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Northern Limpopo

Mapungubwe and the Limpopo Valley

Sandstone, baobabs and the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe, around Mapungubwe's World Heritage landscape.
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Where to stay

Shaded lodge veranda with timber posts, seating and terracotta pots, Corea Game Lodge
Place to stay

Corea Game Lodge

Alldays / Limpopo Valley

A bushveld guest-house base in the Alldays area.

Stone-lined outdoor fire area beneath large riverine trees, Hillstone Lodge
Place to stay

Hillstone Lodge

Pontdrift / Limpopo Valley

Thatched lodge rooms and unfenced camping near Pontdrift.

Ochre and white cottage with a terrace, trees and a metal-railed walkway, Leokwe Rest Camp
Place to stay

Leokwe Rest Camp

Mapungubwe / Limpopo Valley

Sandstone hills and a pool at Mapungubwe’s main camp.

Twin beds inside a canvas and timber tent, Limpopo Forest Tented Camp
Place to stay

Limpopo Forest Tented Camp

Mapungubwe / Limpopo Valley

A western Mapungubwe base close to the Maloutswa Pan hide.

Lawn and swimming pool beside a thatched house, Lucca House
Place to stay

Lucca House

Mapungubwe / Limpopo Valley

An eight-guest house with a private pool on Mapesu.

Bedroom with timber furnishings, Lucca Lodge
Place to stay

Lucca Lodge

Mapungubwe / Limpopo Valley

Ridge-top chalets looking over Mapesu’s bushveld.

Campsite ablution building with washbasins, Mapesu Camp Site
Place to stay

Mapesu Camp Site

Mapungubwe / Limpopo Valley

Powered campsites among baobabs and mopane trees.

Open-air bathroom with twin basins, Mapesu Wilderness Camp
Place to stay

Mapesu Wilderness Camp

Mapungubwe / Limpopo Valley

Tented accommodation on an unfenced Mapesu hillside.

Four-wheel-drive vehicle parked beneath trees at a campsite, Mazhou Camping Site
Place to stay

Mazhou Camping Site

Mapungubwe / Limpopo Valley

Powered camping in Mapungubwe’s western section.

Thatched lodge exterior and terrace, Mopane Bush Lodge
Place to stay

Mopane Bush Lodge

Mapungubwe / Limpopo Valley

Chalets, pools and guided adventures beside Mapungubwe.

Rock-edged outdoor pool beside a thatched building, Sand River Resort
Place to stay

Sand River Resort

Musina

An N1 stopover with rooms, dining and a water park.

Twin beds in a stone-walled room beneath a thatched roof, Tshugulu Lodge
Place to stay

Tshugulu Lodge

Mapungubwe / Limpopo Valley

A guest house and cottage with a pool in western Mapungubwe.

Elevated timber and canvas cabin overlooking dry bushveld, Vhembe Wilderness Camp
Place to stay

Vhembe Wilderness Camp

Mapungubwe / Limpopo Valley

Simple cabins sharing a kitchen in an eastern Mapungubwe valley.

What to do

Experiences, places to visit and ways to get around, in and near Mapungubwe and the Limpopo Valley.

Questions about Mapungubwe and the Limpopo Valley

Where is Mapungubwe?
Mapungubwe National Park lies where the Limpopo and Shashe rivers meet, on the borders with Botswana and Zimbabwe. The confluence viewing decks look across the river landscape where the three countries meet.
Where can I stay in and near Mapungubwe?
Inside the park, Leokwe Rest Camp is in the eastern section, with a swimming pool. Tshugulu Lodge, in the western section, has a guest house and a guest cottage that are booked separately. On Mapesu Private Game Reserve nearby, Mopane Bush Lodge has catered and self-catering chalets. Mapesu Wilderness Camp has tented units in an unfenced camp.
What is there to do at Mapungubwe?
A guided Mapungubwe Hill heritage tour includes the hilltop graveyard and views across the surrounding country. The museum and Interpretation Centre hold artefacts and photographs, with a guide on request. A raised treetop walk runs through riverine forest to a hide overlooking the Limpopo, and guided morning bush walks can be arranged. Mapesu's guides lead visits to the San rock art at the Kaoxa shelter.
Can I add Tuli in Botswana to a Mapungubwe trip?
The Northern Tuli Game Reserve lies across the Limpopo River from Mapungubwe, in Botswana. Everyone crossing needs a valid passport, and some nationalities need a visa, so check the requirements for your passport well before you travel.

Journeys that pass here

  • The Heritage Route

    Follow the story of the Limpopo Valley's early kingdoms, its rock art and the living culture of the north.

  • Wildlife and big landscapes

    Combine private reserves in the Limpopo Valley with the far north of Kruger, and cross to Tuli if you have the time.

  • On foot

    Walking camps in the far north of Kruger, mountain trails in the Soutpansberg and guided bush walks.

  • A longer stay in one place

    Choose one base and let the area come to you: day trips, guides, art studios and time by the river.

Where next

Nearby regions