Valley of the Olifants, Limpopo

Limpopo Tourist Attractions

Valley of the Olifants, Limpopo

Valley of the Olifants, Limpopo
Valley of the Olifants, Limpopo

Travelling east visitors will discover the rich natural heritage of the Lowveld with its claim to fame, the world-famous Kruger National Park. This region differs markedly from the rest of Limpopo and is loved for its scenic valleys, mountains and lush vegetation.

As its name suggests, this region falls in the valley of the great Olifants River that meanders through the Kruger National Park, forming the southern border of the Limpopo province. The valley forms part of the northernmost section of the Drakensberg, and the Lowveld does not end in Mpumalanga, but stretches further north and surrounds many towns in Limpopo.

The rest camps in the northern part of Kruger are part of the province and a series of exclusive private game reserves adjacent to the Park guarantee a luxurious wildlife experience. The Olifants Valley is teeming with a variety of wildlife, and is known for its spectacular scenery, mountains, rivers, dams, history and cultural attractions.

Valley of the Olifants Region

Destinations / Towns of the Valley of the Olifants Region

Balule

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Balule

The vast Balule Nature Reserve is adjacent to and has now been incorporated into the Kruger National Park, home to the Big Five and famous for its abundance of animal and birdlife. Seize the opportunity to track and ... Balule information

Bosbokrand

Where to Stay: Valley of the Olifants Accommodation

Bosbokrand, also known as Bushbuckridge, has rather obvious roots in its surrounds where rather large herds of antelope grazed on what is known today as Bushbuck ridge, a rocky ridge that extends from the escarpment ... Bosbokrand information

Giyani

Where to Stay: Valley of the Olifants Accommodation

More or less 550 kilometres north east of Johannesburg you will find the little happening town of Giyani, a popular town in the heart of Bushveld country in the western crook of the Kruger National Park, even if it is a further... Giyani information

Gravelotte

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Gravelotte

The little town of Gravelotte, in the Bushveld region of the Limpopo, lies roughly half way between Tzaneen and Phalaborwa, west of the Kruger National Park and around five hours’ drive from Johannesburg. It is no ... Gravelotte information

Hans Merensky

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Hans Merensky

On the banks of the Great Letaba River lies the Hans Merensky Nature Reserve, just west of the Kruger National Park and not far from Tzaneen. The main draw card to this beautiful reserve is the fact that you can walk ... Hans Merensky information

Hoedspruit

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Hoedspruit

Directly translated from the Afrikaans the relatively small town of Hoedspruit, which lies at the foot of the Klein Drakensberg on the old Selati railway line from Phalaborwa to Kaapmuiden, means “hat creek”. The story ... Hoedspruit information

Karongwe

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Karongwe

Karongwe Game Reserve is an untamed garden of Eden where the spoor of wildlife invites you to explore the timeless beauty of the bush; an oasis of unimaginable luxury provides the greatest vantage point to the Big Five ... Karongwe information

Klaserie

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Klaserie

Bordering the Timbavati Game Reserve and Kruger National Park, this reserve is hot and dry for most of the year. The bush is sparse but soon recovers, if and when summer rains arrive. Game wanders freely over vast areas ... Klaserie information

Letsitele

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Letsitele

About 32 kilometres outside of Tzaneen is the little farming community of Letsitele, which derives its name from the Letsitele River, meaning “valley of the dead” in Sotho. The meaning of this rather ominous ... Letsitele information

Makutsi Conservancy

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Makutsi Conservancy

The Makutsi Conservancy, in the heart of the Limpopo, lies adjacent to the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve just 40 minutes' due east of the Kruger National Park. It lies on route 36 that links Tzaneen to the N4 from ... more information

Manyeleti

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Manyeleti

The fenceless borders the Manyeleti Game Reserve shares with Kruger Park, Sabi Sands and Timbavati Game Reserves, forms an integral ecological unit where all the animals roam free. The Mnisi people lived and occupied ... Manyeleti information

