Origin Safaris, in partnership with Pafuri Camp and Riverhorse Lodge, will launch a guided tour of the Thulamela Royal Citadel, to take place from November 10-13.

The Thulemala Royal Citadel – at the heart of one of the most dynamic trading systems in southern Africa – is an archaeological stone wall site, dating from 1250-1700AD in the Pafuri region of the Kruger National Park.

The destination combines the unique archaeology of this 500-year-old, now reconstructed Royal Kraal, with the pristine biodiversity of this Kruger region.

Careful excavation of the site has yielded West African gongs, Ming dynasty porcelain and beads from India.

Thulamela is not open to the public. Guests stay for three nights at Pafuri Camp and have access to a guided tour of the remains of the citadel, guided by historian Peter Delius (author of Forgotten World: The Stone-Walled Settlements of the Mpumalanga Escarpment) and archaeologist Dr Tim Frossman (Senior Lecturer at the University of Mpumalanga).

There will be evening talks about the history of the area led by experts and leaders from the Makuleke, the community, who now own the land.

Guests can also enjoy game-viewing and bird watching in the region.