I ♥ Vaalwater Because …

I ♥ Vaalwater

Hi, I’m Louisa Riccio from Nedile Lodge in the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve in Vaalwater, Limpopo.

Vaalwater IS BEST KNOWN FOR the relaxed Bushveld atmosphere.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT Nedile Lodge, as you have a breathtaking view over the Waterberg mountains.
THE BEST Big 5 PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN inside the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, as you have access to all the Big 5 and  a lot of extra’s to tick of your “to see” list. You can also pay a visit to Waterberg Elephant Back safari’s for an experience of a life time

OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT Caeser’s Bush Palace – it’s a mini zoo for exotic animals that were mistreated by their former owners and given a second change at life. Continued

I ♥ Polokwane Because …

I ♥ Polokwane

Hi, I’m Janine Bornman from Cycad Guest House in Polokwane.

Polokwane IS BEST KNOWN FOR being the largest growing city in the Bushveld.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT Shabby Chic – you’ll be surrounded by quirky vintage decor and unique little corners and surprises.

THE BEST Bushveld PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT the Polokwane Game Reserve.

OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT the Farmyard Trading Post. Continued

I ♥ Hoedspruit Because …

I ♥ Hoedspruit

Hi, I’m Gerrie Molle and Anita de Laat from BushGlam Luxury Holiday Home in Hoedspruit in Limpopo.

Hoedspruit IS BEST KNOWN FOR its perfect location surrounded by Private Game Reserves and only 40 minutes’ drive to world famous Kruger National Park.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT sitting in your open safari vehicle when a herd of elephants’ passes by. Or what about a picture with a rhino, buffalo, leopard or lion?!.
THE BEST animal PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT the Kruger National Park.

WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, I LIKE TO go on a safari drive, driving the Panorama Route or enjoying a boat cruise on the Blyde River. Continued

I Wanna Go Camping – 8 Great Campsites In Limpopo

I Wanna Go Camping!

You are going to love the collection of campsites we’ve put together for you for the Limpopo, the country’s most northern province. Because the Limpopo not only has the northern reaches of the Kruger National Park on its western flank but it also boasts the Waterberg, Mapungubwe National Park, the Magoebaskloof, and the Marakele National Park to captivate both visitors and locals.

With so many popular campsites already to choose from – Satara in the Kruger, the ATKV Klein-Kariba in Bela Bela, and the ATKV Eiland Spa at Letsitele as examples – we thought to bring you a selection of sites some of you may not have heard about before, some that are quieter than most, but that all offer a wonderful chance to experience the Limpopo at its best. Continued

I ♥ Haenertsburg Because …

I ♥ Haenertsburg

Hi, I’m Jady Stanford from Standford Lake Lodge in Haenertsburg in the Capricorn region of Limpopo.

Haenertsburg IS BEST KNOWN FOR being the “Land of the Silver Mists” … land of forests, lakes, waterfalls and more.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT the John Buchan War Memorial overlooking a beautiful view of Ebenezer Dam.

THE BEST scenic PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT Haenertsburg Cemetry, overlooking the village.
OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT Cheerio Gardens, Debengeni Falls and so many more interesting places. Continued

I ♥ Tzaneen Because …

I ♥ Tzaneen

Hi, I’m Natalie from Tzaneen Country Lodge in Tzaneen.

Tzaneen IS BEST KNOWN as the fruit basket of South Africa and famous for its tropical fruits and extraordinary scenic beauty.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT Debegeni Waterfall – meaning the place of the Big Pot. (It’s a stunning waterfall with lush bush and vegetation).

THE BEST adventure PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT Magoebaskloof Canopy Tours while sliding through the indigenous forest on a 2½-hour Tarzan and Jane style adventure.
OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT the dam wall of the Tzaneen Dam – the popular after-dinner walking spot of locals. Continued

I ♥ Magoebaskloof Because …

I ♥ Magoebaskloof

Hi, I’m Shahrzad Hone from Kuhestan Farm Cottages in Magoebaskloof.

Magoebaskloof IS BEST KNOWN FOR its mountains, streams, forests and exotic birds.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT Debengeni Falls, a beautiful wide waterfall flowing into the Magoebaskloof Dam. The falls which are found at the foot of the Magoebaskloof Mountains are an ideal place to relax and recharge.  Swimming is possible in the fresh water pool during the summer months. The area boasts a wonderful bird population, including the rare grey Wagtail which is a regular visitor during summer.

THE BEST family PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT Kuhestan Farm Cottages in the garden of the main residence.

OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT Haenertsburg and surrounding venues. Haenertsburg is a village found on Route 71, between Polokwane and Tzaneen.  It’s home to about 350 families and is a well-known and popular place for cycling, biking and hiking.  The area is known for its misty days and high rainfall. Continued

Kruger – the low down on what to remember, where to stay, what to do and spotting the Big 5

Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is undoubtedly THE place to be when it comes to seeing game in what should be their natural environment.  Even if during school holidays the number of people entering the park is questionable, traffic fairly congested, and the tendency of individuals to do silly things like feed hyenas and monkeys (now a constant pest in various rest camps) a sign that even in the Kruger, humans are encroaching on the freedom of the animals within. Despite this Kruger Park is a fantastic experience.