Modjadjiskloof

Where to Stay: Valley of the Olifants Accommodation

Lying at the foot of the escarpment in Limpopo is a little town formerly known as Duiwelskloof or Devil’s Gorge. Today, the town is named Modjadjiskloof in tribute to the Rain Queen, Modjadji - the traditional mystic ... Modjadjiskloof information

Mohlabetsi

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Mohlabetsi

The Mohlabetsi Conservancy lies on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, part of the greater Kruger Park area that borders on the Klaserie Game Reserve, just outside Hoedspruit. Staying in the conservancy is ... Mohlabetsi information

Motswari

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Motswari

Deep within the Timbavati Nature Reserve lies Motswari Private Game Reserve. As part of the Greater Kruger National Park Conservancy and traversing close on 200 square kilometres of pristine habitat, Motswari offers ... Motswari information

Phalaborwa

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Phalaborwa

That Phalaborwa never gets cold is something of a euphemism to describe the intense heat that can grip the modern, copper mining town, situated just 3 kilometres from the Kruger National Park, during summer in ... Phalaborwa information

Thornybush

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Thornybush

Adjacent to and incorporated into the Greater Kruger National Park lies 10 000 hectares of pristine African bushveld, which is the 'Thornybush Game Reserve'. With an abundance of bird and mammal species including the ... Thornybush information

Timbavati

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Timbavati

Timbavati Game Reserve shares a common unfenced border with the Kruger National Park. This allows the animals free range and ensures guests to the area the opportunity to view the greatest diversity of wildlife that ... Timbavati information

Tzaneen

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Tzaneen

Described as an appealing subtropical garden town, Tzaneen is in fact the second largest town in the Mopani district in Limpopo that lies at the foot of the Wolkberg Mountains in the northern reaches of the Drakensberg ... Tzaneen information

Umhlametsi

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Umhlametsi

"Umhlametsi"...meaning 'one days water' is a place where time stops and life begins.... Nestled in the luxurious natural settings of the Limpopo Province, Umhlametsi Private Nature Reserve is bordered by the world ... Umhlametsi information

Valley of the Olifants Region

"Must See" Attractions in Valley of the Olifants Region

Kruger National Park

The largest game reserve in South Africa, the Kruger National Park is larger than Israel. Nearly 2 million hectares of land that stretch for 352 kilometres (20 000 square kilometres) from north to south along the Mozambique border, is given over to an almost indescribable wildlife experience. Certainly it ranks with the ... more information

Blyde-Olifants Conservancy

The Blyde-Olifants Conservancy consolidates a group of privately owned game farms in the central Lowveld region into an official nature reserve. Lying roughly between Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa, the conservancy also happens to lie within the Kruger to Canyons (K2C) Biosphere Reserve, which straddles the ... more information

Manyeleti Game Reserve

The fenceless borders the Manyeleti Game Reserve shares with the Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands Game Reserve and the Timbavati Game Reserve, forms an integral ecological unit where all the animals roam free. The Mnisi people lived and occupied this land for many generations and in the... more information

Balule Game Reserve

The vast Balule Game Reserve is adjacent to the Kruger National Park, home to the Big Five and world famous for its abundance of wildlife and birdlife. In the Balule Game Reserve you will find the Big Five roaming freely between the Balule Game Reserve and Kruger National Park, including Lion, Elephant, Leopard... more information

Hans Merensky Nature Reserve

On the banks of the Great Letaba River lies the Hans Merensky Nature Reserve, just west of the Kruger National Park and not far from Tzaneen. The main draw card to this beautiful reserve is the fact that you can walk most of it on foot, and despite its apparent flatness, there is the welcome relief of... more information

Kapama Game Reserve

Kapama Game Reserve is situated in the Limpopo Province, South Africa and was proclaimed a private nature reserve in December 1993. Covering approximately 13 000 hectares of prime big game territory, Kapama Game Reserve has succeeded in combining the wilderness of the bush with... more information

Klaserie Game Reserve

Bordering the Timbavati Game Reserve and Kruger National Park, the Klaserie Game Reserve reserve is hot and dry for most of the year. The bush is sparse but soon recovers, if and when summer rains arrive. Wildlife wanders freely over vast areas and you are likely to see all the usual... more information

