The Limpopo
Province is renowned as the province of peace. It is endowed
with bountiful natural resources, including 54 provincial
reserves and many private game reserves. A few hours from
Gauteng, the Province boasts the Waterburg mountain range,
supporting the thriving farming and game ranching, nature
reserves and resorts. Heading further north into the Province
there is Petersburg - the capital of the province, with an
excellent growing infrastructure, a modern international airport
and offering a wealth of diverse cultural experiences.
East of
the city the R71 takes you to the subtropical part of the
Valley of the Olifants, the verdant Magoebaskloof Valley.
Further eastwards takes you into the heart of the 'big five'
parks of the country and some of the prime game farms in Africa,
including the Kruger National Park - majestic in extent and
abundant in wild life.
The hot
climate makes the Limpopo Province a pleasant year-round holiday
destination. During summer - that is in the months October
to March - it is hot with brief afternoon showers, providing
a cooling effect for evenings. In winter - from May to September
- the mornings are crisp, the days are dry and sunny and the
evenings cold and clear.
Fauna
and Flora
All creatures
large and small, from the massive hippopotamus to the diminutive
mongoose are found in their unspoilt natural habitat. The
wild dog the endangered species has a complex hierarchy. Packs
of wild dogs are capable of hunting surprisingly large prey.
The spectrum of game species include large populations of
giraffe, kudus, gemsbok, nyala, water buck, klip springer,
impala, a blue wild beest and zebra, white lions that are
truly white lions not albinos for instance in Timbavati Private
nature reserve, elephants, buffalo, rhinoceros, leopards,
cheetahs, red duiker, samango, monkeys, bushbuck, bushpigs
and a countless others. There also more than 300 species of
birds including the endangered species like vultures at Moletjie
Nature Reserve 20 kilometres north west of Petersburg.
The magnificent
cycad forest near Tzaneen, the Modjadji Cycad (Encephalartos
transvernosus) of the Rain Queen is one of the largest cycads
in the world and it is a protected species. The Boaboab tree,
which is found only in the Limpopo Province in the country,
is an awe inspiration to the visitor, they are hundreds of
years old and mostly they are found on the Northern part of
the province. They are well preserved in the Baboab Tree Reserve
in the Messina Nature Reserve.
