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LOUIS TRICHARDT
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  Louis Trichardt (Makhado):
Lying at the foot of the densely forested Soutpansberg mountain range, Louis
Trichardt and the surrounding area is the land of litchis, bananas, mangoes, nuts, tea and
coffee - a rugged hot terrain famous for the giant baobab and the indigo mountains in
whose shadow it rests.
A typical ‘boere’ town, Louis Trichardt is small, charming and popular because
it serves as a thoroughfare for all of those coming from or going to the Kruger
National Park. The national road, the N1, runs right through the town, which makes it
an important commercial, industrial and residential centre in this northern part of the
country - no surprise that it is regarded as the ‘gateway to Africa’.
Louis Trichardt, known briefly as Makhado, recently
reverted to its original name after a court ruled that the change that led to the town
being renamed Makhado in June 2003 be set aside. A lot of controversy surrounded the
initial name change to Makhado, after a Venda King who ruled the region during the mid to
late 1880s. Various Afrikaner groups and a group of Shangaan, Pedi and Indian residents,
who considered Makhado an oppressor, were amongst those who spoke out against the name
change, and a statue of Makhado that replaced that of Louis Trichardt was vandalised
within months of its unveiling.
The Schoemansdal Open Air Museum gives one a good idea of just what it was like for early
pioneers, like Louis Trichardt and Hans van Rensburg. The Ben Lavin Nature Reserve, fairly
close to Louis Trichardt, not only offers some fairly fascinating archaeological sites,
mammals, birds and wonderful trees, but mountain biking, hiking and game drives make it a
must, and the local fruit route to farms that grow a variety of fruit and nuts, is an
added bonus if you’re staying in the area. |
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 Overnight at Louis
Trichardt accommodation or hotels in
Louis Trichardt.
Also see Soutpansberg
accommodation or Soutpansberg Hotels. |
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 South-east of
Louis Trichardt, the Ben Lavin Game reserve is well stocked with game, including a variety
of large mammals. Some 238 species have been recorded. Facilities included 40 km of roads
for game viewing, four walking trails, hides at waterholes and an environmental awareness
.... Ben
Lavin Nature Reserve » |
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 Limpopo Hiking Trails: Limpopo is wild and
enigmatic. It boasts long stretches of untamed wildermness with thorn and Baobab trees,
magical mountain ranges and is also home to the Big 5. It is named after the great Limpopo
River that flows along its northern border and contains a .... Limpopo Hiking Trails
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« Limpopo Game Reserve | South
Africa Game Reserves » |
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| Car Hire South Africa: Hire
from international or local rental companies, which offer budget to luxury cars. For the
best deals we recommend you book your car before travelling. |
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