Previously called the Northern Province, Limpopo is a land of beautiful and contrasting landscapes, which is typical of Africa. Hence it has become a favorite destination for leisure and adventure travellers worldwide. The game viewing is absolutely fantastic and possibly the best in the country – hence they are preferred Eco-tourism destination in Southern Africa. Limpopo landscape and vegetation varies from one area to the other. The vegetation ranges from Tropical Forests, Bush and Shrubs to semi-desert areas with small trees and bushes. The landscape also ranges from mountainous to flat land.
Limpopo is bushveld country – grasslands, thorn trees, the magic baobab and effortless blue skies. Host to a wealth of incredible scenery and a mysticism shrouded in age-old history, its land steeped in the mysteries of cultural heritage, Limpopo is known as the place of peace and friendliness. Lying to the very north of the country, it is also famous for its waterfalls, trout-filled rivers, forests and wildlife. Visit the mountain hamlet of Haenertsburg, the world’s largest baobab tree at Sunland, the ancient cycads at Madjadji village, the ruins of Mapungubwe, the Kruger National Park, Bela-Bela, Tha Vondo Forest and Lake Funduzi.
What to do in Limps:
Waterberg Wildness nature Reserve
Waterberg Wilderness reserve is only 5 hours from Johannesburg and conveniently positioned half way to Botswana. Due to the rugged nature of the reserve which is typical of the Waterberg, a 4×4 vehicle or vehicle with good ground clearance is recommended to access the property. In the wet season a 4×4 vehicle is often essential. Certain areas of the Waterberg Wilderness Reserve offer spectacular views over the surrounding hills and valleys and exploring the impressive gorges with natural streams and pools is certainly a highlight. The reserve is ideal for the more active with some beautiful walks and potential mountain bike trails. The game lodge offers accommodation in the Waterberg Wilderness camp but is exclusive and can only accommodate a maximum of 12 guests in the 4 safari tents with an additional 2 campsites available. All accommodation is self-catering with comfortable and complete facilities.
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Bela Bela
A trip to Bela-Bela can’t be complete without soaking your weary body in the restorative waters of the hot spring, which is also great for your skin and well-being, considering it is not only relaxing, it is also rich in limestone minerals, including calcium carbonate, sodium chloride and other salts. The source of the spring gushes out 22 000 litres of water at 52 degrees Celcius, every hour! Best of all, the kids will be in their element – without the help of any Playstation or computer game – this is nature at its best. Forever Resorts also have indoor hydro pools, a main pool and Jacuzzis, as well as a fufi slide, mini quads, go-karts, cable water skiing, target-shooting, Monster web climbing, putt-putt, a kids play park, a speed slide and a wave pool. Wow! What a paradise for the whole family.
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Kwalata Wildlife Reserve
Kwalata is a dream safari holiday destination within one of Africa’s richest ecosystems. Whether this is your first trip to Africa or you are a seasoned regular, here you can enjoy prolific wildlife, scenic wilderness, comfortable lodges and a choice of activities in a place “where the real Africa begins”. Take exciting game drives in our open top safari vehicles which allow unobstructed views of an abundance of plains game as well as four of the ‘big five’. Have fun quad biking, do a spot of tranquil fishing, canoeing, and birdwatching or, if you prefer, just relax while taking in the panoramic view from a cliff-top swimming pool. Kwalata’s team of highly professional staff will guide and assist in every aspect of your stay.
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Mapungubwe National park
Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site is the ideal location for anyone interested in the park’s wildlife and birds, to those in search of serenity, identity and the extraordinary history of this World Heritage Site. The Cultural Landscape provides visitors with a unique portrait of the social and political structures of a society that traded with China and India, was regarded as the most complex society in southern Africa and was the first society since the Bushmen to settle in South Africa. The kingdom was regarded as the forerunner of the Zimbabwe civilization and at its height, Mapungubwe, which means place of the stone of wisdom, was the largest kingdom in the African sub-continent. Some 5000 people appeared to live around Mapungubwe Hill where their ‘sacred’ leader lived in seclusion from his people This is the land of sandstone formations, mopane woodlands, brooding baobabs, ancient floodplains and unique riverine forests that form a dramatic backcloth for the wealth of animal life – elephant, giraffe, buffalo, white rhino, gemsbok and other antelope, extensive bird life, and the more elusive mammal like hyenas, leopards and lions.
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Debengeni Waterfall
Situated near the dense forests of the Magoebaskloof, the roaring Debengeni Falls is a magical spot for picnicking or swimming in the crystal pool. Named for the deeply carved pool, Debengi means ‘place of the big pot’. Right in the middle of hiking country, it’s also renowned for some rare species of birds. One of these is the colourful Grey Wagtail, a regular summer visitor to this pool. An endemic bird that will get twitchers excited is the Bush Strike – only found here and in the Woodbush Forest nearby. Other beautiful birds to tick off are the Chorister Robin and green Narina Trogon
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Magoebaskloof Canopy Tours
Experience the thrill of sliding through the forest on a 2 ½ hour Tarzan and Jane style adventure! Magoebaskloof Canopy Tours will take you into a previously inaccessible realm of nature, moving you between platforms built high within the upper level of indigenous forests and ancient mountain cliffs. Each platform is joined by our spectacular ‘foefie’ cable slide high above the sparkling river, waterfalls and forest floor. Relax and absorb the tranquillity of your natural surroundings on each platform. Magoebaskloof Canopy Tours’ trained guides ensure the safety of each group while describing facts about the fauna, flora and ecology of the surrounding environment.
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Mystic monkeys and Feather Zoo
Mystic Monkeys & Feathers offers you an opportunity to get as close as you’ll ever get to some of the world’s most majestic animals.
View beautiful birds and other animals, play with lion cubs and learn from the smart tour guides about primates. Bring the family to see some of the world’s most beautiful animals, including one of Africa’s largest primate collections (44 species), birds of ALL kinds and ferocious predatory beasts, including White Lions, Bengal Tigers and Cheetahs.
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Air Tours
Many of the parks and game reserves within the Limpopo Province, offer airstrips allowing visitors to travel by small aircrafts. Helicopter flips and rides are also available around the province. Both options offering you a bird’s eye view of the spectacular landscapes and wildlife. Commercial airports are situated in Polokwane (Capricorn) and Phalaborwa (Mopani)
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Meropa Casino and Entertainment world
Meropa Casino offers an upmarket casino experience that will transcend you into another world. With state of the art casino technology at your fingertips, Smart Cards replace the need to feed coins into slot machines and provide players with hours of coinless casino pleasure. There are 12 tables, and 324 slots including the Dream Machine and Poker Magic – this is an encounter with a wild thing in more ways than one. The casino floor offers something for everyone; there are 2 American Roulette and 2 Blackjack tables situated in the smoking area and in the non-smoking area, players can enjoy a game of chance on 4 American Roulette and 4 Blackjack tables. There are a total of 94 Slots in the smoking area and 223 slots in the non-smoking area, with denominations ranging from 5c to R25. Meropa also offers Mangwanani Spa, Babylon Tours, Wildthingz (a uniquely educational bird and reptile), Twice the Fun Crèche, Mini Golf and car-Karting .
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By @ThatoMalau