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.
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 Accommodation • Hoedspruit Accommodation
• Karongwe Accommodation • Klaserie Accommodation
• Letsitele Accommodation • Manyeleti Accommodation
• Mohlabetsi Accommodation • Motswari Accommodation
• Phalaborwa Accommodation • Thornybush Accommodation
• Timbavati Accommodation • Tzaneen Accommodation
• Umhlametsi Accommodation • Kruger Park Accommodation
Or to see all accommodation in the region at once, visit Valley of the Olifants Accommodation.
Limpopo offers a mosaic of superb scenic landscape, a fascinating cultural heritage, an abundance of wildlife species and many nature based tourism opportunities.
- Introduction to Limpopo
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destinations / attractions in the limpopo province
