Mapungubwe: ADVICE

[Meandering Mouse]

Hi Karin, I agree with Wildtuinman about Mazhou. It is extremely popular with birders. The hide close by makes it a very special destination.

I would not hesitate to stay at Vhembe on my own. It has also become a lot more popular and offers excellent value for money. The views from the huts are spectacular and the accommodation is extremely comfy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U4tTScNye4

I follow this channel and this is a superb video of Mapungubwe from an overlander. You will see that the hide can offer some incredible moments.

Because you are a birder I would suggest 2 nights in Mazhou and 2 nights in Vhembe. They are 2 such different ecozones that you will have more than enough to keep you busy. The Nyala and Baobab trees are magical.

You can easily visit both sides in one day but you will miss out on the special sunsets and sunrises. The east and west offer very different scenery. It is difficult to believe that they belong to the same park.

[Karin Mitton]

Thank you for all the comments and advice!

Made the reservation -
1 Night Leokwe
1 Night Vhembe
2 nights Mazhou.

89 sleeps!

[EElse]

Hi everyone. I have seen that many people say it is not recommended to drive a Sedan car in Mapungubwe, is this still the case? We have a small Honda Brio which has a higher clearance than most sedans but not sure if that will be enough... We are planning our Kruger trip for November 2023 and thought to maybe go to Mapungubwe for a week before going to Kruger.

Thank you!!

[Karin Mitton]

EElse, I was in Mapungubwe in March.
You do not need a high clearance vehicle - I saw many normal sedans.
However, the roads were rather terrible in many areas, especially the first 4kms from the gate towards Leokwe camp, but still drivable, even if you have a sedan.
In the western section the road along the river was not great either - I drive a Nissan X-trail and I did not feel it had enough clearance on parts of that road.
But the western section is really all about the hide, and the road to and from is as good as any Kruger Road.

I am sure by November some maintenance would have been done on the roads.

Despite the roads I will go tomorrow if I could - it is the most incredible place.
I spent 4 nights in the Park - 2 nights in each side. It was spectacular.

[EElse]

Thanks Karin. We will be on the Western side as we will be camping but will do day trips to the other side as well.
We'll see if we can do a midweek at Mapungubwe, if not, we'll put it first on our list for next year's trip. Thanks again!

[Meandering Mouse]

EElse, nice to see you again.

I agree with Karin, the roads have improved enough to accommodate sedans in most areas. The corrugations are dreadful in the western section, mainly due to farm traffic with heavy vehicles.

There was a time when Vhembe camp was impossible without high clearance. It is now fine.

[EElse]

Thanks MM, sorry I have not been around the past few years, no excuse really, just missing the cams a lot. The 2 that are still working is just not enough.

Thank you, glad to hear that the roads are accessible to sedans

Hope you have a good weekend.

[Lewisman]

The description for the Leokwe CO2/4P accommodation says there is one bedroom with 2 single beds, and a double sleeper couch (not suitable for children). I hadn't noticed this when I made a booking for 3 adults. Could anyone who's stayed in these units comment on how suitable they are for 3 adults? Could the sleeper couch accommodate one adult comfortably? Thanks

[chirinda]

Lewisman, I think you need to get in touch with Mapungubwe and ask them the best thing to do. I don't think those sleeper couches are even very comfortable to sit on. I think they say for children only.

[Ruben]

Hi all,

I plan on visiting Mapungubwe in July 2025.
I would love to do the Tshugulu ecotrails on the western side of Mapungubwe.
Would a 4x4 be strictly necesarry or would a 2x4 bakkie with higher clearance be enough ( for example toyota hilux) ?
What about a larger suv like hyundai grand creta for example ?

[Meandering Mouse]

Hi all,

I plan on visiting Mapungubwe in July 2025.
I would love to do the Tshugulu ecotrails on the western side of Mapungubwe.
Would a 4x4 be strictly necesarry or would a 2x4 bakkie with higher clearance be enough ( for example toyota hilux) ?
What about a larger suv like hyundai grand creta for example ?

Hi Ruben.

We stayed at Tshuguglu Lodge last December and had a hired 2X4 GMW. We attempted to do the ecotail on 2 occasions and eventually turned back.

One reason was simply that we know how much we would be charged in damages to the undercarriage.

The ecotrail is not well marked and we ended up getting lost a few times. There is no signal in the area, so you need to be well prepared if you need to be rescued.

The trail not that long but it has some very hazardous parts.

I am going to post a video and perhaps you can make an assessment yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGZVmOI-kN4&t=17s

[Meandering Mouse]

I have just rewatched the video and am reminded of how often someone had to get out of the vehicle and look for the road. There are a few places where the road seems to disappear or leads you in the wrong direction.

We were there in the summer so the bush was dense. It might be better in winter.

Although we were not successful, we are determined to try again. The beauty is indescribable.