Mapungubwe National Park

Vital Information

Internal Road Network

Approximately 35km of roads are suitable for normal sedan vehicles. A further 100 km is accessible to all terrain (4x4) vehicles. Fill up your fuel tank at Alldays/ Musina as you cannot buy petrol at the park.

Vehicle Restrictions

No caravans are allowed in the eastern section of the park due to roads conditions. We have a caravan park at Mazhou camping site on the western section of the park.

Fuel Stations: Petrol/ Diesel

There is no fuel station inside the park. The closest fuel station is at Dongola filling station about 30km east of the park. The other filling stations are in Musina 70km and All days 65km from the main gate.

Day Visitors

Entry is via the SANParks Wild Card system, or payment at the gate.

Official hours

Reception:
From 06:00 to 18:30 from September to March
From 06:30 to 18:00 from April to August
Gate opening and closing times
From 06:00 to 18:30 from September to March
From 06:30 to 18:00 from April to August
Check-in / check-out
Check-in is from 12:00 to 18:00 and check-out is before 10:00.

Climate

The climate is semi-arid with mean annual rainfall ranging from 350mm - 400mm. Rainfall is highly variable and usually falls during the summer months. Extended periods of below average rainfall occur. In summer temperatures sometimes rise to 45°C. The winters are mild.

Summer can be hot, but bearable and enjoyable if planned correctly. Early summer mornings and afternoons are the most rewarding in the park, for birds, trees and game. Winters are mild. There is on average 10 rainy days per year.

Park Regulations

To ensure a safe and joyful trip through our parks, kindly adhere to the Rules and Regulations as stipulated by South African National Parks.

Hints & Tips

Mapungubwe National Park is an area with large and dangerous game animals and unguided walking is not permitted. Guests, who would like to arrange activities such as walks, drives and visits to cultural attractions, can do so directly with Mapungubwe.
Guests should take precautions against malaria when visiting Mapungubwe.
All Mapungubwe’s camps are accessible by normal sedan vehicles, as are many of the roads inside the Park. There are also a number of eco-trails for which a 4x4 is required.
The closest shops and fuel supplies to Mapungubwe are in Alldays and Musina, both about 70 km’s from the Park.
The are no debit card facilities available in the Park. Payments can only be made via cash or credit card. Cheques are not accepted.

What visitors need to take:

There are no shops at Mapungubwe. The units are self catering and fully equipped. Take all food, drinks and firewood. The Vhembe Trails Camp is catered, but take your own drinks.
Sunscreen, hat, binoculars, field guides, liquids for drinking.
Fill up your fuel tank at Alldays/ Musina.

Conservation

The significance of the Mapungubwe National Park and the areas surrounding it is enhanced by the potential role of the area as a sanctuary for viable populations of some of the most threatened large mammals on earth, such as the black rhinoceros, wild dog, cheetah, brown hyena and elephant. It also is one of the last protected areas of the Limpopo riverine forest.

Roaming cattle in the Park

Scientific Services

The area has tremendous potential for research, both cultural and biological. Currently there is an Elephant Project and numerous cultural research projects.

Projects

Poverty Relief projects worth R48 million was completed during 2002-2004. These projects provided work to more than 1 000 people. A next round of projects is planned for 2005-2007. With this funding the park intend to built an Interpretive Centre and rehabilitate numerous aspects of the park.