Thulamela

Thulamela sits on a hilltop above the Luvuvhu in the far north of Kruger: dry-stone walls of the Zimbabwe tradition, built and occupied roughly between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries by people connected to the Great Zimbabwe and Mapungubwe world, trading gold and ivory to the coast. Excavation led by Sidney Miller between 1993 and 1995 uncovered two sixteenth-century burials, a man and a woman, with gold objects; the woman, named Losha by the excavation team, was buried in a position of respect with gold bracelets and beads. What followed is the part worth knowing: local communities with claimed descent were consulted, ceremonies were held, and the remains were reburied at the site rather than kept in a museum - a deliberate break from earlier archaeological practice in the country. The walls have been partly reconstructed, and access is on a guided walk only.

Highlights

• The stone walls - dry-stone building of the Zimbabwe tradition on a hilltop.
• The gold burials - a man and a woman found with gold ornaments in the 1990s.
• The reburial - remains returned to the ground after community consultation.
• The trade position - a site linked to Mapungubwe and the Indian Ocean gold routes.

When to go

May to September - the far north is extremely hot in summer. Half a day plus the drive.

What to expect

Guided tours only, booked ahead through the park, and they do not run daily. It is a long way from the main Kruger camps. Summer heat is dangerous. The walls are partly reconstructed and modest compared with Great Zimbabwe.

Nearby

Pafuri and the fever tree forest are north; Punda Maria camp is south.

Key facts