What makes Thaba Bolayi so special

Thaba Bolayi view

Largest concentration of giant Baobabs in the world

The largest concentration of giant Baobabs can be found on Thaba Bolayi. All between 1000 and 2000 years old. There is even a bonsai baobab. Unique in the world. This 1400 year old bonsai stands next to its big brother.

Thaba Bolayi Baobab

Monomotapa and the Maulwe people. Today Modjadji

Around the year 400 AD the Maulwe people lived here. Part of the Monomotapa Kingdom. Argeological finds by the University of Pretoria are on display in the National Museum.

Thaba Bolayi Private Nature Reserve

Part of the Greater Mapungubwe Unesco Heritage site

Heavily protected original landscape and the remains of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe by Unesco and the government. Unique in the world. Undisturbed and unaffected. Big 5 and Baobab country.

Thaba Bolayi Limpopo river
“Where South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana meet, you will find Thaba Bolayi part of the Greater Mapungube and not far from the Kruger National Park in South Africa”
Thaba Bolayi Private Nature ReserveIn addition to the presence of many well-known animals of Africa, it is also the habitat of more than 170 (!) Giant Baobabs. And the former residential area of ​​the Monomotapa Maulwe people. The former private domain of South African president Paul Kruger.

Limpopo Valley

Thaba Bolayi in the far north.

Where South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana meets.

Greater Mapungubwe Unesco Heritage site.

Limpopo Valley

The Limpopo Valley stretches from the northern slopes of the Soutpansberg towards the Limpopo river. From Alldays in the west to Crooks Corner in the Kruger National Park in the east.

The dry area is characterized by Mopane bushveld interspersed by massive Baobab trees. The Limpopo and Levhuvu rivers boast large flood plains with massive trees like Fever trees, Nyala trees, Annaboom, Jackelberry and Weeping Boer Bean trees.

There are two Transfrontier Parks in the Area. The Mapunhubwe National Park is part of the Limpopo Sashe Transfrontier Conservation Area (sharing protected land with Botswana and Zimbabwe). The Kruger National Park is part of the Great Limpopo transfrontier Park, wich includes parks and conservation areas in Mocambique and Zimbabwe. Transfrontier parks are developed and managed by the Peace Park Foundation.

Why visit Thaba Bolayi

Here is the real Africa. Where the magic of Africa still exists.

Experience the magic of Africa. At the border triangle of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Far from civilization and the hectic pace of everyday life. Wildlife, nature and culture can all be found here with us. Perhaps one of the most beautiful locations in the world. Definitely the most fascinating.

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Wildlife and scenery

Thaba Bolayi

Sandstone formations, mopane woodlands, unique riverine forest and baobab trees form the astounding scenic backdrop for a rich variety of animal life. Elephant, giraffe, white rhino, eland, gemsbok and numerous other species occur naturally in the area. Predators like leopards and hyenas. And also now the lions are nowadays visiting the area more frequently from the Botswana side.

HOME OF THE BAOBAB TREES

Thaba Bolayi is home to more than 170 of the giant Baobab trees.  These trees are between 800 and 2000 years old.  They were used in the rainmaking process rituals.  Some trees are hollow because the ancestral has used these trees to store their food inside.  The constant temperature during summer or winter is 18° Celsius.

HERITAGE OF GREATER MAPUNGUBWE

The earliest African empire of Southern Africa was established by the people of the sun from the Upper Nile.  The Monarchs of the people of the sun were called Monomotapa.  They established their first kingdom on Mapungubwe Hill (Hill of the Jackal) around 900 A.D.  Around 1240 the Royal Court shifted to Great Zimbabwe.

Mapungubwe Empire provided nexus for the cultural unity of the African.  It preserved the cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge systems of ancient Africa in their purest form.  The sacred knowledge of the people of the sun (Bakhalaka) included rainmaking, astrology, astronomy, alchemy and metallurgy.  They based their heritage and knowledge systems on Karaism (i.e. the spiritual philosophy of light).

Thus the people of the sun (Bakhalaka) also came to be known as the great magicians (VaLozwi).  The people of the sun were great international traders.  They traded with ancient Ethiopia and Egypt, Arabia and Yemen, India and China.  Thus Mapungubwe was the earliest international trading centre in Southern Africa.

The founders of Mapungubwe Royal Nation traced back their abcestry to ancient Ethiopians or Nubians, the forebears of ancient Egyptians who orginated at the source of the Nile.

African humanism was the glue that held African peoples together.

Ancient African believed that the One of Good (Ptah), known as God, manifested itself as the Queen of Heaven (Mwari or Mwali we Denga).  This means that god or the supreme being was a woman not a man.  Hence, the royal (or regal) culture was based on a matriarchal system.  The citizens of the Empire of Monomotapa believed in and worshipped the Queen of Heaven (Mwari or Mwali we Denga) and her son or word who manifested himself as the Sub-God Ra.

The matriarchal culture is still practised today in the realm of the Modjadji in Limpopo.

Mapungubwe national park
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