Whether you are a local, South African traveller or you’re visiting beautiful South Africa from across borders or ocean, Limpopo is a province you do not want to miss out on. From vast Savannahs to modern shopping malls, your search for places to visit in Limpopo ends here.
First off, let’s get into a few fun facts about the Limpopo province. It’s important to know that Limpopo is one of 9 South African provinces and was previously known as the Northern Province. The name was officially changed in 2003. As of 2016, the province’s population stood strong at 5.8 million people, with Polokwane being the capital city and the business hub for most of Limpopo’s residents.
Now that you have a bit of background of the province, let’s dive into 3 places to visit in Limpopo.
The Kruger National Park
Although the Kruger National Park can be accessed from Limpopo, the park is actually shared between two provinces, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The park covers a total of 19,623km2, stretches 360km from North to South, and is 65km from East to West. This means that the park is more of a long and thin shape when looking at it from above.
The Kruger National Park is mostly an area filled with open savannah grasslands, scattered with Mopane trees, but it also boasts beautiful wooded areas filled with Thorn and Marula trees (the giraffe and elephant need to eat something, right?). Speaking of animals, this incredible park is home to the Big 5, so it’s likely you’ll encounter elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalos during the scenic tours and game drives the park offers.
The Mall of the North
For those who would be considered more “city slickers,” Limpopo’s capital city, Polokwane, is home to the stunning and vast Mall of the North. Fun fact, this mall has more than 180 doors. That’s a lot of doors if you ask me. From leading fashion and homeware brands to the most diverse mix of restaurants in the area, you’ll be sure to find something that tickles your fancy.
Other than the shops that are housed in this gigantic mall, the architecture and finishings of this building are a sight to behold. If you are an architecture junky, you definitely want to include the Mall of the North in your itinerary of places to visit in Limpopo.
The Blouberg Mountains
Our final suggestion for places to visit in Limpopo is the Blouberg Mountains. Outdoorsy types and history & culture buffs will both have a blast exploring this mountain range in the Capricorn district. It is a place of great history for the Sotho people, showing off ancient and beautiful rock art in the Makgabeng Plateau. The mountains offer amazing 4×4 tracks and are famous for rock climbing faces like the Moonshadow Wall.
Your trip to Limpopo will be rich and filled with nature, art, history, and culture. It’s a place no traveller wants to miss out on.