Average temperatures range from 17° to 27°C in the summer and from 4° to 20°C in the winter. The average annual rainfall is around 300mm. Most rain falls in the summer months between November and March.
- Hoedspruit
This is the wildlife hub of South Africa and close to the Kruger National Park.
- Phalaborwa
Phalaborwa is one of the hottest cities in South Africa. It is also a popular gateway into the Kruger National Park.
- Tzaneen
This is an exceptionally beautiful part of the world where fantastic fruits grow in abundance and nature reigns supreme.
- Pietersburg
Pietersburg is the capital of the northern province.
- Vaalwater
This small town lies at the heart of the northern Waterberg. Major conservation areas and game farms are located within easy reach, and there are a number of bush hiking trails and some excellent wilderness horse riding available.
- Punda Maria and Makuleke
A community project that preserves our natural heritage for all to enjoy.
- Messina
Messina is the most northern bushveld town in South Africa and just 12 kms from the Beit Bridge border post.
Limpopo
Limpopo offers a gateway into the Kruger National Park - not to mention loads of private game farms and beautiful natural locations. Its tropical vegetation and abundance of locally grown fruit and vegetables also make it a cheap area to travel in. The name of the province has been changed to Limpopo, and some town names have changed. You should still see the old and new names together for a while longer though.
Bounded by the Limpopo River and Zimbabwe to the north, Mozambique to the east, Botswana to the west, Gauteng to the north-west, and Mpumalanga to the south, this province owes its name to the "mighty grey green greasy Limpopo River all set about with fever trees". (read the Elephant's Child by Rudyard Kipling if you want to know more) The province is a combination of high and low veld. The N1 highway cuts through the centre of it, leading to Zimbabwe. There are three distinctive mountainous areas, the Waterberg and Drakensberg ranges in the south and the Soutpansberg range in the north. Savannas, or open grasslands, cover most of the western part of the province, while the north is a subtropical zone containing plains scattered with baobab trees. There is access to the northern part of the Kruger Park via the gates at Pafuri, Punda Maria, Phalaborwa and Orpen. The private game reserves that border on the Kruger in this area offer good value for money and often have excellent game viewing facilities. Mining is an important industry – employing the local population and earning foreign currency. The biggest coalfields in the country are here, gold, platinum and iron are mined, and the hole at the open cast copper mine in Phalaborwa is bigger than the Big Hole in Kimberley. The soil and climate are also ideal for the cultivation of sub-tropical fruits and man has made the most of the opportunity. Some of the fruit grown here includes oranges, mangoes, papaws, guavas, and litchi nuts. Hardly a salad is eaten in South Africa that doesn’t contain at least one ingredient from this region.
Interesting facts
• The headquarters of the Zion Christian Church at Zion City in the town of Moria. Every Easter more than three million church members from all around South Africa gather here to celebrate. • Ga-Modjadji - this area is home to the rain queen "Modjadji". She rules her tribe and conducts the ceremony that brings rain. When she dies, her oldest daughter takes her place. She never marries, and the fathers of her children have no role in her government. The Rain Queen’s home is up in the misty mountains where the Modjaji cycad grows. • The Modjadji cycad is a living fossil. It dates back to the age of the dinosaurs and can grow to a height of 13m. Some claim that they have survived because the Rain Queen’s magic protects them. • The Bakone Malapa Open-Air Museum near Pietersburg. This site is devoted to northern Sotho culture and includes a living village. There are archaeological remains and paintings dating back to 1000AD as well as evidence of Ndebele iron and copper smelting
• The headquarters of the Zion Christian Church at Zion City in the town of Moria. Every Easter more than three million church members from all around South Africa gather here to celebrate. • Ga-Modjadji - this area is home to the rain queen "Modjadji". She rules her tribe and conducts the ceremony that brings rain. When she dies, her oldest daughter takes her place. She never marries, and the fathers of her children have no role in her government. The Rain Queen’s home is up in the misty mountains where the Modjaji cycad grows. • The Modjadji cycad is a living fossil. It dates back to the age of the dinosaurs and can grow to a height of 13m. Some claim that they have survived because the Rain Queen’s magic protects them. • The Bakone Malapa Open-Air Museum near Pietersburg. This site is devoted to northern Sotho culture and includes a living village. There are archaeological remains and paintings dating back to 1000AD as well as evidence of Ndebele iron and copper smelting
The province has two universities - the University of the North (founded in 1959), and the University of Venda (1981).
Health
There is malaria in low lying areas and bilharzia is also present.
There is malaria in low lying areas and bilharzia is also present.
What to do
- Magoebaskloof Canopy Tours
A canopy tours that also crosses the Letaba River.
