Post-Conference Tour to Great Zimbabwe, Masvingo and Serima Mission

Post-Conference Tour: Great Zimbabwe, Masvingo and Serima Mission

23–24 November 2026

This Post-Conference Tour takes delegates south through the granite highlands of Masvingo to two sites that are central to Zimbabwe’s cultural, artistic, and spiritual heritage.

About Great Zimbabwe:

At Great Zimbabwe, delegates will explore the largest ancient stone structure in sub-Saharan Africa. Built between 1100 and 1450 AD and spanning nearly 800 hectares, the site encompasses the Hill Ruins, the Great Enclosure, and the Valley Ruins – each reflecting layered histories of power, ritual, trade, and everyday life. Constructed entirely without mortar, its monumental stone walls remain a remarkable feat of engineering. Once the center of a vast trading network extending to China, India, and the Arabian Peninsula, and historically connected to Mapungubwe, Great Zimbabwe stands as both an architectural landmark and a powerful symbol of historical reclamation. Today, it remains a sacred living site and lends its name to the nation itself.

The visit to Great Zimbabwe resonates strongly with the conference theme, which proposes repair as a radical, plural, and ongoing practice grounded in relationality, care, and accountability.

Long misrepresented through colonial interpretations that denied its African origins, Great Zimbabwe today embodies the importance of restoring and re-centering African histories, knowledge systems, and narratives.

More than an archaeological landmark, Great Zimbabwe remains a living sacred site deeply connected to memory, spirituality, community, and landscape. Its inclusion in the program invites delegates to reflect on how heritage sites can challenge conventional museum frameworks and expand understandings of cultural stewardship, repair, and the relationship between people, histories, and place.

Great Zimbabwe National Monument (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

About Masvingo and the visited sites:

Located roughly 292 kilometers south of Harare, Masvingo – formerly known as Fort Victoria – is Zimbabwe's oldest urban settlement and the strategic capital of Masvingo Province. Home to approximately 90,000 residents, this historic city is celebrated globally as the gateway to the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, the magnificent ancient stone empire from which the modern republic proudly derives its name.

Beyond these ancient ruins, the broader Masvingo province offers profound encounters with Zimbabwe's multilayered architectural and cultural history. Just outside Masvingo sits the Italian Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, a remarkable and unexpected historical site. Built between 1942 and 1946 by Italian civilian internees during the Second World War, the chapel served as a scheme of work, a place of refuge, and a profound act of faith. Today, it remains a poignant memorial – housing the remains of 71 Italians who died during incarceration – and surprises visitors with its magnificent, Italian-style frescoes and ceiling murals painted by interned artists.

This legacy of unique religious architecture continues in the Gutu District at the Serima Mission (Driefontein). Founded as a Catholic mission, Serima is a globally recognized cultural landmark famous for its extraordinary church architecture and masterful carved woodwork. The mission represents a striking synthesis of localized modernism, seamlessly blending traditional Shona artistic expression with Christian iconography.

This rich historical, spiritual, and architectural tapestry makes Masvingo not merely a monument to the past, but a vibrant crucible for contemporary creativity. As a highlight of the Masvingo itinerary, delegates will have the exclusive opportunity to explore this modern cultural continuum through an immersive tour featuring the works of Masvingo-based contemporary artists Felix Shumba and Anisa Salanje. Shumba, a celebrated multidisciplinary artist, utilizes drawing, painting, and mixed-media installations to navigate oral history, memory, and ecological shifts. Paired with the captivating and evocative works of Salanje, this tour offers delegates a profound dialogue between Zimbabwe’s ancient heritage, its colonial-era architectural evolution, and its dynamic, unfolding contemporary art narratives.

Day 1 (Monday, 23 November) - Daily Schedule:

*Times and order of activities may be subject to change.

6:00 – Buses depart sharply from Harare Conference Hotels
7:30 – Midpoint technical stop in Mvuma (approximately 20 minutes) for leg stretching and snacks
8:50 – Serima Mission & St. Mary’s Church: Curation loop focusing on groundbreaking vernacular woodcarvings and biblical narrative paintings extending to the top of the bell tower heights
11:30 – Arrival in Masvingo & visit to the Italian Chapel: Exploration of the WWII murals, frescoes, and mausoleum wings
12:45 – Felix’s Studio: Authentic contemporary rural studio workspace experience and raw charcoal processing demonstration. Combined expo footprint with Anusa
13:45 – Hotel Check-In & Group Lunch (delivery of luggages to Great Zimbabwe Hotel and casual luncheon)
15:00 – Afternoon at Leisure (Delegate Optional Streams): Delegates navigate elective recreation corridors independently based on interest:

- Lake Mutirikwi Boat Cruise / Walk across the Concrete Dam Wall

- Exploration of historical Engineering Tunnels

- Game drive tracking protected White Rhinos at Kyle Recreational Park

- Souvenir curation and artisan acquisitions at the Masvingo Curio & Craft Market

18:30 – Return to the Hotel
19:30 – Official Gala Dinner: Networking around the magnificent dry-stone boma central bonfire infrastructure at the Lodge at the Ancient City

Day 2 (Tuesday, 24 November) - Daily Schedule:

*Times and order of activities may be subject to change.

7:30 – Breakfast & Check-Out
8:30 – Great Zimbabwe Monument Master Tour (3 hours): Plotting of the premium morning historical trek while conditions are perfectly cool. Climbing of the Hill Complex via the 350m Ancient / 460m Modern pathways. Full curatorial loop through the Great Enclosure, Shona Village, New Visitors Center, and Historical Museum (*hiking shoes required)
11:30 – Departure for Masvingo
13:00 – Transit rest stop in Mvuma for quick lunch
13:30 – Return journey to Harare
16:30 – Arrival in Harare and transfer to the central conference hotels → (Important: This arrival time is indicative and cannot be guaranteed, as the return journey is by bus and may be significantly delayed due to traffic conditions. Participants are therefore strongly advised not to book return flights departing from Harare on 24 November, as CIMAM cannot guarantee arrival in time for same-day departures)
Free evening in Harare and dinner at leisure

Accommodation:

Participants will be staying in two different nearby hotels:

Great Zimbabwe Hotel: Nestled just 700 m from the ancient Great Zimbabwe monuments, the hotel stands at the edge of the legendary stone city, where verdant gardens meet sprawling granite landscapes.

Lodge at the Ancient City: Overlooking the iconic Great Zimbabwe Monuments, this lodge offers a unique blend of tradition, comfort, and natural beauty.

Practical Information:

Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes throughout the program and bring a light rain jacket.

For the Day 2 excursion, participants must wear high-traction, non-slip hiking footwear.

The fee to attend the optional Post-Conference Tour is 540,00 € per participant. The tour is now fully booked!