Mapungubwe Route

adventure

Mapungubwe Route

In the far North of South Africa is an area, unexplored by tourists, called the Mapungubwe Route. This is the route to the ancient Kingdom of Mapungubwe, South Africa's first Kingdom, which existed in the 13th century from about 1220 to 1290AD, on top of Mapungubwe Hill, the "place of jackals".

This is where gold artefacts, including the Golden Rhino and other treasures have been discovered revealing a sophisticated civilisation that was capable of working gold and traded with the Indian Ocean trade network, Arabia, China, Indonesia and India. Mapungubwe was the forerunner of the Great Zimbabwe civilisation, and it is estimated that up to 5000 people lived around Mapungubwe hill.

The Mapungubwe Landscape was declared a World Heritage Site on 3rd July 2003, confirming the international importance given to this area to ensure that the natural bio-diversity of the fauna and flora as well as the African Iron Age archaeological sites are preserved for future generations to learn about and enjoy.

However, the Mapungubwe Route is not only the road to the ancient Kingdom. It is also the road to South Africa's newest national park, the beautiful Mapungubwe National Park incorporating the World Heritage Site. The Northern boundary of the Park is the Limpopo River. This once mighty river is still set all about with giant fever trees, mashatu trees and huge sycamore figs.

The view point overlooking the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers is an awe-inspiring vista where three countries, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa, meet. The area is graced with magnificent scenery including impressive sandstone cliffs, balancing rocks, riverine forests, mopane bushveld and awe inspiring vistas of the Limpopo River. It is a wonderland after suitable rain and has many endemic species of plants and flowers.