Limpopo Province, South Africa

This is surely a province of contrasts!

Limpopo is on the surface broad and boundless, a landscape tanning itself in the heat of the African sun. If you look beyond this you will find the ancient lands, attested by Makapansgat Caves near Mokopane (Potgietersrus) just two hours from Gauteng and an ideal stopover point en route to Botswana or Zimbabwe or even the Kruger National Park) and then the past lives on in the baobab which is considered the upside down tree uprooted and cast back to earth by angry gods.

Limpopo can offer the tourists a variety of experiences that only a few other destinations can match, its got everything from mountainous splendor, winding rivers and wildlife to cultural heritage sites, traditional food and adrenalin rushing adventures throughout the year.

This province has got four tourism regions,

• the Waterberg - Ellisras, Naboomspruit, Nylstroom, Thabazimbi, Vaalwater and Warmbaths
• Capricorn - Polokwane, Haenertsburg, Mokopane),

• Soutpansberg - Alldays, Louis Trichardt, Messina, Thohoyandou and

• the Valley of the Olifants - Bosbokrand, Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa, Tzaneen

and they all have strategically placed tourism information centres where you can make bookings and obtain your detailed maps of the areas.

The N1 highway crosses the province from the south to the north, bypassing big towns such as Bela Bela(Warmbaths), Modimolle(Nylstroom), Mookophong(Naboomspruit) and Mokopane(Potgietersrus) before you reach Polokwane(Pietersburg) which is the countries fastest growing young city and also the capital of the province. Then the N1 continues past picturesque Makhado(Louis Trichardt) at the foot of the Soutpansberg to Musina(Messina), the most northerly town in South Africa(the rich copper deposits in this countryside of the region ultimately led to the founding and growth of this busy town) before you enter Zimbabwe at the Beit Bridge Border Post. Then of course we have toll fees to be paid at Kranskop, Nyl, Capricorn and Baobab Plazas which can be quite expensive if you add them up.

During your 350km drive through the province you could encounter sunflowers, graffiti art, citrus orchards, ostriches, informal settlements, kudus, thorn trees, baobab trees, spectacular mountain passes and accommodation facilities. Then if you would like to avoid the toll plazas you would have to drive on the R101. On this road you can sample some mampoer, buy grapes, dried fruit and biltong as well as other curious on your way to the north.

No less than seven of the nation's official languages are widely spoken in Limpopo province and strangers will always receive a friendly smile and wave from the locals.