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South Africa: Limpopo (Northern Province)

Overview

Northern Province was officially renamed Limpopo in 2002 but is still commonly referred to by its previous name; in this book it’s therefore referred to as Limpopo (Northern Province). The new name derives from the Limpopo River, which separates the province (and South Africa) from Zimbabwe. Limpopo (Northern Province) covers 123,910km2 (47,842mi2), which is 10.2 per cent of the country, and is a hot, thorny region bordering Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It has been unflatteringly described as South Africa’s no-man’s-land but in fact is a land of contrasts, including ‘bushveld’ (rolling grassland with some bush cover), impressive mountains, indigenous forests and modern plantations. Limpopo (Northern Province) also offers Stone Age and Iron Age sites, hot springs and plenty of space. A more positive way of describing the province is as a fine example of untamed Africa. This is best seen in the lowveld to the east, rich in game and home to the famous Kruger National Park, which Limpopo (Northern Province) shares with Mpumalanga (see above).

Limpopo (Northern Province) boasts, among other attractions, three impressive mountain escarpments. The best known is the north-south Drakensberg escarpment (described elsewhere), and in the north (halfway between Pietersburg and the border with Zimbabwe) are the Soutpansberg Mountains, which reach around 1,700m (5,578ft). These mountains attract enough rain for agriculture to flourish in the area, with stands of avocados, bananas, macadamia nuts and mangoes, while to the north are plains that are home to distinctive, statuesque baobab trees. In the south-west of Limpopo (Northern Province) lies the Waterberg, one of South Africa’s least known mountain ranges. Its name derives from the fact that it used to harbour lakes and swamps, but these days it’s drier, although there are still streams, springs and some wetlands, which attract numerous bird species. For those in search of wildlife the Waterberg is a tranquil alternative to Kruger, although its animal life isn’t quite as rich.

East of Pietersburg lies the Letaba, an area of forested mountains and lakes, providing a welcome relief from the veld surrounding it, and the beginning of the Drakensberg escarpment, which runs south into Mpumalanga. It’s also an agricultural region, growing avocados, macadamia nuts and tea.

The northern part of Limpopo (Northern Province) is hot, green and rural, resembling Zimbabwe more than South Africa. The major geographical feature is the attractive Soutpansberg Mountains (see above). The pretty town of Louis Trichardt lies in the foothills, in one of South Africa’s most picturesque areas.

Pietersburg

Pietersburg, the capital city (population 91,500), lies in the centre of theprovince. It’s an administrative and industrial city and the most important place on the N1 road.

Other Towns

Other important provincial towns include Ellisras, Louis Trichardt (see above), Messina (famous for its baobab trees), Nylstroom (known for grape production), Phalaborwa and Thabazimbi (both mining centres), Potgietersrus, Thoyoyandou, Tzaneen (producing tea, forestry products and tropical fruits) and Warmbaths (which has a popular mineral spa).

Population

Limpopo (Northern Province) has a population of 4.9 million (12.2 per cent of the country’s total).

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Page 1: Overview
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