Polokwane Museum

The Polokwane Museum was built in 1906 by Moschke, a German immigrant and in 1920 he sold the museum to JA Jones. Mr Jones gave the museum the name of 'Irish House'. The building is from the beautiful Late Victorian style and was restored to its original splendour in 1986 when it was declared as a museum. New exhibitions are planned for 2006-2007. The exhibits will depict themes from all the different peoples and cultures in the Limpopo province of South Africa. All the exhibitions will be linked with man's interaction with the environment and the role of hunting in the region of Limpopo, South Africa.

For bookings or further information contact: (015) 290 2183

The Land Of Modjaji - The Rain Queenback to top

This land is an impressive setting of baobab trees, untouched bushveld, breathtaking mountain ranges and an abundance of wild life. Enchanting myths, legends and culture found its home here in the place where this mysterious and magical woman's ancestors finally settled. Modjadji is a direct descendant of Monomotapa who was the ruler of the Karanga people in Zimbabwe in the 15th century. After a scandal in the royal house, his daughter (Princess Dzugugnini) and her son fled to the south. She took potions and other secrets for making rain with her. These unique powers were passed on through generations. Her granddaughter were the first crowned Riaan Queen (Modjadji). Her story was told in a novel by Sir Rider Haggard and the novel was named 'She'. She was loved and feared far beyond the boundaries of her small kingdom and, according to legend, many great kings have left her nation untouched and often called on her unique powers.

Bakone Malapa Museumback to top

The name of the museum are derived as follow; Bakone - is the name of a local ethnic group / Malapa - means homestead. The Museum consentrates on the traditional way of life of the Northern Sotho People. An archaelogical site, dating from the 17th century consisting of complex stone walling forms a link with the museum.Traditional cultural aspects have been revived and are demonstrated to visitors. Tradition includes hut building, thatching, metalwork, woodcarving, pottery, basketry and skinwork. A kiosk with souvenirs are available. The museum is situated 9km outside Polokwane on the R37(to Burgersfort). The museum are open from 8:00 to 16:00 but they are closed on public holidays. Tel: (015) 295 2432

Polokwane Art Museumback to top

This modern museum is housed in the Library Gardens Complex. The visitors are always entertained and theit intrest sperked by a dynamic interchange of exhibitions espessially in the high season (August to December). The museum boasts more than 1200(and growing) pieces and is the most extensive munisipal collection. In August they display the works of artists in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The museum also boasts two outdoors components, being the Industrial Art Park (on the N1 north to Makhado) and the Bronze and Steel sculptures all over Polokwane, Limpopo. with the main focus on the City Plaza. For guided tours -
Tel: (015) 290 2177

Mapungubwe Museumback to top

The University of Pretoria has been excavating this Iron age site since 1932. Artifacts made of gold, ivory and other materials include a little gold rhinoceros, the fund of a grave- a Golden Scepter and the Golden Bowl and human remains. This site was added to the World Heritage List in June 2003 and described as the centre of the largest kingdom in the sub-continent before it was abandoned in the 14th century.

Mogalakwena Craft Village back to top

MOGALAKWENA CRAFT ART DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (MCADF) was established in 1994 to create employment opportunities, promote the traditional arts and crafts and promote the restoration of craft art skills. MCADF specializes in the training of multiple skills - embroidery, bead work, candle making, sewing, basket weaving, cement work, basic computer literacy, practical first aid courses, AIDS awareness & care, children's art workshops and basic principles of cultural tourism. The Village comprises the following: The Artist's Retreat (a renovated farm house)- a refined bush retreat in Africa for creative minds, The Writer's Cottage (a renovated cottage), a Manager's House, staff accommodation, a thatched roof Garden Studio, a 40ft container donated by Safmarine, a vegetable garden, a creche and a basic health support centre and a Training; Development Centre. The Foundation had humble beginnings in old farm house where unemployed people from the neighbouring Lebowa Tribal Trust Land were trained in a variety of craft art skills and their products sold to enable them to earn an income. The Foundation started its work with two part-time craft artists and now employs 26 people on a full-time basis. A huge escalation in orders resulted after publication of the book, Craft Art in South Africa published by Struik/New Holland Publishers and the Foundation was compelled to employ more people. In 1999/2000 the Foundation leased bigger premises and increased in personnel, employees, and its marketing activities to UK, USA, France, Netherlands, Australia, Canada. And in 2003they were the Joint winner of the Nedbank/Mail & Guardian Cultural Project of the Year Award.
Directions: From Johannesburg/Pretoria take the N1 to Polokwane. From Polokwane (Pietersburg) continue to Vivo, Dendron(R521) and 10 km outside Alldays on the Swartwater Road(R572), at the Mogalakwena sign turn left towards Tolwe. Drive for approximately 20km and at the Mogalakwena River Lodge sign carry on for another 500m, cross the Mogalakwena River Bridge and turn left at Mogalakwena Craft Art Village sign and entrance.From Polokwane it is one and a half hours drive to the Mogalakwena Craft Art Village. Mogalakwena Craft Art Village is approximately 20km from the Limpopo River and the following border posts between South Africa and Botswana Martin's Drift, Platjan and Tugela.
info@mogalakwena.com and www.mogalakwena.com

Modjadji Cycad Forest back to top

Cycad ( Encephalartos transvenosis). A significant part of the Modjadji dynasty was formed by these cycads and the history of the Rain Queen is preserved in a smaal museum at the entrance to the reserve. 12 000 Mature cycads (the Encephalartos transvenosus species) has thrived to the point of extending to the biggest cycad forest in the world. The mature cycads are between 50 and 60 million years old. Seedlings can be seen everywhere in the shades of their giant (between 6m and 13m tall) ancestors.

