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Archaeological site · Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Sítio Histórico de Masorini
Reconstructed Iron Age blacksmith village on a hill inside the Kruger, near the Phalaborwa gate, with smelting furnaces and stone-and-thatch huts.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Sítio Histórico de Masorini
Masorini sits on a small hill about 11 km from the Phalaborwa gate, already inside the Kruger. In the 19th century the site was home to a community of the ba-Phalaborwa people who mined and smelted iron, a practice in the region that is over a thousand years old.
The village has been reconstructed based on archaeological excavations: there are stone-and-thatch huts, clay smelting furnaces and leather bellows, as well as remains of slag and tools. A guide explains how iron was extracted, worked and traded for other goods with neighbouring peoples and with the coast.
From the top of the hill you can see the Kruger savanna, and the area has space to get out of the car and picnic.
It’s a different kind of stop on a safari day, to understand that the region was inhabited and worked long before the park was created.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
30 minutes to 1 hour.
Best time
In the middle of the day, when animals rest and the safari yields less.
How to get there
Enter through the Phalaborwa gate and follow the H9 road towards Letaba; the site is signposted about 11 km from the gate.
Tip
Ask for the guided tour on site; without it the explanation of the furnaces is lost.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Sítio Histórico de Masorini
What is Masorini?
An archaeological site with a reconstructed Iron Age blacksmith village inside the Kruger.
Where is Masorini?
About 11 km from the Phalaborwa gate, on the H9 road.
Can you get out of the car at Masorini?
Yes, the site is a signposted area where you can get out of the car.