Limpopo is one of nine provinces in South Africa. It was formed after the first free elections in 1994 from the northern region of the former Transvaal. Initially called the Northern Transvaal it was renamed the Northern Province the next near. In 2003 the name was changed again to that of its most important river found along the border with Zimbabwe.
Limpopo is located in the northeast of South Africa, sharing borders with Botswana on its west, Zimbabwe in the north and Mozambique on its east. It covers an area of 123,900km�.
The population of nearly 5.5 million is 97% Black and 2.5% White. The population of Limpopo consists of several ethnic groups, distinguished largely by their first language. The Northern Sotho (including Pedi) make up the largest proportion (57%), followed by Tsonga (including Shangaan) speakers (23%) and Venda (12%). Afrikaans speakers are less than 3% and English speakers less than 0.5% (although many more will speak English as a second or third language).
The major cities and towns in Limpopo are Bela-Bela, Lephalale Makhado, Modimolle, Mokopane, Musina, Phalaborwa, Polokwane, Thabazimbi, Thohoyandou and Tzaneen. Polokwane is the capital of the Limpopo Province.
Lekker Links
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Limpopo provincial government
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Limpopo Tourism & Parks
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Tourism Grading Council
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Related pages
Provinces; Cities & Towns.
Bela-Bela, Lephalale Makhado, Modimolle, Mokopane, Musina, Phalaborwa, Polokwane, Thabazimbi, Thohoyandou, Tzaneen
Kruger National Park; Mapungubwe National Park; Marakele National Park.
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Limpopo is renowned for its hot (27�C) yet pleasant summers (October to March) with brief afternoon showers, and its dry winters (May to September).
The Kruger National Park, the biggest in South Africa, is a national wildlife "jewel in the crown." For centuries, the land between the Sabie and Crocodile Rivers was no more than a vast tract of African savannah.
The Makapansgat Valley is found south of Polokwane in the Strydpoort Mountain range. This valley with its numerous caves is a National monument that links directly with the history at the Cradle of Humankind.
Mapungubwe is truly one of the most remarkable areas in the Limpopo. Situated at the confluence of the Shashi and Limpopo Rivers, it forms the centre of a new transfrontier park, giving space so urgently needed for the free roaming elephants in southern Botswana.
Sleeping peacefully in the heart of the Lobedu mountains near Duivelskloof is the ancestral home of Queen Modjadji V � the Rain Queen.
No tree in South Africa embodies the spirit of Africa more than the baobab - truly an icon of the Limpopo. Another phenomena related to this area are the unique cycad forest situated just above the royal enclosure of Modjadji. This is the largest growth of a single cycad species, Encephalartos transvenosis, in the world.
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