On 8 April 1933, The Illustrated London News reported a remarkable discovery in the Transvaal: a grave of unknown origin, containing much gold-work, found on the summit of a natural rock stronghold in a wild region.
This site, Mapungubwe Hill, is on the farm Greefswald where the international borders between South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana meet. Since the site was discovered in 1933, numerous research and news reports have told the story of Mapungubwe, a flourishing Iron Age metropolis on the Limpopo ruled by an African king almost a thousand years ago.
Mapungubwe and K2 are a National Monument and therefore the cultural objects from these sites have been proclaimed as part of a specifically declared heritage collection. The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape became South Africa’s fifth World Heritage site in July 2003 and in May 2004 it was officially announced as Mapungubwe National Park.
The Mapungubwe Museum at the University of Pretoria promotes the largest archaeological gold collection in Sub-Saharan Africa.
There are many things to be seen today at Mapungubwe and one could spend days exploring the cliffs and gullies. It is possible to see numerous remains of old kraal or dwelling sites.
Most of Africa’s big game still occurs in the area and the bird, reptile, invertebrate and plant diversity is rich. There is a viewpoint that offers a breathtaking view of the Limpopo-Shashe Rivers confluence; there are tree-top walks that allow visitors access to the Limpopo River and a bird hide at Manoutswa pan.
