Mapungubwe National Park, founded in 1995, is run by SANParks close to Pontdrif. Day visits need no advance booking: you pay the daily conservation fee at the gate or enter with a SANParks Wild Card, and children pay a reduced rate while infants are free. Inside, the park has a museum, a curio shop, the Confluence Shop and a restaurant that stays open into the evening. The trade-off is timing: the day-visitor cut-off comes well before the gates close, and the museum shuts in the afternoon, so a family arriving late in the day may miss both. Start early and do the museum first.
Family FAQ
How much does Mapungubwe National Park cost?
Daily conservation fee: international visitors R325 per adult and R163 per child; SADC nationals R149/R74; South African citizens and residents R73/R37 with SA ID.
Do you need to book Mapungubwe National Park in advance?
Enter with a SANParks Wild Card or pay at the gate.
What are the opening hours of Mapungubwe National Park?
Gate and reception open 06:00-18:30 from September to March and 06:30-18:00 from April to August.