MAPUNGUBWE NATIONAL PARK
© SANParks www.sanparks.org

The major attractions are the great number and variety of archaeological sites; San art sites; game and Big Five experiences; unusually large examples of numerous trees including baobabs and climbing figs; scenery; “moon landscapes” of sandstone formations; bird life; eco routes and “three country” experiences.

Activities : guided tours to the archaeological and cultural sites; visiting the Tree top walk and various game and bird hides; self guided trails; Eco routes; guided trips to Limited Motorized Zones; birding trips and night drives.

The park need to be contacted directly at this stage for guided tours to the archaeological sites, and can not be booked through SANParks Head Office.
The highlight of the park is the Mapungubwe Archaeological Site. This location was a precursor to Great Zimbabwe and Thulamela. It was also the location where the Gold Rhino and many other artefacts were uncovered.

Accommodation

Tshugulu Lodge

The lodge is booked entirely by a single group (same principle as KNP’s Bush Lodges). The road to the lodge as well as most of the other roads in the park are accessible to normal vehicles, although guests staying at Tshugulu also have exclusive use of a 40km eco-trail, which is only suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles and vehicles with high ground-clearance.

The lodge provides fourteen beds in seven air-conditioned bedrooms (five in the main building and two bedrooms with their own kitchenette a short distance away – ideal for those guests who form part of the larger group but who would appreciate a little more privacy). Six bedrooms have en-suite bathroom facilities. The main building has a well equipped kitchen, open veranda and an air-conditioned lounge. The lodge also offers a swimming pool as added attraction.

Tshugulu is situated in an area with large and dangerous game and unguided walking is not allowed. Guests with special requests regarding catering or activities (walks, drives or visits to cultural attractions) may contact the park directly on 015 534 0102 to arrange these.

Currently no gate hours are enforced and guests may arrive after hours. Guests can report directly to the lodge for check-in. Until the infrastructure development of the park has been completed, overnight visitors will not be charged daily conservation fees.

Leokwe Rest Camp

Leokwe is the park’s main rest camp and is situated in a valley flanked by sandstone ridges. The theme of the camp is based on the rich history of the area and the design is derived from the typical Venda village.

Facilities offered in the rest camp include:

A reception complex with a swimming pool, kitchen and a small convenience store.
14 x 2 bed cottages with open plan kitchens
2 x 4 bed family cottages with open plan kitchens.
2 x 2 bed cottages with a shower and toilet for the physically disabled persons.

Limpopo Forest Tented Camp

Situated within the riverine forest of the Limpopo River, this tented camp offers spacious rooms and outdoor areas. It caters for 16 people and has 8 x 2 bed self catering units available.

It also has 7 Semi-Luxury Forest tents with 2 bed bedrooms, a kitchen, shower and toilet.

It has a One Semi-Luxury Forest tent; 2 bed-bedroom, a kitchen and shower and toilet for the physically disabled swimming pool and an exclusive eco-trail.

Vhembe Wilderness Trails Camp

Based on the successful wilderness trails offered in the Kruger National Park, the Vhembe Trails Camp is situated on the perimeter of the important Mapungubwe Valley.

Trailists have the opportunity to explore the rich archaeology of the area on foot with a guide and will visit the famous Mapungubwe where the Golden Rhinoceros was found. Visitors will be based at the camp for the duration of the three day trail. The camp can accommodate 8 people- 2 persons per unit with own ablutions.

The entrance to the Mapungubwe National Park is situated on the Musina-Pondrift Road. There is a viewpoint that offers a breathtaking view of the Limpopo-Shashe Rivers confluence; there are tree-top walks that allow visitors access to the Limpopo River and a bird hide at Manoutswa pan. A newly developed road network allows access to sedan vehicle to all the sites mentioned above.

Please be warned that the Mapungubwe National Park falls within a malaria area and it is advisable to take the necessary precautions.

Climate
The climate is semi-arid with mean annual rainfall ranging from 350 – 400 mm. Rainfall is highly variable and usually falls during the summer months. Extended periods of below average rainfall occur. In summer temperatures sometimes rise to 45 °C. The winters are mild, although frost may occur.

Geomorphology
The area is between 300 m and 780 m above sea level. South of the Limpopo the ground tends to be flat with sandstone and conglomerate ridges and koppies. Nearer the Limpopo the flats give way to a more rugged hilly terrain.

Vegetation
The area under consideration includes Acocks (1988) veld type Mopani-veld (15). It is characterised by a typically short fairly dense growth of shrubby Colophospermum mopane, generally associated with a number of other trees and shrubs and a somewhat sparse and tufted grassveld. The riparian fringe of the Limpopo is of prime importance from the point of view of conservation. It is a dense vegetation community with a closed canopy, which occurs, in the rich alluvial deposits along the river. The most striking trees in this community include Acacia albida, A. xanthophloea, Xanthocercis zambesiaca and Ficus sycomorus. Extensive patches of this vegetation have been cleared for cultivation elsewhere along the length of the Limpopo River.

Fauna
The region has excellent potential for a “big five” park. Viable populations of lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah and spotted hyena still occur in the area. The habitat is suitable for both white and black rhinoceros. The permanent pools in the Limpopo offer refuge to crocodile and hippopotamus, as well as a variety of indigenous fish species. Bird life is widely recognised to be amongst the best in the country.
A number of well preserved fossils, including flowering plants as well as whole-bodied insects, were recovered from the fine-grained mudstones.

Mapungubwe National Park
SANParks, South Africa
Tel: 12 428 9111
Fax: 12 426 5500
Email: reservations@sanparks.org