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Mapungubwe National Park landscape has
outstanding botanical, ecological, geological and
geomorphologic merit, with a range of vegetation
types associated with the outcrop of cave sandstone,
baobab trees, Karoo fossils and ancient rocks nearly
three billion years old.
Proclaimed a World Heritage Site 2003, the park
is referred to as the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape.
Artefacts found at Mapungubwe rank among the
most important pieces of ancient art yet found in
sub-Saharan Africa. They document the rise of the
Zimbabwe culture which was one of the most complex
social and political entities in Africa during the
8th and 9th centuries.
Their culture, based partly on gold and
ivory trade with the East Coast traders, is
believed to have had its origins in the
Limpopo Valley and subsequently spread
northwards into Zimbabwe.
South African National Parks runs a variety of
overnight accommodation at its main rest camp. We
recommend a day visit with an overnight stay
(click on the map opposite to visit SANParks™
website)
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Related pages
Bela-Bela, Lephalale Makhado, Modimolle, Mokopane,
Musina, Phalaborwa, Polokwane, Thabazimbi,
Thohoyandou, Tzaneen
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Finds of gold
artefacts, beads, burial grounds and other
remains indicate that Mapungubwe was one of
the major centres of this culture and bear
testimony to the way of life of African
peoples more than 1000 years ago.
The park has a substantial amount of San
Rock Art dating from 15,000 years ago. More
recent history has seen people like Cecil
Rhodes and Jan Smuts frequenting the area -
Jan Smuts had a house in the current park.
Leokwe Camp is Mapungubwe’s main camp,
located in the eastern section of the Park
in the spectacular sandstone hills. Close to
the camp guests can enjoy the Treetop Hide
and the confluence view site.
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