Tolwe

Tolwe, Waterberg

Lying in the heart of the Limpopo province, Tolwe lies just off the R561 that branches off the N11 south of the border South Africa shares with Botswana. The little town is easily described as 'in the middle of nowhere', and the nearest towns of Letshwatla and My Darling are far enough away to barely suffice as neighbours.

But Tolwe, regarded as part of Lephalale Rural, lies in an exceptionally beautiful part of the world. The section of the country between Tolwe and Alldays is largely given over to farming including the odd private game farm offering malaria free viewing of wild animals in a gorgeous setting devoid of man and any of his development.

An interesting local story follows the placement of an Anatolian shepherd livestock guarding dog named Gia on a farm called Drinkeling, just outside Tolwe. His job was to guard a herd of Kalahri red goats from caracal, black-backed jackal, leopards, brown hyena and cheetah (which gives you an inkling of how wild it is out here). Only two weeks into his placement, Gia was killed by a snake, despite the far greater threat of other predators. But do not let that hinder your paying a visit here, Gia did, after all, sleep out of doors.

The experience in Tolwe is bushveld, African style. Stay on a number of game farms and in lodges in Lephalale Rural, some more intimate than others, that bring a stay on an African farm to life with luxury and a touch of what makes any stay legendary - the chance to unwind in the magic of the bushveld, the cries of the wild alive in the camp, and evenings spent around a log fire.