HISTORY
Legend Golf & Safari ResortAfrica has always been the mysterious, enigmatic continent, the source and origin of a myriad of legends pertaining to its people, wealth and its history. The theme for Legend Golf & Safari Resort forms the foundation for the architectural language stemming from archaeological research done as far back as 200AD when the first people inhabited Africa.
In this ancient part of Africa, formerly known as the Republic of Monomotapa, Africa’s first Kingdom was born – the Kingdom of Mapungubwe in the Limpopo Province. This later extended to the Kingdom known today as the Great Zimbabwean Ruins.
Both Kingdoms traded with the Phoenicians, Chinese and Indians as well as the Eastern Mediterranean region. This was one of the first and largest trade routes that existed in the world and the only one in Africa at that time, 800 – 1300AD.
Mapungubwe was South Africa’s first known Kingdom and was situated on a sacred hill. Artefacts found in the area tell a legendary story of a community evolving into a Kingdom which formed the centre of trade between Southern Africa, the Mediterranean, China and the Middle East. It was from here that the gold, ivory and other precious metals originated, ending up in the court of King Solomon.
Mapungubwe is still the richest archaeological site in South Africa today, yielding tons of gold and other precious materials and artifacts found in graves when the area was excavated in 1932. This includes the only “Royal” burial site south of the equator.
Today, proclaimed a World Heritage Site, Mapungubwe Hill still holds many mysteries where only one part of the site has been excavated with many more secrets to be discovered.