15833333 , 28.37666667

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Image of Khami Ruins National Monument

David Randall-MacIver, Public domain

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Matobo Hills
40 km — Zimbabwe
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
243 km — South Africa
Great Zimbabwe National Monument
267 km — Zimbabwe
Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls
363 km — Zambia, Zimbabwe
Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa
452 km — South Africa

Country Information: Zimbabwe

Flag of Zimbabwe

Official Name: Republic of Zimbabwe

Capital: Harare

Continent: Africa

Population (2024): 16,634,373

Population (2023): 16,340,822

Population (2022): 16,069,056

Land Area: 386,850 sq km

Currency: Zimbabwean dollar (ZWL)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Khami Ruins National Monument are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Khami, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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