There is something special about a southern african safari experience. For me it offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life as you are completely disconnected from the outside world with no distractions, a great way to bond with loved ones .
Mapungubwe was an ancient kingdom that existed between the 11th and 13th century and occupied parts of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Mapungubwe was declared a World Heritage Site in 2003 and opened to the public in 2004 as a national park. The name Mapungubwe means “Hills of jackals” .
Growing up in Venda Limpopo the most northern part of South Africa , we frequented the Kruger national park on day visits as it was just a 40 minutes drive from our home in Makwarela.
This time around our trip would be more memorable with a night under the stars while catching up with my family in a wilderness we had never explored.
Getting there
We drove from Makwarela via Nzhelele town then took the N1 road to Musina . If you are driving from Johannesburg, the best route is to take the N1 north towards Musina town where you will branch off for 70km to arrive at Mapungubwe.
The road from Messina to Mapungubwe has a lot of potholes so that adds extra time to your journey, however you are able to get there with a sedan or a 4×4 vehicle.
Messina would be the last town so make sure you buy everything you will need in the park and top up on fuel if needed.
Where to stay
Mapungubwe is split in the eastern and western parts and boasts a variety of accommodation depending on your risk appetite and budget. We stayed on the eastern side at Leokwe Camp which is Mapungubwe’s main camp located about 11km from the Main Gate of the park.
This camp is absolutely spectacular and is situated on sandstone hills, surrounded by gigantic baobab and fig trees. The Leokwe camp comprises of fully equipped self-catering chalets with a kitchen, lounge, private braai area , bedroom, toilet, and an outside shower with bushviews .
A walking distance from the chalets is a swimming pool , sundeck, as well as a central braai area.
What to expect
Visiting the park in the summer months like we did, attracts extremely high temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees. Luckily the camp has aircon and ceiling fan facilities.
The heat keeps the animals away and you are less likely to see a lot of them as compared to the winter months where the animals can be found in more common areas like the watering holes and river streams.
Activities
Game drives – At a cost of R350 you can explore both the eastern and western parts of the park looking out for game and getting to know the park and its heritage.There is an early morning drive at 5:30am and the sunset drive at 17:00 which are 2-3hours long.
Self drive – You can opt for a free self drive around the park however there are some restricted areas that are only accessible through the guided game drive.
Visit the confluence – This is area in the park where Botswana , Zimbabwe and South Africa meet in the Shashe and Limpopo river.
Visit the Treetop – Take a walk on a canopy overlooking the Limpopo River
Guided Walk in the bush – These are usually done in the early morning for 3hours long for a real bush experience on foot.
Bush Braai – We had braai facilities in our chalet and had a lekker braai. A bush braai can also be pre-arranged when you make a booking for your stay.
Heritage walk – This is a guided walk up the 147 steps to the top of Mapungubwe mountain to learn more about the history and culture of the inhabitants of Mapungubwe .
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Hey Huli. I am so proud of you. You know, everything you touch turns into gold, you are indeed a girl with zest. I have always consulted you and relied on you when it comes to travel and book recommendations and not forgetting beauty tips. I remember how we enjoyed Little Paris after you recommended the area for us. I have Boulders Penguin Colony in my bucket list and I know as per your recommendations, I wont regret. I am so glad you started a page that deals with travel tips. I am tempted to steal Sophy Ndaba`s famous words “go big or go home”, you never disappoint when it comes to execution, I look forward to more travel tips and hopefully to travel the world. I hope there is a book too in the pipeline, I love the way you write.
Wow Dzungi , You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you so much for pouring such sweet words into my heart. Sometimes we may say things in passing not knowing what a positive impact it makes to someone else. Your words reaffirm that indeed we should tell our stories and share information, always. As Maya Angelou would say ” when you learn, teach,when you get, give”.
Wow Huli, beautifully written. Thank you for another bucket list item. Coming from Jozi, would would you recommend a straight drive there or maybe and overnight stay somewhere and if so what would be your recommendation?
Hi Zee,Thank you so much!!You will absolutely enjoy Mapungubwe!I recommend you drive straight to Mapungubwe, its about 4-5hrs using the N1 North from Johannesburg and because its not a full day on the road, you can get there in time for the sunset game drive.
Wow! What a destination to visit! You also make it very easy for those who wouldn’t know what to do when they get there. This article was so easy to read and informative! Love this and thanks for the tips!
Thank you for you the lovely feedback , I aim to please 🙂