The largest Baobab in the worldback to top

This Boabab forms a large and true land mark at Modjdjiskloof on a farm called Sunland, and has been refered to as the 'largest living thing in the world'. This tree is probably more than
6 000 years old, 22 meters tall and 47 meters in circumference. Inside the tree is a unique pub. Day visitors can view all these qualities for themselves at only R10 p/person, while the pub can be booked for private functions. Accommodation are also available as well as quad tracks (11km-enduro and 2km kiddies track)

Makapan Valley World Heritage Siteback to top

The history from the ape-man (australopithecine), Stone age, Iron age up to the present day can be imagined. This wirld heritage site features the most complete record of homonid occupation. The Limeworks is the oldest site of +-3.32 million years old. Thousands of fossil bones including the remains of the gracile ape-man came from this site. The Historic cave (ga-a-washa cave) depicts the clash between the Boere and the Langa and Kekana people. Chief Mugombane with his tribe and their cattle stayed in this cave for a month and many died of hunger and thirst. Piet Potgieter was shot during this fued. The Cave of Hearths & Hyaena depicts a suprisingly complete record of human habitation from the Early-, Middle- and Later stone ages up to the iron age. Brass and Musket balls were some of the relics found when the excavations began. In the Buffalo Cave fossils of ancient, extinct buffalos were found. Other fossils include antelope, pigs, monkeys, horses and various carnivores. The Rainbow Cave is situated right beneath the Historic cave and shows signs of human occupance as well as the controlled use of fire. Bookings at: +27 (0)15 491 9740/8458

Arend Dieperink Museumback to top

Located at 97 Thabo Mbeki drive, Mokopane, this graceful stone building was originally built as a school. In this museum the history of Vredenburg-then Pieter Potgietersburg- then Potgietersburg- now Mokopane and the surrounding areas from the earliest times including the Anglo-Boer war can be seen.Other valuable artifacts include dinosaur fissil material and the replica of a traditional 'bosveldhuis' in which the white South African farmers lived. Piet Potgieters grave can also be found here and tours can be arranged on request:
+27 (0)15 491 9735

Tsonga Kraal Museumback to top

Situated in the Hans Merensky Nature Reserve this museum represents the cultural products and building styles of the North Tsonga tribes. The tribes were comprised of refuge groups from the Southern parts of Mozambique. As the Museum is today, it attempts to show as many building styles as possible. The homestead of a Chief with eight wifes were the basis where upon the kraal was fashioned. The arrangement of the huts follows a set pattern but many variations of the pattern are found in the area. The kraal was built entirely from traditional materials. Mopane poles bound to mopane bark forms the framework of most huts and clay from anthills were used for the floors and walls. Different coulerd soil were used to make up the paint which decorates the walls.

Letaba Elephant Museum back to top

Located in the Kruger National Park at Letaba Camp (close to Phalaborwa Gate) this amazing museum has everything on elephants. They have a life size elephant statue at the entrance, a full-sized elephant skeleton, the tusks of six the famous eight and lots of spectacular ivory tusks inside. Displays which shows how elephants evolved as a species, large murals and some elephant embrios. www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/elephants

The Woodbush State Forest back to top

This is the largest indiginous forest in Limpopo and the 'Dap Naude Dam' are reached via the scenic drive off the R71. The dam offers a picnic spot in this oak forest just below the dam wall. The 'O'Connor Memorial' also found in this forest honours a former District Officer for the Woodbush Forest, Alexander O'Conner and is found at the end of an avenue of enormous gum trees which was planted by Alexander himself!

Cyril Jackson Observatoryback to top

In 1955 Cyril constructed a small stone building at a hilltop close to Haenertsburg Village. He made several discoveries here which made him one of South Africa's leading Astronomers. His credits include 72 asteroids and 3 comets - everyone named after him.

Cheerio Gardensback to top

These gardens are situated in the Magoebaskloof area. With hundreds of different Japanese flowering cherry trees that comes into bloom around late September to early October this is a world famous garden.

The McNeil Clivia Collectionback to top

This is one of South Africa's best-known Clivia collections. This wild garden and a small stream is shaded by immense indiginous trees and are abselutely enchanting. The collection started in 1962 when Gorden McNeil bought clivias from G.I.Blackbeard of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. He then planted these specimens in this shaded area in the Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve in the wild Drakensberg Escarpment. Here they flourished and variations were propagated using hand pollination, natural cross pollination and wind pollination. The plant concentration, the numbers of plants and the long period off establishment all makes for a great diversity. The blooming takes place from the end of August to the beginning of October. Appointments: 083 631 7153

Niyani Tribal Village back to top

The true Shangaan lifestyle and their daily way of living can be seen through the tours that are conducted by Axon (a direct decendant of Chief Kapama). You can have your fortune told by a genuine Sangoma and even a tour to the traditional medicane reserve can be arranged. suikerko@mweb.co.za

Swadini Reptile Parkback to top

To have an interesting view into the world of reptiles this is definately the place to be! Daily demonstrations are performed with exotic and indiginous snakes, crocodiles etc. Have your picture taken with a giant boa and enjoy refreshments in the tea garden while watching the free ranging spider monkeys play. Tel: (015) 795 5203

The Hugh Exton Photographic Museumback to top

The museum is housed in a Duch Revormed church built in Polokwane South Africa, in the 1890's. The very valuable cultural, history collection, consisting of more than 23 000 photos taken by Hugh Exton are mainly of Polokwane and its people and dates from the early 1890's to about 1945. While negatives unlock the mysteries of yesteryear, the original (now somewhat delicate and fragile) photographs are preserved in this old church. The exhibitions cover a variety of topics such as, the birth and development of Polokwane, architecture, industries, clothing, trade and famous town residents. Tel: (015) 290 2186. Admission is free.