/ 11 September 2003

No average drive-through

Often driven through but rarely explored, Limpopo has been called South Africa’s forgotten province. Or perhaps it’s one of our best kept secrets?

Whatever the case, there’s nothing secretive about the landscape in Limpopo, whether it be the stunning beauty of the Waterberg or the breathtaking Magoebaskloof pass. The province boasts diverse natural riches ranging from bushveld to mountain peak, and valley to moonscape.

There are hot mineral springs in Warmbaths, now called Bela Bela, and a national heritage site at Makapansgat in the Makapans Valley.

The Valley of the Olifants, so named for the Great Olifants river that runs through it, forms the southern border of the province. This is the same Olifants river that flows through the Kruger National Park, more than 80% of which lies in Limpopo territory.

It’s strange how the park is more associated with Mpumalanga — perhaps it’s because the majority of people who visit use the Mpuma-langa gates, who knows? In any event, the northern part of Kruger is easily accessed through Limpopo at the Punda Maria and Pafuri gates, with direct routes through to camps such as Shingwedzi and Letaba.

The area south of Tzaneen forms part of the Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve on the African Ivory Route, explored with ease from the Mafefe camp.

And of course there’s the tropics, or the lower tropic of Capricorn to be precise. Limpopo’s capital, Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg), lies in the heart of Capricorn region. As does Louis Trichardt and the magnificent Soutpansberg, which stretches for 130km from east to west. Here can be found the historic settlements of Mapungubwe and Thulamela and, of course, the great, green, greasy Limpopo of legend, the river whence the province gets its name.

To the south of this region lies Venda, with its sacred lake Fundudzi, held in awe by the VhaVenda people. Venda is certainly the Land of Legends. Many hundreds of years ago the beautiful mountain country, peaceful valleys and abundance of clear water, with beautiful indigenous forests, became the settlement of the VhaNgona, the VhaLembetu and the VhaTavhatsindi people.

They were a peace-loving people who allowed the VhaSenzi people led by chief Dimbanyika from the north of the Limpopo to come and live among them.

These new arrivals wandered up the valley of the Nzhelele river, a tributary of the Limpopo. When they eventually reached its headwaters they named the area Venda (the pleasant place). They united all the clans under chief Phophi, the great Thohoyandou (head of the elephant), and the Venda nation came into being.

Within comfortable driving distance of Gauteng, the route to Limpopo is as easy as pie, with the N1 taking you all the way north. Unfortunately there are toll gates aplenty, with tolls ranging from R5,20 to almost R25 for cars. The plus-side is that it is a good road, with lots of filling stations-cum-rest stops.

The N1 acts as an artery north, from which you can peel off to the left (Waterberg, Thabazimbi, Ellisras) or right (Tzaneen, Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa). The minimum of navigational skills are required to read the route maps.

For those too far away to drive, the province is served by airports at Polokwane and Hoedspruit (Eastgate airport), and at Thohoyandou and Phalaborwa.

For more information on what Limpopo has to offer, contact the Limpopo Tourism Authority on (013) 752 7001 or visit www.limpopotourism.org.za