Mapungubwe: INFO

[JoelR]

No worries, that's what I meant. The main thing is that the "two Eastern Samarias" are part of the game area! Tourism movement from East to West will take a while longer (although I do know some staff that cut through...).

Who wants to know more about future plans and priorities for Mapungubwe can download the draft park management plan [pdf-alert].

[ndloti]

According to SA Weather website 148 mm rainfall recorded at nearby Pontdrift in 10 day period ending 11 April !

[Ravi]

Hi there,I would like to go to Mapungubwe National Park and I read that most of the routes are only accessible to 4X4. Is this true? I have a car.

[bert]

Near Leowke sedan friendly
Same with the route to the confluence and treetop walk
But the biggest of the Leokwe part is for 4x4.

The Limpopo Forest part and to the pan and hide is all sedan friendly
That is where you see elephant and general game.

[jeroenvm]

Just got back from two nights in Mapungubwe park - what a lovely park it is. We experienced relaxed and very friendly staff, excellent accommodation, highly recommended.
The drive was 6 hours from JHB, last shops/petrol in Alldays. We had a 2-person chalet at Leokwe camp, beautifully designed and very good value at about R800 (we paid the same for a pretty bad, dusty campsite at Etosha a few weeks ago). All chalets are very private, and the sense of being isolated in the bush is fantastic.
The park is still fragmented and a bit strange to navigate; we were one of the few without 4WD and were somewhat limited but still got to see lots. There's an elephant fence (electric wires spanned above impala-height) with signs explaining they want to keep elephants away from the riverine forest to allow this to return to the state it was when humans kept elephants at bay) but this was broken in any places and elephants were all over the place, freely crossing in from Botswana and Zimbabwe, it seems. I think the park would benefit if they simply removed this and the other toppled-over fences we saw across the eastern section. The only minor annoyance was some rubbish in the park, apparently from the schoolbuses that regularly enter the park; some cans and bottles below the treetop walkway and along the main roads, pity.
Anyway: the treetop walk at 6am was magical as the forest woke up, with elephants and bushbuck browsing right underneath the platforms and 3 brands of kingfisher. Saw my first eland (never spotted one in 4 KNP trips) from the confluence viewpoints.
Later, Cedric gave us a very good tour of historical Mapungubwe hill (with lots of game and a huge mamba as a bonus).
We did a night drive with Leonard and were the only ones in the jeep; he was a great guide and though we didn't see big cats, we were very very lucky to see an aardvark on the road! Leonard hadn't seen one in 15 years of guiding at Punda Maria and Mapungubwe, so he was very happy too
The 2008-architecture-award-winning information centre building is unfortunately still not ready (in the various brochures maps you read "Opening in 2008/2009/2010") but repair work on the roof was ongoing and guides told us it will actually be open this October.
We finished off with a quick visit to the bird hide in the western part of the park where a large herd of elephant were busy munching through the pretty forest, and dozens of warthogs were having a bath. I'll need to return in summer for better birdlife.
A small but very enjoyable park, great for those who don't insist on seeing the big 5 and enjoy the peace and landscapes - I'd certainly return when the info centre opens and they manage to link up the sections better.

[KTF hooked]

Sounds like you had a great trip, despite some less than wonderful moments. I can't believe that that information center is still not opened...it was supposed to have been opened in 2009, from what we read...got there in Aug of 2010 and found it closed...but it looked so close to being ready...and here it is a year later...wow..that is a shame.
Nice you got to take the hike up the hill..we got there too late....and you saw a mamba? wow...did you get any photos???
We too thought the park was a neat place to visit...and yes, the two sections are a bit odd...but we only had time to do the eastern main section...would be nice to go back and see the other side.
thanks for this.

[jeroenvm]

Alas, the mamba and the aardvark were too fast I'm also the the persuasion that some experiences are better not fumbling around with cameras, just sitting and looking is enough!

You'd think a school visit is the perfect opportunity for a bit of trash management education. But the kids were all charming and really enjoying themselves - it's great to see locals (ie other than ageing whities from Gauteng!) enjoying the park, something I didn't see much in Kruger.

[djhep6]

Hi all.......
I will be in Mapungubwe for 7 nights this coming February.

I was thinking to do
3 nights camping at Mazhou
2 nights at the LFC
2 nights at Leokwe

Can anyone tell me if this sounds ok, and if possible which would be the best place to start and finish my stay.
I will be arriving via the Kruger where i will be camping at Tsendze and Punda.