Letaba Ranch Game Reserve

Letaba Ranch Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park conservation area, is particularly well known for sightings of elephant and buffaloes, and the mighty Letaba River that flows through the reserve provides a shelter to any number of hippos and crocodiles. Letaba, which means ‘river of sand’ in Sotho ... more information

Makalali Conservancy

Also known as the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve and one of the country’s major privately owned conservation areas, Makalali Conservancy is over 22 000 hectares set in the Lowveld region of Limpopo, an hour west of the Phalaborwa gate of the Kruger National Park and roughly 80 kilometres from Hoedspruit ... more information

Selati Game Reserve

Selati Game Reserve lies on roughly 30 000 hectares of land west of the Kruger National Park, between the towns of Gravelotte and Mica, north of Nelspruit. Proclaimed as a conservancy in 2003, Selati is a partnership between neighbouring families who have pooled former farm land to preserve and ... more information

Thornybush Game Reserve

Adjacent to and incorporated into the Greater Kruger National Park lies 10 000 hectares of pristine African bushveld, which is the 'Thornybush Game Reserve'. With an abundance of birdlife and wildlife species including the 'Big 5'. Explore the African bush on foot and from the back of an... more information

Timbavati Game Reserve

Timbavati Game Reserve shares a common unfenced border with the Kruger National Park. This allows the animals free range and ensures guests to the area the opportunity to view the greatest diversity of wildlife that South Africa has to offer. Timbavati is a "Big Five" Game Reserve: Lion, Leopard... more information

Tshukudu Private Game Reserve

The family-owned Tshukudu Private Game reserve is situated in the Central Lowveld near Hoedspruit and adjoins the Greater Kruger National Park. The reserve is easily accessible and close to the attractions and activities of the area. Tshukudu a Big 5 Game Reserve boasts 5000ha of unspoilt bush with... more information

Tzaneen Country Club

Covered with indigenous grasses and endowed with putting surfaces unmatched throughout Limpopo, Tzaneen Country Club will reward the player who can adapt to the subtle breaks and influences of the ever-present grain and the golfer with putts dropping at a whim. A blend of rolling fairways and punishing but ... more information

Umbabat Game Reserve

Umbabat Nature Reserve lies just north east of Marulaneng, closest to Satara and Olifants rest camps of the Kruger National Park, bordered by the Kruger, the Timbavati and the Klaserie game reserves. Several private nature reserves, in turn, make up the beautiful Umbabat Private Game Reserve, in the heart of ‘Big Five’ ... more information

Valley of the Olifants Region

Featured Things To Do in Valley of the Olifants Region

Daktari Wildlife Orphanage

Where: Hoedspruit
How much (per person): On Request

Daktari wants to educate and inspire children to care for their environment through the medium of a wildlife orphanage. It is an organisatio ... more information

Mangela Animal Touch Farm and Tea Garden

Where: Tzaneen
How much (per person): On Request

Fun activities for kids and adults alike; look no further than our new Mangela Animal Touch Farm and Tea Garden. Meet, touch and feed our fr ... more information

Valley of the Olifants Region

Holiday Accommodation in Valley of the Olifants Region

For accommodation in Valley of the Olifants Region see:
Gravelotte AccommodationHoedspruit Accommodation
Karongwe AccommodationKlaserie Accommodation
Letsitele AccommodationManyeleti Accommodation
Mohlabetsi AccommodationMotswari Accommodation
Phalaborwa AccommodationThornybush Accommodation
Timbavati AccommodationTzaneen Accommodation
Umhlametsi AccommodationKruger Park Accommodation

Or to see all accommodation in the region at once, visit Valley of the Olifants Accommodation.

View Limpopo Destinations

Limpopo offers a mosaic of superb scenic landscape, a fascinating cultural heritage, an abundance of wildlife species and many nature based tourism opportunities.

South Africa is one of the most diverse and enchanting countries in the world. With eight world heritage sites, a multitude of game reserves and national parks, over 1350 ha of national botanical gardens, and exotic combinations of landscapes, people, history and culture, South Africa offers the traveller a unique and inspiring experience. Enjoy your stay in Valley of the Olifants!
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