Central: Game Reserves, Rock Art and Culture
Accommodation in Central
In Central, vast nature reserves meet striking evidence of culture and history. The range includes wildlife and trails for active pursuits, as well as rock art and traditional pottery. If you would like to bring together different interests on your trip, these places offer a variety of points of interest—from nature experiences to cultural discoveries.
Game reserves between savannah and mountain landscape
Polokwane Game Reserve covers 3,250 hectares and is home to 52 wildlife species. It offers mountain biking, hiking, and horse-riding trails for outdoor activities. The location of the entrance can also be described precisely: it is a ten-minute drive from Polokwane city centre. If you choose a holiday rental as a base for activities in and around Polokwane, you can use this travel time to the reserve entrance for orientation; it does not describe the distance to any particular accommodation.
A different landscape defines Blouberg Nature Reserve. It covers 9,360 hectares and extends from the eastern part of Blouberg Mountain to the savannah along the Brak River. The reserve is also home to one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of Cape vultures. Mountain, river, and savannah are all part of the landscape here; the Cape vulture colony is a distinctive feature of the protected area.
Other natural areas differ in the wildlife and activities specifically mentioned. Malebogo Nature Reserve is home to giraffes, kudus, springboks, eland, impalas, wildebeest, and zebras, among other animals. Wonderkop Nature Reserve has 4x4 routes where you can spot sable and roan antelope. At Glen Alpine Dam, there is a fishing spot for tourists where they can easily keep track of their catches. Wildlife enthusiasts will find different highlights here from travellers looking for a place to fish.
Rock art, Bakone culture, and crafts
The Makgabeng Plateau is home to more than 890 rock art sites created by the San, Khoekhoe, Tswana, and Northern Sotho. The rock art portrays the history of Indigenous communities. It also tells of wars between Boers on horseback and in ox wagons, as well as of Chief Maleboogo. The plateau therefore offers access to a range of historical narratives that cannot be reduced to a single event.
At the Bakone Malapa Open Air Museum, the focus is on traditional huts, crafts, and Bakone storytelling traditions. The Seabakgwana Pottery Project adds another cultural highlight, specialising in traditional pottery. This makes it possible to combine an interest in landscapes and wildlife with places centred on history, storytelling traditions, and crafts when planning your trip. Polokwane Golf Course adds a distinct historical connection for those with other interests: it was established in 1863.
Regional orientation and varied travel interests
Capricorn District Municipality is centrally located between Gauteng and the eastern access routes to Kruger National Park. The N1 and several provincial roads run through the municipality: the P33/1 (R37) from Polokwane to Burgersfort/Lydenburg, the P94/1 (R521) from Polokwane to Alldays and Botswana, and the P17/1 (R71) from Polokwane to Tzaneen and Phalaborwa. These routes provide a regional overview; they do not establish direct connections between the individual natural and cultural sites. The Seraki Blouberg Route runs along the foot of Blouberg Mountain.
Meropa Casino is also among the listed attractions; it includes the Wild Thingz bird and snake sanctuary. Nature, history, crafts, and other leisure interests are thus presented as distinct themes. When choosing a holiday rental, your trip’s main focus may therefore be a factor: would you like to explore Polokwane and its game reserve, or are you especially interested in the Blouberg landscape and the rock art of the Makgabeng Plateau?
Other places in Central include Mooiplaas, Alldays, Ga-Maponto, Polokwane and Vivo.
For the broader travel overview: Limpopo.
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