Limpopo

In a Nutshell
Limpopo, until recently known as the Northern Province, offers the traveller a vivid contrast between the highveld splendours of the Waterberg, Soutpansberg and Haenertsburg and the wildlife delights of the Lowveld, including the northern reaches of the Kruger Park. Polokwane (Pietersburg) on the Great North Road to Zimbabwe, is at the economic and geographic heart of the province. Louis Trichardt (Makhado) at the foot of the Soutpansberg, Tzaneen on the eastern side of the lovely Magoebaskloof pass, Mokopane (Potgietersrus) and Phalaborwa, 2km from the Kruger Park, are other prime business and tourism destinations

Area 123,910 sq kms

Population 5.6 million

Regions

• Capricorn - centred around Polokwane, the area is the economic heartland of the province. In the north-west corner are the mountains and forests of Magoebaskloof

• Soutpansberg - dominated by the Soutpansberg mountain range, this scenic region, rich in wildlife, stretches to the Limpopo River. Louis Trichardt and Musina lie on the Great North Road to Zimbabwe.

• Valley of the Olifants - this beautiful river valley includes the Northern Kruger Park and many private game reserves and tourist lodges. To the east is the sub-tropical fruit growing area around Tzaneen

• Bushveld - the Nylsvlei wetland, various hot spring resorts and the majestic Waterberg mountains are the main features of this rugged region.

Top Attractions

• The northern Kruger Park, where the vegetation is drier and starker and the camps offer excellent accommodation and unimpeded game viewing.
  
• Valley of the Olifants. This great fruit-bearing river valley is an access point to the Kruger Park, via the picturesque Abel Erasmus Pass
  
• Haenertsburg, a pretty village in the misty Magoebaskloof mountains near Tzaneen, famous for its flowering azaleas and cherry trees
  
• The Soutpansberg, a densely forested and beautiful mountain range, not far from the Limpopo River, offering many nature reserves, hiking trails and splendid scenery
  
• The Waterberg mountains, a relatively undiscovered haven in the bushveld, popular among nature lovers, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts.

Getting there

By Air: to Polokwane SA Airlink (tel 288 0166) runs flights to
Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban
to Phalaborwa SA Airlink runs one flight to
Johannesburg per day
to Hoedspruit SA Express Airways flies daily from
Cape Town via Sun City and daily
(except Sat) from Johannesburg

By Train: to Polokwane Spoornet (tel 299 6202) runs a daily
service from Johannesburg via Pretoria

By Bus: North Link Tours (tel 291 1867) links Johannesburg,
Polokwane , Louis Trichardt, Tzaneen
and Phalaborwa by bus

Visitor Information

Limpopo Tourism Board (015) 288 0999
Messina/Limpopo Valley Tourism Assn (015) 534 3500
Soutpansberg Marketing and Tourism Assn (015) 516 0040
Tzaneen Tourism (015) 307 1933
Central Lowveld Tourism (for the Valley of the Olifants)
(015) 793 1678
Ellisras Tourism (for the Waterberg) 014 763 2193

Useful numbers

For Kruger Park reservations 012 343 1991 (Pretoria)
021 422 2810 (Cape Town)
Eastgate Airport (Hoedspruit) 015 793 3681

Links to Useful Sites

www.tourismboard.org.za

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