Vhembe Wilderness Camp
Mapungubwe National Park
Savanna biome · Lion · Honey badger
From R 1,044 a night
2 km away
Where to stay near Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
Cultural heritage sites and diverse wildlife
Limpopo, South Africa
About Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
The Greater Mapungubwe conservation area joins Mapungubwe National Park in South Africa with the Tuli block in Botswana and the Tuli Circle in Zimbabwe, at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers. The South African section is the part most visitors see: the sandstone hill of Mapungubwe, capital of a thirteenth-century kingdom and a World Heritage Site, riverine forest of huge trees, baobabs, and elephant that move freely across the borders. It is Limpopo valley heat, so winter is the season. Mapungubwe's camps and the Tuli lodges in Botswana are the places to stay for the wider area.
Things to do: Game viewing · Cultural tours
Where you can stay: Safari lodges
Wildlife near Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
What people record most across Limpopo. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Limpopo, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
Request inside-park camps here. Spekboom confirms with SANParks, then you pay on Spekboom. Mix in a gateway stay from the same list if you want nights outside the fence.
No stays are linked to Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area yet. These are the closest ones we have, by straight-line distance from the park, so check the drive before you book.
Leokwe Rest Camp
Mapungubwe National Park
Savanna biome · Lion · Honey badger
From R 1,821 a night
5 km away
Mazhou Camp Site
Mapungubwe National Park
Savanna biome · Lion · Honey badger
From R 421 a night
21 km away
Zvakanaka Farm
Louis Trichardt
Savanna biome
Can support BirdLife South Africa
From R 650 a night
102 km away
Cuckoo's Nest Guest House
Louis Trichardt
Savanna biome
Can support DAKTARI Bush School
From R 1,785 a night
108 km away
Sofala Game Farm
Tolwe
Can support DAKTARI Bush School
Price on request
124 km away
When to visit Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
Most of the rain at Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area falls from December to February, peaking in December at about 88 mm. The dry season runs from April to October, with little or no rain. February is the hottest month, with average highs of about 33°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 11°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 86 | 32 | 22 |
| February | 65 | 33 | 22 |
| March | 32 | 32 | 21 |
| April | 14 | 30 | 18 |
| May | 4 | 28 | 14 |
| June | 3 | 26 | 11 |
| July | 1 | 25 | 11 |
| August | 1 | 28 | 13 |
| September | 7 | 31 | 17 |
| October | 11 | 32 | 19 |
| November | 43 | 33 | 21 |
| December | 88 | 33 | 22 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 566 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
22.2109° S, 29.4105° E2,000 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area: your questions
Where is Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area?
Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area is in Limpopo, South Africa, and extends into Botswana and Zimbabwe.
What wildlife can you see near Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area?
In Limpopo, commonly recorded species include animals such as Sharpe's Grysbok, Tsessebe, Roan Antelope, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest and birds including Tropical Boubou, Racket-tailed Roller, Black-fronted Bushshrike, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
How do you book a stay at Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area?
Request inside-park rest camps on Spekboom. We confirm the dates with SANParks, then you pay on Spekboom. SANParks assigns the unit after confirmation. Gateway lodges and guesthouses listed here book the same way, so you can mix nights inside the park with a stay outside.
How far in advance should you book accommodation in Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area?
SANParks opens rest-camp bookings 11 months in advance, releasing a new month on the first working day of each month, and popular camps sell out within days for school holidays, long weekends and peak season. Request as early as you can on Spekboom for those dates. Stays just outside the park usually have availability much closer to the time, and you can book those here too.
Do you pay conservation fees at Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area?
Yes. SANParks charges a daily conservation fee per person on top of accommodation, with lower rates for South African residents and SADC nationals. Wild Card members do not pay the daily fee. Tariffs are revised each year, so check current rates when you book.
When is the rainy season at Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area?
Most of the rain at Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area falls from December to February, peaking in December at about 88 mm. The dry season runs from April to October, with little or no rain. February is the hottest month, with average highs of about 33°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 11°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 566 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area?
The best time to visit Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area is Dry season.
What is there to do at Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area?
Popular activities at Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area include game viewing and cultural tours.
Parks near Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Transfrontier parksNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in LimpopoAll protected areas
