The Great North Road - part of colonial visionary Cecil Rhodes's planned
'Cape-to-Cairo' route - cuts through the middle of the region, linking the
cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria with the Zimbabwe capital of Harare and
points beyond.
Pietersburg, the regional capital and largest centre, straddles the road at about the halfway mark - a
pleasant, fairly substantial place with a busy airport, and a Nature Reserve
that hosts rhino and a fine selection of antelope. More intriguing, perhaps, is
the game sanctuary near Potgietersrus, some 60 kilometres down the road to the
south-west, where exotic wildlife species - including llamas, hog deer and pygmy
hippos - are reared. Other towns along the highway include Warmbaths, Nylstroom, Naboomspruit, Louis Trichardt
and the last stop before the border, Messina.
For nature lovers the most notable feature of this, the most northern of
South Africa's provinces, is the fact that the biggest part of the great Kruger
National Park is housed within it. Here one can see the Big Five and a
myriad of other animals, plants and birds. The
northern section of the Kruger National Park forms the provinces eastern boarder
and boasts the 'Big Five', crocodile, hippo and many antelope species. Next door to the Kruger lie a
number of game farms and private game reserves, including Timbavati, where the
famous white lions can be seen. Other sites include the Magoebaskloof,
and Pietersburg, the main city of the area, has a municipal game reserve well
worth visiting. One can pay a visit to the Modjaji Nature Reserve, near Tzaneen,
home of the mythical Rain Queen of the Lobedu tribe.
Sports enthusiasts will find a wealth of opportunities from a canoe adventure
on the Limpopo River to hiking or climbing the mountainous terrain of the
Soutpansberg. The province allows for seasonal hunting of animal that
would otherwise have been culled for population control. A multitude of
well-stocked streams will provide endless fishing opportunities for the avid
angler and for the less adventurous, many of the towns offer facilities for
bowls, golf, swimming and tennis to name a few. Equally popular,
especially for relaxation, are the mineral baths of the province's hot springs.
A visit to this ancient land teeming with wildlife, embracing historic
cultures and offering a myriad of outdoor adventures will not be easily
forgotten.
Air Tickets Online -
