Things to Do in Dendron

Home to 500 breeding pairs of endangered Cape Vultures, the far flung Blouberg Nature Reserve is a dream destination for twitchers and nature lovers. Catch all the action from a hide at the ‘Vulture Restaurant’. Best visited during winter months, you will be able to see Lappet-faced Vulture, Hooded Vulture, White-headed Vulture and White-backed Vulture. An exciting rare visitor to southern Africa, Ruppell’s Vulture, is breeding in the Blouberg Colony. Other raptors you might spot are the melanistic Gabar Goshawk, Eagle-Owl, brown snake-eagle, tawny eagle and a variety of owls. With a bird list of well over 225 recorded species it’s easy to tick off over 100 birds in a day. Best loved are the resident flock of comical Crested Guineafowl. Other birds to look out for are Southern White-faced Scops-Owl, Greater Painted Snipe, Grey Tit-Flycacther, Red-backed Shrike, Crimson-Breasted Shrike and Kalahari Scrub-Robin. The scenic landscape of Blouberg Nature Reserve covers a variety of habitats. Dry bushveld savannah interspersed with giant baobabs and mashatu trees, wetland and a small Sycamore fig forest. There are some wonderful hiking trails and opportunities to sight giraffe, zebra and various antelope on the plains. Opening hours are 06:00 – 19:00 +27 (0)15 563 0702 or 083 251 9071

Conveniently situated across the road from the Hugh Exton Photographic Museum and Civic Centre, Polokwane Museum is an excellent spot to while away a few hours. Occupying a lovely late Victorian shop built in 1906; the building was beautifully restored in 1986 and is now a National Monument. Here you can discover the secrets of this city and surrounding region as well as Stone Age and Iron Age artefacts. A highlight of the museum is a display depicting the colourful traditional cultures of Limpopo people. Complete your trip back in time and stroll across the street to the Hugh Exton Photographic Museum for an insight into the gold rush days of Polokwane's beginnings.

Take a trip back in time and catch glimpses of yesteryear at the Hugh Exton Photographic Museum. Boasting a 23 000-strong cultural and historical photo collection taken between 1892 and 1945, the museum is well worth a visit. Valuable original glass negatives capture the fascinating first few years of the town’s history on celluloid taken by photographer, Hugh Exton. The collection unlocks the mysteries of Polokwane’s bygone era with of images of architecture, industry, clothing, trade and famous town residents. The museum is housed in the beautiful 1890s Dutch Reformed church. Bookings are essential. +27 (0)15 290 2186

The Peter Mokaba Stadium in the Limpopo Province is another excellent spin-off from South Africa’s successful 2010 FIFA World Cup bid, hosting four first-round matches. The newly-built structure comfortably seats 46 000 people and is equipped with stylish international standard facilities. Polokwani (Pietersburg) is the largest city in the Limpopo Province, an area of untamed wilderness possessing the quintessential spirit of Africa. The Big Five, Kruger National Park, the magical Modjadji Forest and countless exciting outdoor activities attract people from all over the globe.

Luminous butterflies, crooning songbirds, preening parrots and parading peacocks greet you as you enter Wild Thingz. The jungle-like park at Meropa Casino and Entertainment World is home to numerous species including birds of prey, cranes, and parrots. Eagles cast imperious stares and wide-eyed owls peer down as you venture into their domain. You could spend hours here watching the spectacle. Creepy crawly aficionados and kids will love the reptile house where you can see anacondas, pythons, mambas and other deadly critters. Wild Thingz is open Tuesday to Sunday and offers bird shows at 10:00, 11:00 and 15:00 daily and a snake demonstration at 16:00. Entrance is R10 for adults, R5 for children. +27 (0)15 290 5400

The stylish Bakone Malapa Museum is a wonderful place to experience the rich culture of the BaSotho people. The Bakone, a highly sophisticated subgroup of the Northern Sotho tribe, will give you a warm welcome and enthusiastically share their contemporary and traditional customs. The guides are superb story tellers and the village becomes alive as they take you on a journey through their traditional way of life. Considered a living museum, the Bakone tribesmen practise long-standing traditions to explain the traditions of Africa’s people. Another reconstructed village like it is the open-air Tsonga Museum near Tzaneen. Bakone Malapa is built in the style used by the northern Sotho 250 years ago and demonstrates the daily life of the Bakone clan. Two homesteads exhibit and explain fire making, maize grinding and beer brewing in the traditional manner. Handcraft demonstrations include pottery, basketry and bead work. Most of these locally-made creations are sold from the onsite craft shop. And that’s not all – the museum and cultural village has a bird sanctuary, wildlife reserve, hiking trails and outdoor recreation areas.

Not only does Polokwane Nature Reserve have a healthy rhino population, it also features a number of fabulous walks and hikes. With over 21 species of mammals, this small reserve outside Polokwane is well worth a stop. Enthusiastic birders come here to check out the isolated eastern population of the Short-clawed Lark. The reserve is known as an excellent place for bushveld, thornveld and grassveld birding with over 300 bird species recorded. Keep your eyes and ears open for the Tinkling Cisticola, Northern Black Korhaan, Shelley´s Francolin, Double-banded Courser, Burchell´s Sandgrouse, Bushveld Pipit, Great Sparrow, African Wren-Warbler and Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler – all found here. You have a good chance of spotting breeding raptors including the African Hawk-Eagle, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Secretary Bird, Wahlberg´s Eagle, Greater Kestrel and Gabar Goshawk. The reserve offers a neat camping and caravan site as well as chalet accommodation. Opening hours are 07:00 – 16:30 +27 (0)15 290 2331

Mashovhela, also traditionally known as “the place where the drums can be heard”, is the second most sacred place in Venda folklore. This sacred site is still used occasionally by sangomas in rain-making ceremonies. A few years ago the sangomas beat their drums - shortly after which Venda had the heaviest rains and most devastating floods in living memory.!According to Venda lore, the legendary and powerful King Thohoiyanda had a mystical drum, Ngoma Lungundo ('drum of the dead'). As his enemies approached this drum was beaten and his foes just dropped dead.One night, King Thohoiyanda and the sacred drum mysteriously disappeared from his royal kraal. Neither were ever seen again. It is believed he disappeared into the Western Soutpansberg, where Mashovhela Lodge is situated.Tradition has it that it is this sacred drum that can sometimes be heard in the echoes from the rock cliffs of Mashovhela Pool.Come and listen for the drum beating at Mashovhela.