One of the world’s largest game parks, Kruger has received a  myriad accolades for nature conservation and, more recently, has begun lowering fences that separate the park from neighbouring reserves, allowing the wildlife within even greater access to land and water, and increasing the chance to spot game. Continued

I ♥ Bela Bela Because…

I ♥ Bela Bela

Hi, I’m Christine Hall from Botsebotse Bush Retreat situated in the Mabula district of Bela Bela.

Bela Bela IS BEST KNOWN FOR its beautiful malaria free bushveld surrounds and sub-tropical climate that averages 286 sunny days per year and for the fantastic game and Big 5 experiences that are on offer. The Bela Bela area is also renowned as a great golfing destination and is home to some of the best golf courses in the country convenienly located for vistors from Johannesburg and Gauteng’s major cities. Previously known as Warmbaths, Bela Bela is Northern Sotho for “Boiling-Boiling” which is synonymous with the town’s world-renowned hot water springs with hot water bubbling out of the earth at approximately 22,000 liters per hour at a temperature of 53°C.

Put on your bush gear and hiking boots, get on a horse, quad bike or a safari vehicle GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT amongst your favourite animals. Continued

The Marakele National Park

Marakele National Park

There’s a reason why so many foreign films are shot in South Africa. It’s not just the readily available local skills and the cheaper prices – it’s also because of the location. Very few places in the world offer such diverse locations in one place. The Marakele National Park, in the Limpopo Province is an example of a filmmakers’ dream. Situated in the Waterberg mountain range, its distinct landscape offers every from ragged mountains to lavish grasslands and deep valleys. You could probably shoot a fantasy epic like Lord of the Rings there and never have to leave. Continued

Limpopo – top things to do

Limpopo Province

The northernmost province of South Africa, Limpopo is regarded as the eco capital of the country and is where you go to experience wildlife, incredible scenery and a lot less traffic congestion, unless the Kruger National Park in peak holiday season is your idea of a traffic jam.

Limpopo is also heavily shrouded in mystery and legend, an area heavily endowed with ruins, relics, ancient forest and hot mineral springs that invite rejuvenation. Other than a lot of farmland and the odd mine, the Limpopo is wide open country predominated by game reserves that stretch endlessly and allow one to experience bush safaris of note. It might have a capital city in the form of Polokwane, but the province’s numbers make up only 10% of the country’s total population, despite being larger than the US state of Pennsylvania and the fifth-largest province in South Africa. Continued

The Annual Marula Festival in Phalaborwa

The Annual Marula Festival – February 19^th to 26^{th –} The annual Marula Festival in Limpopo will take place in the town of Phalaborwa from February 19^th to 26^th.  Various activities are planned for the festival and these will take place at the Impala Park Rugby Stadium.

Among other events on during the weeklong festival will be the brewing of the Marula Festival beverage, a golf challenge, a half marathon and an open air music concert.  In keeping with the sports trend there will also be youth rugby and street soccer … Continued

Lake Fundudzi – why you should visit, and what fashion has to do with it

Fundudzi Label

What do Lake Fundudzi and fashion have in common? At first glance, absolutely nothing, unless you regard fashion as sacred, which many do.

Lake Fundudzi is a magical lake. It lies in the Limpopo, way up in the north western reaches of South Africa in the Thohoyandou region, just north of The Holy Forest and west of the Kruger National Park. It is not commonly visited, well, not nearly as much as the Kruger anyway, and no-one washes or swims in it.

You wouldn’t swim in a lake either if a giant python, the god of fertility, was said to live in the lake and demand an annual sacrifice of a maiden. And to visit it, you need special permission anyway. Strangers to the lake are expected, when and if you do manage to get permission from the People of the Pool (the Netshiavha royal family) to visit, to greet the lake through your legs – that’s upside down and backwards – a greeting known as the ukodola. Continued

Kom pomp saam … Say what? Get to the Naboom Windpomp Fees

Fun at the Festival

If you haven’t yet been to the charming town of Mookgophong (previously known as Naboomspruit), then here is the perfect reason to, the Naboom Windpomp Fees from 10 to 12 June 2010. Located at the foot of the Swaershoek Mountains this little village used to be a rest station for the Pretoria-Polokwane mail coach back in the 1800’s. The town became a hive of activity in the early 1900’s with the discovery of minerals and has never looked back. Fluorspar and tin are still mined in the area.

The Naboom Windpomp Fees is an annual event held at the Buffelshoek Agri Depot. The festival gets its name from the Afrikaans word for a windmill (windpomp). Windmills are pretty useful things as they convert the energy of wind to rotational motion which in turn powers equipment such as windpumps for getting fresh water from underground. The festival is hosted by the Euphorbia Christelike Onafhanklike Skool and the name of the festival is representative on the fact that the school produces water for itself and the excess will flow into the community … Continued