The Limpopo Transnational Park is the largest in the world. It is located on the territory of approximately 4 million hectares and covers the territories of three countries at once: Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa. To ensure that tourists were able to freely visit Limpopo, the state borders were abolished - a unique case for such an occasion. You get one visa and can actually visit three countries at once.

The history of the establishment

The Limpopo Transnational Park was opened in April 2002. It is easiest to get here from Nelspruit (South Africa) or from Beira and Maputo by land transport. It's impossible to drive past the park, since any local resident will show you the way, or even run into guides. By the way, the entrance to the park costs no more than 10 US dollars. For a superficial introduction, the price is quite reasonable.

Limpopo Park is the world's largest protected reserve, it has no analogues. Protection is necessary to control rare animals and protect them from the inhabitants of nearby lands. Still, about 20 thousand people had to be moved from the occupied met, which caused considerable dissatisfaction. No, no, and there are raids on the reserve.

A distinctive feature of this park is its location at the confluence of two powerful rivers Limpopo and Shashi. Here once the ancient Bushmen painted the rocks with bizarre patterns and engraved on gold. A magical place full of animal and human strength.

Goals of creation

The Limpopo Transnational Park is a home for various parks and reserves. It unites such huge territories as Zimbabwean park Gonareggio, Mozambique Limpopo and South African national park Kruger. In total, there are about 50 reserves here, which represent the unique diversity of this part of the globe.

Actually, what was the purpose for creating this huge park? The organizers of the large-scale project call two goals: the conservation of rare African animals and the economic development of rural communities that live in the vicinity.

It's no secret that a lot of animals are now threatened with extinction. The same cheetahs, wild dogs that live in Africa, rare species of birds. Limpopo is just necessary to maintain the balance of the ecological system of the whole world, its flora and fauna. This could not be done in full by each of the countries whose territories are part of the park. It was necessary to create a virtually new country - a natural state, where everything is subject to other laws. This is the only way in Africa it has been possible to maintain a variety of wildlife.

For rural people, the creation of a park has also become a kind of way of life . Africa has always been interesting to tourists for its identity. And today, near the Limpopo Park, you can visit these communities that live according to their traditions, sometimes ignoring the laws of civilization.

This step also contributes to the development of ecological tourism. The locals willingly make contact, they are a visual embodiment of that Africa, which we know from adventure novels. This is Africa of deserts and wild animals, but not buildings of glass and concrete.

Animal World

There are several routes in the Limpopo Transnational Park that allow tourists to get acquainted with the wildlife of the reserve. It's unlikely that you will be allowed to travel on your own - it can be dangerous. So get ready for the tour, accompanied by professionals - a guide and people who can protect you in case of danger.

At first glance the park impresses with its diversity. Perhaps, nowhere else to meet such huge baobabs, growing along rivers, large herds of elephants and buffaloes, which live next door to lions. This exotic puts everything in its place: the world, which used to be only in pictures or on the TV screen, suddenly grows up before you. And here it is necessary to behave like a guest - so as not to pay for their impudence or carelessness.

Unfortunately, initially Limpopo Park was seriously affected because of the lack of wild animals. They were easily shot by local residents and insurgents. To replenish the population, several thousand animals from different countries - antelopes, gazelles, elephants - had to be transported within 4 years

Today there are about 150 species of mammals, up to 500 species of birds, more than 2 thousand species of different vegetation. Well, what is Africa without the famous "big five"? Limpopo Park is home to elephants, buffaloes, rhinoceroses, lions and leopards.

Transnational Limpopo Park is a real place of pilgrimage for tourists who come here not only for the sake of strong emotions, but also for studying and observing the surrounding world. After the park is located, you can reconsider your views on what is happening on our planet, to feel connected with nature, to understand that the person is just a part of it.

In memory of visiting the park, tourists buy various souvenirs - for a few dollars you can buy figures animals or whole pictures depicting hunting scenes

Park is so popular on the continent that in honor of the unification of the territories of the three states a coin of 20 cents in value and with a circulation of only 1,000 pieces was issued. On the obverse is the coat of arms of South Africa and the inscription in Khoisan: "Different people, unite". The reverse shows the elephants and the inscription "Mamerle."

Entrance to Limpopo Park

Hyena, Limpopo Park

Zebras, Limpopo Park

Lviv Park Limpopo

Park Rhino, Limpopo Park