Episode Number: 64
Property / Guest Name:
Mapesu Private Game Reserve – Limpopo, South Africa
Quentin Knipping – Managing Director
Episode Summary:
There are places in Africa where wildlife moves freely across unfenced borders, and where ancient kingdoms once traded gold with the world.
This is one of them.
In this episode of Keep Travelling – Your African Story, Rael Zieve sits down with Quentin Knipping, Managing Director of Mapesu Private Game Reserve, to explore the wild northern edge of Limpopo — where South Africa meets Botswana and Zimbabwe, and where safari meets deep cultural heritage.
Mapesu spans 12,500 hectares opposite the UNESCO-listed Kingdom of Mapungubwe. Once a cattle farm, it has been carefully rewilded into a Big Five reserve and now forms part of the “Magnificent Seven,” with cheetah and wild dog added to the experience.
But this conversation goes beyond sightings.
It explores endangered species tracking on foot.
It unpacks the rediscovery of Mapungubwe’s golden rhino.
And it highlights why northern Limpopo may be South Africa’s most compelling — and most overlooked — safari extension.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The three distinct lodge experiences: Mopane Bush Lodge, Mapesu Wilderness Camp, and the intimate Lucca Lodge
- How guests participate in telemetry-based tracking of cheetah, wild dogs, and rhino
- Why Mapungubwe’s ancient kingdom reshapes the way we view safari travel
- How Mapesu integrates wildlife conservation with layered cultural immersion
- Why Limpopo could become the next meaningful extension to the classic Kruger route
Guest Information:
Quentin Knipping – Managing Director, Mapesu Private Game Reserve
Quentin has overseen Mapesu’s transformation from farmland into a thriving conservation landscape. His work blends wildlife reintroduction, endangered species management, and heritage tourism into a safari experience that feels both immersive and grounded in purpose.
Key Takeaways or Topics Covered:
- Mapesu delivers a rare combination of Big Five safari, endangered predator tracking, and immersive walking experiences
- The reserve’s proximity to the Kingdom of Mapungubwe offers a powerful cultural dimension rarely found in traditional safari itineraries
- This week’s prize: A two-night stay for two people at Lucca Lodge, Mapesu’s most intimate and exclusive lodge experience
Closing:
At Keep Travelling, we believe meaningful travel leaves more than photographs — it leaves perspective.
Mapesu is not simply another safari stop. It is a place where conservation, culture, and landscape intersect in a way that deepens your understanding of Africa’s past and present.
If this episode has inspired you to explore northern Limpopo or craft a tailored African journey of your own, I would love to hear from you.
Contact:
rael@keeptravelling.africa
A few years from now, you won’t remember how much it cost you — but you will always remember the memories you made. Keep Travelling.
Blog:
https://www.wildsunsets.travel/mapesu/
