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  1. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yellowfever View Post
    I have a farm up there near Alldays (inherited from my dad recently) so love that area and its special habitat. We go to the park on Sundays whenever we take a breather from hunting. If it is scenery you want to see this is one of the best places in SA. There are 2 parks, divided by a section of private land. You access at the main gate. I can recommend a braai/picnic at one of the sites allowed - so plan your day. The viewing points at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe is almost worth a full day. It would be ideal to view a sunset there in winter - with a northerly sun. But gate times would not allow. The tree top walk is another must do, excellent must spend an hour at least! We had the fortunate experience of arriving there with a herd of elephants right below us. MAGIC!

    The 2nd part of the park has some of the most spectacular Fever tree and African Leadwood (Hardekool - Combretum Imberbe) forests you will see in SA. Some of the trees are massive and certainly in the class of 400+ years. You drive through the forest in awe.

    Just to put some context to the animal population. Alldays and the surrounding bushveld is not high capacity farming area - low around 15 /ha live stock unit (groot vee eenheid). So game density is much lower than KNP's south. Yes there is the Riverine forest, but it is a very small band of habitat. Trust me when the drought was full blown and day time temps are in excess of 40C very few animals survive. But to drive through those very typical koppies down to the river and you see the abundant klipspringer - you forget about herds of Wildebeest and Impala ;) Sometime lucky to see a leopard or just pick up his night time tracks.

    I have not been to the Visitor centre yet. One thing I do like about the Park it is not crowded.
    Sounds epic, thanx!

  2. #22
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    Default Re: Mapungubwe national park, anyone been there?

    You need 4x4 in this park right?

  3. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wild coast View Post
    You need 4x4 in this park right?
    For the most part, no. There are a few 4x4 only tracks but not many.
    Sent electronically, thus not signed.

  4. #24
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    Default Re: Mapungubwe national park, anyone been there?

    The park is full of cows that come across the river from Zimbabwe. Also one or two donkeys. We heard about lions killing a donkey from a Sanparks guide! There were also humans coming and going across the Limpopo!

    The park does indeed have a shortage of game as mentioned previously in this thread. Except elephants, they are everywhere.

    Scenery is spectacular!

  5. #25
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    Default Re: Mapungubwe national park, anyone been there?

    I did my masters study on Venetia which is just across the tar road so was lucky enough to pop into the park. I am somewhat lucky that when I normally visit parks and reserves I am not restricted to my vehicle and can walk around freely. So when I am restricted to the vehicle I tend to find it frustrating and underwhelming, I take time to check out plants, insects, tracks, spiders, snakes etc. Mapungubwe is beautiful, but I don't know if I would plan trip to go there specifically. Rather something to do on a planned trip going past.

    We found some bunkers down by the river, watched some Zimbabweans catch barbel on the other side.
    When I was there the tree top walk was closed, the museum was expensive (seem to remember R250p/p) and even if you read every info board would probably take you 2 hours to see everything. The trip to the ruins was way out of my budget as a student then (seem to recall it being more than R500). The predominant vegetation type is Mopane veld. So almost exactly like KNP north of Mopane Camp, except much much smaller.

    Having said that my primary attraction when visiting new places is birds so if you have even a remote interest in birds there are a few specials to look out for. Pels fishing owl being one of them down along the river.

  6. #26
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    Default Re: Mapungubwe national park, anyone been there?

    I've been tempted to go to the Park but it seems that its a shorter trip versus a 12 day kind of park trip? Normally hit Kgalagadi or Kruger but was thinking of Mapungubwe next year?

    Any other parks up there to split the trip to make it worthwhile?

  7. #27
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    Default Re: Mapungubwe national park, anyone been there?

    Quote Originally Posted by DaavG View Post
    I've been tempted to go to the Park but it seems that its a shorter trip versus a 12 day kind of park trip? Normally hit Kgalagadi or Kruger but was thinking of Mapungubwe next year?

    Any other parks up there to split the trip to make it worthwhile?
    In my opinion it's far too small for 12 days. Unless you can organize to go across border to Mashatu, Botswana!

  8. #28
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    Default Re: Mapungubwe national park, anyone been there?

    Okay thanks. Been to Tuli block a fair amount and its a superb part of the world!

  9. #29

    Default Re: Mapungubwe national park, anyone been there?

    One of the most beautiful places in SA for sure! Especially the 4x4 route, it's stunning!

    The campsite was really nice, no fence, ellies walking straight through the camp

  10. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by harryhcs View Post
    One of the most beautiful places in SA for sure! Especially the 4x4 route, it's stunning!

    The campsite was really nice, no fence, ellies walking straight through the camp
    Mazhou camp?
    Sent electronically, thus not signed.

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