Mapungubwe National Park
Mapungubwe National Park was established in 2004, and declared a World Heritage site in 2003. The park lies on the Limpopo River between the town of Musina and the Pontriver Border Post with Zimbabwe, and north of Alldays.
The Mapungubwe seems to have come to an end in the 1300s of the Current Era, 700 years ago. It was rediscovered in the 1930s, but due to the political ideology of the time, the University of Pretoria hid the artefacts as it was believed that it is impossible for an African culture to have developed such exquisite gold ornaments at such an early date. Only after the change of government in 1994 was this archaeological find publically admitted.
The site at Mapungubwe was settled approximately between 1000 and 1300 of the Current Era, and seems to have been the capital of an African king. Iron tool and clay pots date as far back as 500 CE. The people had domesticated cattle, sheep, goats and dogs, and seem to have been subsistence farmers of millet, sorghum and cotton.
Some inhabitants of Mapungubwe worked with iron, copper and gold. One of the most well publicised objects is a gold rhinoceros. They made practical goods from these metals, as well as decorative pieces.
They seem to have had trade with East Africa, Persia, Egypt, India and as fas away as China.
Mapungubwe Hill, of sandstone, is approximately 30m high and 300m wide.
Apart from jewelry, some of the artefacts that were found at the site are: fired pottery vessels, some with advanced inward folding rims, tools (such as spindles) for making cotton cloth, and glass beads.
Location
The Mapungubwe National Park is on the Limpopo River between the town of Musina and the Pontriver Border Post with Zimbabwe, and north of Alldays.
| |
south | ||
| |
northeast | ||
| |
southeast | ||
| |
northeast |
Accommodation
- Tshugulu Lodge
- Leokwe Rest Camp
- Limpopo Forest Tented Camp
- Vhembe Wilderness Trails Camp