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African Heritage Discovery
offered by supplier M15686 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 5
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 10
people
Destination(s):
South Africa
Specialty Categories:
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 10000 South Africa Rand (ZAR)
Maximum Per Person Price: 10000 South Africa Rand (ZAR)
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African History as you have never seen it!
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Makapan’s Valley
Depart from Johannesburg. Two and a half hours’ drive brings you to Makapan’s Valley, now recognized as part of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. An excellent guided tour explores four caves rich in history and archaeological evidence. The story they tell stretches from the Early Stone Age to the siege of Chief Mokopane in the 19th Century. Lunch in the Pholokwane area, make an optional visit to the Bakone Malapa Northern Sotho Open-Air Museum, and then proceed to Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge (about an hour and a half’s drive).
After the dry bushveld you now enter the lush, subtropical ecosystem of the Soutpansberg. Shiluvari offers beautiful views of the green mountain ranges across the Albasini Dam. The lodge has been certified by Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa, and the owners have long been involved in providing support for local community-based tourism. Shiluvari is central to the Ribolla Open Africa Route, famous for its many artists and crafters.
The rooms are decorated tastefully in natural colors and with work by local Venda and Shangaan artists. Relax with a sunset cruise, keeping an eye open for the variety of birds and small mammals found along the waterside. Dinner at Shiluvari is relaxed and delicious.
(Overnight at Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge.)
Day 2: Ribolla Open Africa Route
A specialist guide will assist you in exploring highlights of the Ribolla Open Africa Route, including the studios of famous woodcarvers and potters such as Jackson Hlungwane, Noria Mabasa, John Baloyi and the Mukondeni potters. Many of the artists and crafters will be found at their studios, and all are happy to discuss their work with visitors. Another place of interest is Elim village, which grew around the Elim Mission Station established by Swiss Missionaries in the late 19th century. It has played an important role in local events and the hospital cared for Boer and British soldiers during the Anglo Boer War.
You will be enchanted by the lush and beautiful landscape, and generous, gentle culture of this area. From your guide, you can learn about Venda, Shangaan and Northern Sotho traditions, and the political history of the area.
Lunch en route – picnic at an eccentric but beautiful local recreation spot. After completing your art & craft tour, relax at Shiluvari. The evening is spent at the VhaTsonga Cultural Village where you will experience storytelling, music, and dance of the Tsonga culture, and enjoy a traditional Tsonga meal. The VhaTsonga village is owned and operated by Tsonga people in the community, and offers an authentic sharing of culture.
(Breakfast and overnight at Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge.)
Day 3: Dzata
This day can be customized according to your interests and vehicle. Depart from Shiluvari after a last breakfast. For the more energetic, it is possible to spend a last morning in the Soutpansberg hiking, or visiting the Phiphidi Falls and Tathe Vonde Sacred Forest. Should your vehicle be suitable for rough terrain, you could visit the Sacred Lake Fundudzi. Stock up on necessities in the town of Makhado (formerly Louis Trichardt). From here, take the spectacular route north through the Soutpansberg via the H F Verwoerd tunnel, and descend into the Ndzhelele Valley. Meet a local guide who will take you to the Dzata Ruins. These ruins are the remains of the second settlement of the king of the Venda, after they crossed the Limpopo River in a move that split them from the Karanga nation in Zimbabwe. Some of the stones used to build the royal enclosures had been carried from Zimbabwe. Lunch is with a local family, a picnic or at an eatery en route.
From the Dzata Ruins it’s an hour and a half’s drive to the Mapungubwe National Park. Settle into your accommodation, and then it’s time for a game drive and sundowners on a wooden deck overlooking the spectacular confluence of the Limpopo and Sashe Rivers. From your elevated viewpoint on the side of a hill you look out over African plains stretching to the horizon – and you are looking into Zimbabwe and Bostwana from South Africa.
(Breakfast at Shiluvari, overnight at Mapungubwe National Park (self-catering) or Mopane Bush Lodge (catered)).
Should you have a 4x4/high clearance vehicle, it is an option to spend an additional night at the rustic but beautiful Fundudzi-Tshivhase cultural camp, learning more about Venda traditions and lifestyle.
Day 4: Mapungubwe
You have a full day to explore the Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site. Mapungubwe Mountain is the site of the royal settlement of a kingdom which thrived here 800 years ago. The site has revealed royal golden treasures including the famous golden rhino, as well as trade goods from China, India and Egypt. Take a canopy walk on a wooden walkway through the upper levels of the Limpopo riverbed forest, and enjoy further game drives. In the heat of the midday sun, relax in your cool but luxurious accommodation, or take a splash in the pool-with-a-view.
All meals self-catered/at your lodge; overnight at Mapungubwe National Park (self-catering) or Mopane Bush Lodge (catered).
Day 5: Return
After breakfast it is time to leave Mapungubwe National Park. Visit the wild dog breeding project nearby and have a rare opportunity to see these rare animals and even their young. Then it is time to take the excellent roads south towards Johannesburg, stopping for lunch at one of the array of restaurants & take-away available in Pholokwane or Mokopane.
Options: Budget or Luxury, Self-drive or Guided Tour
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
South Africa
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
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