The Escarpment at Blyderiver Canyon Copyright: Limpopo Tourism
The Mopani region in the Lowveld is one of the last unspoilt corners of Africa – vast, unhurried, timeless. The Mopani region has a river in a valley called the Great Olifants River that meanders through the Kruger National Park forming the southern border of the province, it offers vast expanses that seem untouched by the passage of time and remain unmistakably African.
To conserve and extend this legacy, the Kruger National Park has been incorporated into the Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou Park, a transfrontier conservation area stretching over 35 000 square kilometres covering Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
This area is to become part of the proposed Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Already, many of the conservation areas bordering on the Kruger National Park have removed their fences and now from part of the Greater Kruger National Park, resulting in huge traversing areas of unspoilt wilderness.
Within these areas and the many other game and nature reserves in the region the full splendour of Africa’s wildlife can be enjoyed. The Mopani Valley is not only rich in wildlife, but offers spectacular scenery of mountains, rivers and dams, a rich history and many cultural attractions. The contrasts in climate, scenery and landscape are both striking and dramatic.
Phalaborwa Openvast Mine Copyright: South African Tourism
Bredasdorp is the commercial heart of the region. This gracious old
town (1838) abounds in architectural and historic treasures like the
Gothic styled Dutch Reformed church. The Shipwreck Museum provides a
fascinating account of shipwrecks along this stormy coast.Gateway to the Kruger National Park and Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park Dubbed the 'town of two summers' because it never really gets cold in this subtropical town of mild winters and warm summers, Phalaborwa enjoys average day temperatures of 23°C and is the ideal year-round holiday destination.
Tourism and wildlife play a dominant role in the life of this town. Surrounded by game farms and lodges, game sanctuaries and nature reserves, tourists are never more than half an hour's drive away from unforgettable destinations and memories. Situated within walking distance of the central gate to the Kruger National Park, the town is an ideal base from which to explore the world's most famous game reserve and the many scenic attractions of the Lowveld.
There are various opportunities to view wildlife daily from the Phalaborwa Gate. These include sunrise or sunset wilderness trails, day or night safaris and the extremely popular 'bush braai/barbeque'. A boat safari down the Olifants River offers a three-hour game-viewing meander.
Phalaborwa was established in 1958 after the discovery of huge mineral deposits, and is the central gateway to the Kruger National Park via the Phalaborwa Gate.
The Tzaneen area is a subtropical paradise filled with indigenous
and exotic plants. Tzaneen itself lies peacefully at the foot of the
northern Drakensberg Mountains in the heart of a forestry area and in
South Africa's richest sub-tropical fruit-farming region.
It is an attractive subtropical garden town with a colourful
profusion of indigenous and exotic plants and the 'capital' of the
picturesque Letaba district. The valley of Tzaneen yields Valencia
oranges and grapefruit (such as Star Ruby). Bananas and macadamia nuts
are also common crops in the area, with the town producing the majority
of the country's mangoes, avocado pears, paw-paws, tea and coffee.
Game Drive in Kapama Private Game Reserve Copyright: Kapama
Hoedspruit is the tourism Mecca of Limpopo.
Hoedspruit is the tourism destination of choice for visitors who prefer nature and wild animals. Bordering on the Kruger National Park, Hoedspruit lies in the heart of the central Lowveld and is conveniently situated to explore the many game lodges, game reserves and other attractions in the vicinity.
Here towering cliffs meet endless expanses of bushveld, where vast plains of marula, acacia, combretum and mopane woodlands accommodate a wealth of wildlife and stretch as far as the eye can see
Large herds of antelope (bushbuck) decided that the grassy ridges surrounding this trading centre were ideal for grazing, and the town derived its name from their presence. Begun as a trading store opened in 1884, the town grew as a result of its position in a generous countryside of tobacco, cotton and vegetable farming.
Originally there were five large ranches in the area, used mainly for hunting. These farms were bought by the South African government and in 1967 were opened as a game reserve for African people, now open to everyone. The 20,000 hectare reserve is densely bushed and provides a sanctuary for a great variety of game. Visitors to the reserve may enter the Kruger National Park through a border gate.
