Black-backed jackal in Kruger National Park

Limpopo is home to no less than three national parks: the Kruger National Park, the Marakele National Park and the Mapungubwe National Park.

The province gives travellers access to the northern part of the Kruger National Park (the Kruger’s lower reaches are in Mpumalanga). The Kruger’s two northernmost gates are in north-east Limpopo: Pafuri and Punda Maria. They lead to the tiny camp of Punda Maria, one of the park’s prettiest. Find great baobab trees and fever tree forests along the banks of the Luvuvhu River, teeming game, and the best birding in the park with some sought-after endemic species.

The Big Five can also be found in the Marakele National Park, although not always as easy to spot as in the more frequented Kruger. But it’s your only opportunity in a South African national park to see the rare subspecies of black rhino (Diceros bicornis minor). Sable, tsessebe, gemsbok and red hartebeest are also found here.

The Mapungubwe National Park is of significant cultural and historical importance – it was home to a prosperous African civilisation as far back as 1200AD. Golden objects (see the famous Golden Rhino in the Interpretation Centre) were discovered at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. There’s also good game, great birding and excellent park accommodation.

Limpopo is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mapungubwe, an ancient African kingdom