Polokwane: Nature, Photography and Cultural Heritage

Polokwane combines nearby landscapes with a history of golf and diverse collections in the city. Birdwatching, open grassland and historical photographs offer very different experiences. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you would like to focus on nature, culture or both.

Birdlife and open grassland

The Polokwane Bird Sanctuary covers 43 hectares. Three dams of varying depths, reed beds, shallow pans, a sandbank, riverside woodland and grassland create a varied landscape near the destination. More than 320 bird species have been recorded there over a period of ten years. Birdwatching, hiking trails, and picnic and braai areas make the sanctuary a nature destination with various ways to spend time outdoors.

The Polokwane Game Reserve is also nearby. Its entrance is about a ten-minute drive from the city centre; the actual journey time may vary depending on the route and traffic. The reserve protects the endangered Pietersburg Plateau False Grassland. Its characteristic vegetation includes 110 grass species, around 280 flowering plants and 68 tree species. Alongside birdlife, the distinctive grassland and its plants are also in focus.

The two destinations offer different ways to experience nature: dams, reeds and riverside areas shape the landscape at the Bird Sanctuary, while the Game Reserve is defined by open grassland and its plant diversity. If you enjoy spending your days observing nature or exploring outdoor trails, these differences can help guide your choice of outings.

Golf history and activities

Founded in 1863, Polokwane Golf Course predates the city. It is open to the public and has a bar, a braai area and an events hall overlooking ponds and bentgrass greens. Its historical connection and facilities make it more than just a sporting venue. Check current opening hours before visiting.

Nearby attractions also include Meropa Casino. It is home to the “Wild Thingz” bird and snake sanctuary, a mini-golf course and a go-kart track. Together with birdwatching and hiking trails at the Bird Sanctuary, these offer a range of activities with different characters.

Near Polokwane, visitors can also learn how to make fire, brew beer and grind maize at the Bakone Malapa Northern Sotho Open-Air Museum. Craft demonstrations include wood carving and pottery. These insights into practical activities complement the nature and sports offerings with a cultural experience.

Photography, art and history

The Hugh Exton Photographic Museum is dedicated to historical and artistic photography. Around 20,000 black-and-white photographs from the 1890s depict life at the time, including clothing, ox wagons and acacia trees. The subjects bring history to life through tangible details of everyday life and give photography its own place among Polokwane’s cultural attractions.

The Polokwane Art Museum is located in the Library Gardens Complex and has an extensive indoor and outdoor collection reflecting the work of South African artists. The museum also exhibits works by local artists. The Irish House offers a different cultural perspective: this late Victorian shop house represents the province’s diverse cultures. The range therefore extends from photographic records and art to a historic building with cultural significance.

When choosing a holiday rental in Polokwane, the kind of days you want to spend can be a useful starting point. Those particularly interested in museums and historical images will find a clear cultural focus here; those who prefer birds, grassland and trails can include the nearby nature destinations. The golf course adds a historical and sporting focus to the mix. When choosing Polokwane as your destination, consider which of these perspectives you would like your trip to centre on.

Discover more destinations:

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Back to the regional travel overview: Northern Province.