Mopane Bush Lodge (Closest City/Town: Musina)

Limpopo - Soutpansberg

BIKE4BEASTS MTB Route

CLOSEST TOWN > Musina

TRAIL DESTINATION > Mopane Bush Lodge

DISTANCE > 33km

GRADING > Moderate

OVERVIEW

MOPANE BUSH LODGE is ideally located for visits to Mapungubwe National Park, Mapungubwe Hill, the centre of the World Heritage Landscape where the first southern African kingdom was established in the 13th Century, San rock art sites and predator tracking. Other attractions include baobabs, the Limpopo River and birding.

On your bike

MTB riding is on farm tracks and roads where indigenous birds and game can be viewed in their natural habitat. This area is populated by the otherwordly giants of the tree kingdom, the baobab. Those with serious puncture proofing in their tyres are welcome to divert straight through the mopane bush to go directly from A to B. There are patches of sandy terrain, but any rolling resistance is balanced by the fact that gradients are virtually non-existent here. A cycle tour around the “Baobabwe Peace Trail” on neighbouring property will both enchant and educate guests.

Off the bike

When not riding, take the walking trails to a bird hide and river. The area is a birding hotspot with about 400 species. Visit the Messina Baobab Nature Reserve or Mapungubwe National Park where game-viewing opportunities include elephants and tracking wild dog. Alternatively, for a dose of culture, visit the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site and Mapungubwe Hill or view San rock art and dinosaur fossils. Visit a crocodile farm or walk the Baobabwe Peace Trail. The “great grey-green, greasy” Limpopo River is also nearby.

Game drive on the western side of Mapungubwe National Park, where you are surrounded by magnificent sandstone koppies and solitary baobabs. A visit to Maloutsa Bird Hide is highly recommended. Alternatively, you may wish to visit the Mapungubwe National Park and see why it is a World Heritage Site and enjoy a Cultural Heritage Tour. Mapungubwe Hill, a far developed African civilisation prospered between 1200 and 1270 AD. The area was already inhabited by a growing Iron Age community from 900 AD and became rich through trade with faraway places like Egypt, India and China. This is the place where archeologists excavated the famous golden rhino and other evidence of a wealthy African kingdom.

CONTACT:

Route information: Andrew Rae, Mopane Bush Lodge

Address: PO Box 837, Musina, 0900

Telephone: +27 (0) 15 534 7906 or 083 6330795

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.mopanebushlodge.co.za

GPS: 22°14′26.9″S 029°28′49.6″E

Weather: {weather Musina, South Africa}

FAST FACTS

GRADING:

Moderate

DURATION:

2-3 Hours

CONFIGURATION :

Lots of gravel roads and jeep tracks.

START POINT:

Start at the lodge

TERRAIN:

Sandstone koppies, sandveld and farm tracks

MAP:

See below, or ask at the reception.

CELL RECEPTION:

Good cellphone reception.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Private property. Guests only.

FACILITIES:

Luxury, 4-star, fully-catered accommodation. Bar and lapa. Swimming pool. Picnic packs made up for active guests. Riding, walking and birding.

BEWARE OF:

xxx

HOW TO GET THERE

In Musina proceed to the T junction with the N1. Here, turn right and go through the town towards Beit Bridge. There are 4 stop streets to negotiate before you exit Musina on the Beit Bridge road. At the end of the houses on the left is the R572 to Mapungubwe and Pontdrif. Turn left onto the R572, travel 60km and Mopane Bush Lodge is on the left side. Turn onto the gravel road to the gate. Open the gate by pushing the button on the pole under the light. Follow signs to Mopane Bush Lodge. There is about 3 km of gravel road to the lodge.

BEST TIME OF YEAR

Best time of year ALL YEAR, although temperatures can be very hot in the Summer.