South Africa's Mapungubwe National Park

Useful Information

History

Mapungubwe National Park was proclaimed on Heritage Day, 24 September 2004, after the area was established as Vhembe Dongola National Park on 9 April 1998.

Mapungubwe is important for paleontological and anthropological treasures buried in the landscape. Two early plant-eating dinosaurs—Plateosauravus, which grew about 10 m and lived 210 million years ago, and Massospondylus, about 6 m and 195 million years old—have been excavated here. The most famous discovery involves the Leopard Kopje people, renowned as one of Africa’s earliest indigenous kingdoms that lived here between 1220 and 1300 AD. Royal graves were found in the 1930s with golden artifacts, including the Golden Rhino. Mapungubwe also preserves sites of human activity dating back as far as 300,000 years.

Wildlife

Mapungubwe National Park has four of the Big Five, excluding buffalo. Elephant are the only common Big Five specie. Leopard and rhino are occasionally spotted, and lion only very rarely. The chances of spotting giraffe are good, and you’ll sometimes encounter hippo. Predators including wild dog, cheetah, hyena, and caracal occur here, though sightings are infrequent. Several antelope species occur, from klipspringer to eland. The shy aardvark is relatively common.

The park is home to 17 bat species, including Wahlberg’s epauletted and Egyptian fruit bat. Other lesser mammals range from warthog and honey badger to civet and porcupine. Reptiles are plentiful; you might see anything from Nile crocodile to rock monitor lizard. Be wary of highly venomous snakes such as black mamba and puff adder, and keep an eye out for the large Southern African rock python. Bird watchers will delight, as 387 bird species have been recorded in the park and over 400 in the surrounding area. Verreaux’s eagle occurs in high density; cuckoo are abundant, and even Pel’s fishing owl may be seen if you are lucky.

Vegetation & Terrain

Mapungubwe lies in Limpopo Province on the southern floodplains of the Limpopo River, the natural border between South Africa and Botswana. From the park you can see the meeting place of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers, where the borders of Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa converge.

The area hosts varied habitats that support diverse plant species such as acacia, fig, fever, and Commiphora trees. Water-rich floodplain soils grow enormous trees, including huge baobabs—one specimen boasts a circumference of 31 m. The area also holds great cultural significance and is a proclaimed World Heritage Site. The remains of the ancient civilization atop Mapungubwe Hill are focal to conservation efforts. The famous Golden Rhino was found here and can be viewed in the park museum.

Activities

Do not miss the museum, where you can view the celebrated Golden Rhino and learn about the cultural heritage that makes this park unique. It also offers deeper context about the landscape and its wildlife. The heritage tour lets visitors step back in time while encountering the animals that now rule the region.

Game drives are available, and night drives are popular for searching out nocturnal wildlife. Guided bush walks provide a slower, immersive experience. The Tree Top Walk offers a different perspective on the landscape and concludes at a hide overlooking the majestic Limpopo River.