Lost Kingdom’s route launched

The Mapungubwe Cultural Heritage Site in Limpopo is set to become a major component of one of Africa`s most spectacular tourism experiences.

The so-called Route of Lost Kingdoms was officially launched at the weekend, as a partnership project between South African National Parks and various tourism operators in the Limpopo Valley region.

The launch, held at the confluence of the Shashi and Limpopo Rivers near Musina, was attended by all the major stakeholders. The route is part of the Open Africa Project, and the participants are the Mapungubwe National Park, the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve, Afric Tuli Lodge, Dongola Ranch, Klein Bolayi, Mopane Bush Lodge, Ratho Bush Camps, and Little Muck Lodge.

Mapungubwe National Park Manager Bernard van Lente confirmed that the route started at the ancient Thulamela heritage site inside the Kruger National Park, and stretched along South Africa`s borders with Zimbabwe and Botswana, offering top accommodation, excellent game viewing, a visit to the world`s largest baobab tree, and several other major attractions.

The Thulamela late Iron Age site forms part of what is called the Zimbabwe culture, which is believed to have started at Mapungubwe. One thousand years ago, Mapungubwe was the centre of the largest kingdom on the subcontinent, where a highly sophisticated community traded gold and ivory with China, India and Egypt.