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Via Nostalgia
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape 1
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape 2
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape 3
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape 4
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape 5
© UNESCO World Heritage Centre
UNESCO WHCCulturalInscribed 2003

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape

Overview

Mapungubwe is set hard against the northern border of South Africa, joining Zimbabwe and Botswana. It is an open, expansive savannah landscape at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers. Mapungubwe developed into the largest kingdom in the sub-continent before it was abandoned in the 14th century. What survives are the almost untouched remains of the palace sites and also the entire settlement area dependent upon them, as well as two earlier capital sites, the whole presenting an unrivalled picture of the development of social and political structures over some 400 years.

About Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape

The Kingdom of Mapungubwe was an ancient state located at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers in present day South Africa, south of Great Zimbabwe. The capital's population was 5,000 by 1250, and the state likely covered 30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi).

Read more on Wikipedia

Selection Criteria

(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)

Components(1 location)

Details

Countries
South Africa
ISO Codes
ZA
Area
28,168.66 ha
Coordinates
-22.1925, 29.2389
View on UNESCO World Heritage Centre
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Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape

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Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape

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Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape