Louis Trichardt, Soutpansberg
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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Featured Attractions in (or near) Louis Trichardt
Ben Lavin Nature Reserve
The rather heady mix of assorted sour bushveld, riverine woodland that lines the almost always arid watercourses, and vast plains of thornveld set against the rolling foothills of the Soutpansberg, make the Ben Lavin Nature Reserve, close to Louis Trichardt, a rather exceptional place to visit... more information
Blouberg Nature Reserve
Situated west of Makhado, just off route 521, the Blouberg Nature Reserve lies in relative obscurity in the midst of rural village and farming communities at the foot of the eastern foothills of the Blouberg Mountain, for its part an inselberg of the greater Soutpansberg chain of mountains, even if it is separated from it by ... more information
Lake Fundudzi
The enchanted body of water known as Lake Fundudzi is a sacred lake of the Venda people that lies in the heart of the Soutpansberg and is one of the few true inland lake systems in South Africa. Lake Fundudzi can be found on the R523 between Thohoyandou and Louis Trichardt, surrounded by the mythical ... more information
Langjan Nature Reserve
Lying just north east of Blouberg Nature Reserve, on the R521 to Alldays, west of Makhado, the Langjan Nature Reserve is typified by gorgeous red sand dunes and scrub-acacia bushveld vegetation - lush during the summer rainfalls and equally dry during the months that languish without rain. Langjan ... more information
Louis Trichardt Golf Course
Louis Trichardt Golf Club, Hospital Street, Louis Trichardt (Makhado), Limpopo / Arguably one of the best courses in Limpopo, if not the best with beautiful trees and kept in excellent condition all year around, Louis Trichardt Golf Course is a friendly club with good facilities. In summer the course operates from ... more information
Mapungubwe National Park
Set right up against the northern border of South Africa, uniting Botswana and Zimbabwe, lies Mapungubwe National Park - an extensive savannah landscape situated at the meeting place of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers. This is the land of sandstone formations, mopane woodlands, brooding baobabs... more information
Nwanedi Game Reserve
Lying west of the northern reaches of the Kruger National Park, Nwanedi Game Reserve is particularly scenic situated as it is in the foothills of the Venda Mountains. Nwanedi is home to a rich supply of animals who take advantage of the effortless landscape dominated by umbrella thorn savannah ... more information
Soutpansberg Conservancy
The Soutpansberg Conservancy, consisting of 90 000 hectares, was formed to protect an incredibly sensitive and beautiful part of the world. Drive across the arid, flat vastness of the northern Limpopo Province, and the sandstone of the Soutpansberg intermittently breaks into view. That and the... more information
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Things To Do in Louis Trichardt
Visit Madi a Thavha Design
Where: Louis Trichardt
How much (per person): Free to Browse
Madi a Thavha design is a project to create employment for women living in the rural areas around Madi a Thavha mountain farm. We have devel ... more information
Mabudashango Hiking Trail
Where: Magoebaskloof
How much (per person): On Request
Without doubt one of the most beautiful hikes in Limpopo, this hiking trail is four days worth of walking, and is 53 kilometres long. It cro ... more information
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