Mapungubwe National Park

Mapungubwe National Park is situated in Limpopo Province and is

The creation of the Mapungubwe National Park has been an objective of the South African National Parks for many years. It is based on the rich biodiversity of the area, its great scenic beauty and the cultural importance of the archaeological treasures of Mapungubwe, within the proposed park area. The park is currently still in a developmental phase, and has not been consolidated yet. Some facilities are still being completed. Extensive rehabilitation work and further infrastructure development will be taking place over the next few years.

The Mapungubwe National Park was previously known as Vhembe Dongola National Park. It is situated 60 km west of Musina and about 230 km from Polokwane, the capital town of Limpopo Province. The park comprises the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape and the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site. It is also located at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers.

Declared a National Heritage Site in December 2001, the park was listed as a World Heritage Site in July 2003. The Mapungubwe National Park covers an area that is well over 28 000 hectares. The name Mapungubwe means a place of the stone of wisdom. (Ref: Dr M. Motshekga, Kara Heritage Institute, Hatfield, Pretoria).

The Mapungubwe National Park is positioned on the international borders of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is envisaged that the park will eventually form part of a Trans-Frontier Conservation Area shared by the three countries.

Attractions in Mapungubwe National Park

• Visit Mapungubwe Hill. Visits to this very sensitive area can only be done with a guide. Enquire at reception
  Visit the Treetop Hide. Always good for birds and sometimes game
• Visit the Confluence. See the three countries and where the Sashe and Limpopo rivers meet. Also see the ancient fossilized termite mounds to the south of the picnic area
• Do the Tshugulu Eco Route. A 4x4 is strongly recommended. This route covers 45km (4-6 hours) through some spectacular terrain and habitat. There is also a state-of-art game hide on this route. Enquire at reception
• Visit Maloutswa Pan. Very good for game in the dry season, and for birds in the wet season
• Day walks. A qualified guide will take you for a walk in the bush. Enquire at reception. Walks depend on availability of guide

Facts about Mapungubwe National Park

• The "Stone Tribe" is in fact a concentration of 85 fossilized termite mounts, the only ones known in South Africa?
• Mapungubwe is the oldest known kingdom in Southern Africa?
• The 3rd largest tree in the country (a Nyala Berry), occurs in the park? And that 4 of the 10 largest trees (off all species) in the country can be found in the park?
• Mapungubwe was the capital of a country the size of Swaziland, and that there were more than 200 satellite towns?
• The largest elephant herd on private property (1500 animals) occurs in the Tuli Block?
• All the large predators still occur naturally in Mapungubwe National Park?
• The Mapungubwe people traded with Arabian, Indian and Chinese merchants- more than 800 years ago?
  There are more than 400 species of birds in the park?
  The Hamilton Boabab in the park has a trunk circumference of 31m?
• Gen. Jan Smuts had a house in the park he used to visit?
• Cecil John Rhodes had a drift in the park (Rhodesdrift) he used to cross the Limpopo?
• In 1948 the park had a land area of 92 000ha- before the Nationalist government disbanded the park?
• There are 24 Acacia species in the park?
• The park is rich in San Art sites- including unusual depictions of locusts and giraffes?
• The park was proclaimed a World Heritage Site on 5 July 2003?

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