Discover an ancient African Kingdom, Southern Africa’s first, established at Mapungubwe Hill between 1200 and 1290 AD. Home to a powerful tribe that flourished on trading with Eastern cultures such as China and India, Mapungubwe saw the rise and fall of this great civilisation more than 700 years ago. This is the place where archaeologists excavated the famous golden rhino and other evidence of a wealthy African kingdom.

The climate is semi-arid with mean annual rainfall ranging from 350mm – 400mm. 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. Summer can be hot, but bearable and enjoyable if planned correctly. Early summer mornings and afternoons are the most rewarding in the park, for birds, trees and game. Winters are mild. There is on average 10 rainy days per year.

There are at least 24 Acacia species and 8 Commiphora species, amongst other. Other vegetation of the area is a typically short fairly dense growth of shrubby Mopane trees, 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 fever trees, Ana trees, Leadwoods, Fig trees and acacias. Extensive patches of this vegetation have been cleared for cultivation elsewhere along the length of the Limpopo River. The Limpopo floodplain has allowed some trees to grow to massive sizes. Nyala berries and Ana trees can get particularly big. There are also some very large baobabs in the park, with one specimen having a circumference of 31m.(Source: SANParks)

From Johannesburg/Pretoria take the N1 North to Polokwane; in Polokwane CBD take R521 to Dendron, about 40km to Vivo to join Alldays, another 23km to the Mapungubwe Entrance and Reception. Take N1 to Polokwane CBD, 107km to Makhado to Musina with the N1. From Musina join R572 about 68km to the Mapungubwe Entrance and Reception. Air: Closest airport is Polokwane, 200 km from the park. Car hire: There is an Avis Office in Musina. Coaches: Daily coach service to Musina from Gauteng. Internal Road Network: Approximately 35km of roads are suitable for normal sedan vehicles. A further 100km is accessible to all terrain (4x4) vehicles. Fill up your fuel tank at Alldays/ Musina as you cannot buy petrol at the park.

“Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site General Information Internal Road Network: Approximately 35 km of roads are suitable for normal sedan vehicles. A further 100 km is accessible to all terrain (4x4) vehicles. Fill up your fuel tank at Alldays/ Musina as you cannot buy petrol at the park. Vehicle Restrictions: No caravans are allowed in the eastern section of the park due to roads conditions. We have a caravan park at Mazhou camping site on the western section of the park. Fuel Stations: Petrol/ Diesel There is no fuel station inside the park. The closest fuel station is at Dongola filling station about 30km east of the park. The other filling stations are in Musina 70km and All days 65km from the main gate. Day visitors: Entry is via the SANParks Wild Card system, or payment at the gate. Official hours: Reception: From 06:00 to 18:30 from September to March From 06:30 to 18:00 from April to August Gate opening and closing times From 06:00 to 18:30 from September to March From 06:30 to 18:00 from April to August Check-in / check-out Check-in is from 12:00 to 18:00 and check-out is before 10:00. Climate: The climate is semi-arid with mean annual rainfall ranging from 350mm - 400mm. 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. Summer can be hot, but bearable and enjoyable if planned correctly. Early summer mornings and afternoons are the most rewarding in the park, for birds, trees and game. Winters are mild. There is on average 10 rainy days per year. Hints & Tips •Mapungubwe National Park is an area with large and dangerous game animals and unguided walking is not permitted. Guests, who would like to arrange activities such as walks, drives and visits to cultural attractions, can do so directly with Mapungubwe. Guests should take precautions against malaria when visiting Mapungubwe. All Mapungubwe camps are accessible by normal sedan vehicles, as are many of the roads inside the Park. There are also a number of eco-trails for which a 4x4 is required. The closest shops and fuel supplies to Mapungubwe are in Alldays and Musina, both about 70 km from the Park. What visitors need to take: There are no shops at Mapungubwe. The units are self catering and fully equipped. Take all food, drinks and firewood. The Vhembe Trails Camp is catered, but take your own drinks. •Sunscreen, hat, binoculars, field guides, liquids for drinking. Fill up your fuel tank at Alldays/ Musina. Conservation: The significance of the Mapungubwe National Park and the areas surrounding it is enhanced by the potential role of the area as a sanctuary for viable populations of some of the most threatened large mammals on earth, such as the black rhinoceros, wild dog, cheetah, brown hyena and elephant. It also is one of the last protected areas of the Limpopo riverine forest. Scientific services: The area has tremendous potential for research, both cultural and biological. Currently there is an Elephant Project and numerous cultural research projects. Projects Poverty Relief projects worth R48 million was completed during 2002-2004. These projects provided work to more than 1 000 people. A next round of projects is planned for 2005-2007. With this funding the park intend to built an Interpretive Centre and rehabilitate numerous aspects of the park.” - Brian Lipschitz, 2009/10/30

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