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Province: Limpopo province
Region: Valley of the Olifants

Valley of the Olifants Towns:
Bushbuck Ridge  |  Hoedspruit  |  Phalaborwa  |  Tzaneen 

Tourist Routes/ Meanders
The African Ivory Route

Valley of the Olifants 
As the name suggests, this region falls within the valley of the great Olifants River that stretches from Giyani through to the Kruger National Park. It includes towns such as Phalaborwa, Tzaneen, Hoedspruit and Bosbokrand. 

The Olifants Valley is an area rich in wildlife, scenery, mountains, rivers, dams, history and cultural and ethnic attractions. The contrasts in climate, scenery and landscape are both striking and dramatic. 

Crisp mountain breezes roll across the precipitous escarpment and misty peaks of the Northern Drakensberg and the Wolkberg. There are the bright waters of cascading trout streams, the reflections of hills in placid dams, and age-old trees that line the many rivers flowing to the sea. Spring brings a profusion of colour while towering yellow-woods, tree ferns, lichens and lianas flourish in the cool green shade of indigenous forests. 

Feast your senses on the emerald green expanses of tea plantations, the shimmering sweep of marula, mopani and acacia woodlands and the majesty of royal and ancient cycads. Complementing the unspoilt natural areas are many beautiful gardens where a host of flowering plants, shrubs and trees attract and delight visitors throughout the year. 

The Valley of the Olifants encompasses some of the largest remaining wilderness areas in the country. It harbours the heartland of the lowveld, unspoilt indigenous forests and the beautiful escarpment and mountain ranges of the Northern Drakensberg. There are numerous private game parks and conservancies of the Timbavati, Klaserie, Kapama and Tshukudu reserves, as well as easy access to the northern section of the Kruger National Park.

Those in search of history will find many places of archaeological significance with relics of Stone Age man, as well as sites associated with the lives and exploits of the early hunters, traders, explorers, prospectors and settlers. 

The Valley of the Olifants is home to Modjadji, the legendary Rain Queen. It is also the meeting place of the vibrant diverse cultures of the Shangaan, Pedi, Venda and Lobedu people. Feel the threads of history in the carvings, weavings, paintings and pottery of the Shangaan and Pedi people, readily available in the villages and at craft outlets in the main centres. 

Throughout this region there are accommodation facilities to suit all tastes and pockets. The many roadside stalls and picturesque tea gardens offer delicious homemade fare as well as an abundance of subtropical fruits such as mango, litchi, banana and avocado. 

There are four superb golf courses in the region (Merensky in Phalaborwa, TCC between Tzaneen & Duiwelskloof, Orangedene on the Letaba Estates near Tzaneen and Drakensig near Hoedspruit) and anglers in search of trout, bass, bream, tilapia, yellowfish or barbel will find a variety of dams and rivers set in tranquil and scenic surrounds. Many other sporting amenities are available and the needs of the hiker, the rambler, the canoeist and the mountain biker are well catered for. 
A hallmark of the Valley is the spirit of warm and genuine friendliness that entices all travellers to return and enjoy the unbounded hospitality.