Rich in biodiversity, the scenically stunning Makapansgat Valley and Caves play a significant role in the Cradle of Humankind. The numerous cave system draw palaeontologists from around the globe to view fossils that date back over three million years, revealing the stories of this once tropical paradise. Our early ancestor, the ‘ape-man’ Austalopithecus africanus, is one of the fascinating finds. See the oldest site at Makapansgat Limeworks. The Cave of Hearths has evidence of human occupation from the Early Stone Age and the Hyena Cave has remains of early hyenas. Today vervet monkeys, baboons and bush babies clamber in the treetops, searching for the same edible fruits and plants that early man gathered. Contact the Arend Dieperink Museum in Mokopane for guided tours of the Makapansgat Caves starting at the museum. +27 015 491 9735

Situated in the Magoebaskloof between Haenertsburg and Tzaneen, the picturesque George's Valley is renowned for its beauty and friendly inhabitants. It’s a perfect stop over en-route to the Kruger National Park or for family holidays and weekend getaways. Known as the adventure hub of the Limpopo, George's Valley Gorge is a magnet for adrenaline junkies with a variety of thrills ranging from mild to wild. Try the magnificent Magoebaskloof Canopy Tour and experience the exhilaration of sliding through the forest on a two-hour Tarzan and Jane adventure! Magoebaskloof Adventures also offer awesome kloofing, abseiling, quad biking, fly-fishing, tubing, horse riding, a 4x4 course and mountain biking.

Spectacularly scenic rock formations, excellent birding and game viewing make for a wonderful bush escape in this Waterberg reserve. Home to rich birdlife, a weekend at Masebe Nature Reserve is a must for birders and those who love the wilderness. Besides game viewing and bird watching, other attractive activities on offer include hiking, cycling, and kloofing. Only 360 km from Johannesburg, Masebe lies near the town of Marken close to Clive Walker's Lapalala Game Reserve and Touchstone Game Ranch. Set in picturesque surroundings, the 4 500-hectare provincial park features a variety of interesting geological formations, plants and rivers. Exciting wildlife you might encounter include sable, tsessebe, nyala, giraffe, zebra, eland, kudu and leopard. The recently renovated camp has chalets for four to seven people, each with a private kitchen and braai area. Ideally suited for group reservations, the camp also offers a large kitchen with bar, conference centre, swimming pool and lapa with communal braai area. Masebe Nature Reserve is a dual venture between the Limpopo government and the Bakenberg community to support tourism-generated economic development.

Grab the whole family and soak up the countrified charms of this quaint little dairy farm. Winners of the Eat In 'Best Organic Producer' 2008 award for their organic produce, Wegraakbosch Organic Cheese Dairy is well worth a visit. Take a tour, taste and watch cheese being made in the traditional way – it’s so good! Cows are milked by hand and curds are stirred in a big copper cauldron over a fire. Kids will love checking out the chickens, ducks and geese while the older folk are stocking up on organic cheese and dairy products. You’ll find a tempting array of yoghurt, feta, ricotta, cottage and other hard and soft cheeses. Tours are an hour long and cost R50 for adults. Afterwards take a stroll around the farm and find a good picnic spot.

Serenely situated on the scenic Hans Merensky Dam, Tzaneen Country Club is an undiscovered challenge for the serious golfer. The course is alleged to be one of the fairest tests of golf around and should have the high and low handicapper alike urging to book the next round. Rolling fairways and punishing but fair roughs merge to present a ‘shot makers’ ideal challenge. A well stocked bar with a cosy fireplace creates a friendly setting for socialising after many rounds. Tzaneen Country Club hosts some of the major tournaments on the PGA Winter Tour. Local and visiting golfers gather here every May for a weekend of golfing and good times at the annual Koraalboom Tournament.

Definitely worth a stop, the Arend Dieperink Museum houses a valuable cultural and historical collection of Sotho and Voortrekker artefacts. Inhabiting an elegant old stone school building, the museum tells the story of the region from early humankind at Makapan’s Cave, the Anglo Boer War and recent times. Vintage farm implements, tractors and wagons are showcased outdoors. Inside are a few of the incredible archaeological finds discovered at Makapan’s Cave including the three-million-year-old human predecessor, Australothipicus africanus. Do try the mampoer, a locally brewed ‘moonshine’ along with freshly baked bread – available on request. Tours to Makapan’s Cave depart from the museum by prior arrangement +27 (0)15 491 9735.

Get airborne on an adrenalin pumping trip above three waterfalls and the Great Letaba River Gorge! Zip into the magnificent Magoebaskloof Canopy Tour and slide through the forest on a two-hour arboreal adventure. The impressive foefie slide cables are linked to 13 platforms above the river, waterfalls and indigenous forest floor. See the beauty of this spectacular area from a vantage point high above the river. Qualified guides ensure safety and chat knowledgeably about the birds, animals and plants. Families, nature lovers and thrill seekers shouldn’t miss this incredible zip slide experience. +27 (0) 83 866 1546 www.magoebaskloofcanopytour.co.za