I'm really looking forward to Mapungubwe as it will be my first time there.

Also can anyone recommend any good 4x4 drives in the area.

Many thanks in advance for any help

Best Regards.

Dave.

[RayK]

Hi djhep6,
Welcome to the Forum. I thought answering your question was going to be easy since I've been to Mapungubwe twice but everything has to do with your preferences. So the only way I can answer is to tell you what I enjoyed in this National Park...
I stayed in the Leokwe section of the Park (situated within red boulders) and I thoroughly enjoyed the Tree Top Walk (lush forest) then travelled past the Confluence to do the 4x4 trails with enough wildlife to keep it interesting. Visiting the western section, the Maloutswa Pan Hide should not be missed. With the Hide being close to the water you can spend hours there as there is a constant procession of wildlife coming to drink. I was fortunate enough, both times, to witness the Elephants come to drink and play in the water. Personally, three/four nights would be enough for me. And, of course, the historical part of the visit is very interesting. Both sections had a lot to offer. I'll be waiting for your Trip Report.

[Meandering Mouse]

Hi Dave and a very warm welcome to you

Mazhou and Limpopo forest camp are very close to each other and cover the same ground in terms of sightings and eco systems. I would possibly stay in the tented camp for three nights and spend more time on the other side of the Park.

The eastern and Western sections are completely divided and it is not so easy to just pop from one side to the other.

The confluence, Mapungubwe hill and Canopy walk are all in the Leokwe section. I would advise spending more time there if possible.

Have you tried to get into Vhembe Bush Camp?
I am not sure what the possibilities are, but I have been to look and it is a place of stunning beauty. If you can get into Vhembe bush camp, I would consider spending at least two nights there.

This is a place of magic, I do hope that you have a thoroughly enjoyable stay.

[DinkyBird]

Hi djhep6

As MM pointed out the park is divided into a eastern and western section, and they are an hours drive apart. So do try and stay in both sections.

We camped at Mazhou camp site and totally loved it. It is right on the top of my favourite camping sites in SANParks. But then the tented camp is in much the same setting, so probably just as lovely.

And do book a heritage walk so you can go up the hill. It is so worth it - but book the early one, as the heat of the day makes the climb up the hill tough going

[Meandering Mouse]

I agree with DinkyBird, the heritage site is a must.

If I were in your shoes:

I would 3 nights in Mazhou, or Limpopo tented camp. There is not much between them in terms of setting. If you are avid campers, staying in Mazhou might free some "pennies" for a few extras. The sunset drive is highly recommended.

2 nights Leokwe
2 nights Vehmbe.

[Meandering Mouse]

Dave, I would really love to get feedback on bookings for Vhembe.

I do know that it was considered to be a "trails camp", but that seems to be flexible.



Good luck with a special place

[JimS]

Having just spent 4 days in Mapungubwe I would like to share some thoughts on the park, first the good.

Accommodation - excellent accommodation at Leokwe camp, large and spacious. A large lounge/diner with a small kitchen. a separate bedroom with an outside shower, and a small patio with a braai. The camp is set in an ampitheatre of red sandstone cliffs. There are no facilities in the camp so take all your food and drink with you. However you do have a widescreen TV with all the DSTV sports channels in all the chalets.

Scenary - the landscapes are spectacular, red sandstone cliffs with figs clinging to the rock faces, the white bark of the figs in sharp contrast to the red rock, particulary at sunset. Lots of very large baobab trees. The two main viewpoints are the boardwalk thru the tree canopy leading to a small hide overlooking the Limpopo river, good for bird spotting to too distant for bird photography. The confluence lookout where the Limpopo and Shahshe rivers meet is fantastic, high on a hill with 4 viewing platforms. The Shashe river was dry so a broad sand river disappered into the distance. The sound of cowbells from the Zim side echoed around the hills. A great place for landscape photography.

The not so good - the roads are very very bad, corrugated, rocky, narrow, twisting, with some short but steep inclines, the roads in the camp were also bad. No place for passing in many places, not the place to meet an aggro elephant. At least the equal of the kgalgadi roads.

The confluence lookouts lacked shade so spending time there on a hot day would be out of the question, well is was for us. The hide at the boardwalk only has seating for two people although there is space for more seating.

We only saw the eastern portion of the park as we were told not to use the internal road linking the western portion as it was in very bad condition.

Jim

[BrendaK]

I just returned from Mapungubwe and am happy to report that the roads were great It was such a pleasure to drive around