Heritage Cases

Mapungubwe National Park received thirty-four thousand five hundred and forty-three (34 543) day visitors during the 2019/2020 reporting period. The inclusion of Mapungubwe’s history in the South African school curriculum furthermore makes school visits the norm for the park, with approximately eighteen thousand (18 000) of the abovementioned visitors being part of educational visits (Coetzee, 2021). Mapungubwe National Park furthermore has the opportunity to provide extensive cultural and environmental education, as there are additional relevant topics that can be addressed. The lack of suitable overnight facilities furthermore makes it impossible to provide extended programmes for various stakeholders such as local communities during cultural events, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve and the Greater Mapungubwe Trans-frontier Conservation Area to name a few. A need for low-cost accommodation for special interest groups such as research institutions have been identified and will greatly improve the continued research within the cultural and environmental fields, not only for the park but the Trans-frontier Conservation Area and region as a whole (Coetzee, 2021). Mapungubwe Hill, an iconic southern African cultural heritage site, attracts visitors from all walks of life. Although the site is only accessible accompanied by trained cultural heritage guides, these visitors may only have a superficial understanding of the history surrounding this remarkable snapshot of human endeavour and therefore are not able to understand the significance of the site without appropriate Orientation aids. On site Orientation facilities are however, lacking and very different from that of other iconic world heritage sites such as the Cradle of Humankind (Coetzee, 2021). SANParks wish to upgrade their facilities at MPNP in order to enhance visitor experience and provide adequate accommodation for educational tour groups. The proposed upgrades will include the following activities: 1. Mapungubwe Overnight Facilities (Figure 1): The overnight facilities will include the construction of: • Four (4) hostels inclusive of ablution facilities; • Open air functions space; • Dining Block inclusive of a kitchen, pantry, reception and a general store; • Teachers block; • Laundry room; • Adequate bus parking; and, • Associated infrastructure. 2. Orientation Centre at Mapungubwe Hill (Figure 2): The orientation centre will include the construction of: • Covered viewing deck; • Resting areas; • Mapungubwe exhibit; • Bambanyanalo exhibit; • Serving area; and, • Ablution facilities. 3. Schroda Orientation Centre (Figure 3): The Schroda Orientation Centre will include the following: • Interactive exhibit of the sharpening of the blade, games and pottery; • Covered viewing deck; • Resting area; • Schroda/Zhizo exhibit; • Site model; • Pre-history exhibit; • Serving area; and, • Ablution facilities. 4. Dig Site (Figure 4): The Dig site will be formalised where a formal building will be constructed above the dig site to ensure adequate protection thereof. The development will include: • Display boards of Mapungubwe; • Exhibition and viewing area; and, • Archaeological Dig Site viewing area.