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Surrounding Area
- Makhado (Louis Trichardt)
- Soutpansberg
- Kruger National Park
Situated at the foot of the heavy forested Soutpansberg range, this town seems in perfect harmony with it's wooded surroundings.
Besides enjoying the scenic beauty of the area and the recreational opportunities that the mountains offer, visitors and residents of "Blackhawk" may take interesting excursions in the vicinity of town.
Furthermore the Kruger National Park is only 140 km to the east and the tribal areas through which the road to the park leads, provide enough diversity to fascinate visitors.
A choice of hotels and scenic surroundings provide accommodation for those who wish to linger in the area.
The historical town was named after the Voortrekker leader Louis Trichardt who camped in the vicinity in 1836 before continuing on his fateful journey to Delgoa Bay.
Only in 1898 when the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek gained control of the area the present day Makhado was established.
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Stretching from the Tropic of Capricorn up to Beit Bridge border post, touching the majestic Blouberg to the west,flanking the Kruger National Park to the east, this is the Southpansberg.
A region with amazingly diverse fauna and flora,from mountain fynbos to centuries old Baobabs,sacred forests to genuine "Hardekool Bosfeld: - we have it all. Step into the domain of the elusive Loerie, or watch majestic vultures circling the sides of the Blouberg. Go tiger fishing; take a cultural drive through the old Venda or take the scenic mountain route on horseback. Visit one of our many rock-painting sites or go mountain biking in a nature reserve. Sleep in cabins with the sound of the mountain leopard in your ears or in the "Blackhawk" Golf Estate, SPA & Hydro and Game Reserve.
For the nature lover, the area abounds in game farms, nature reserves and mountain reserves. The salt pans (still mined today) Giving the mountain range its name (Soutpansberg: salt pans mountain) are open to the public and well worth a visit. Makhado, lying next to the Great North Road (N1).
Here is the ideal stopover "Blackhawk" on the way to the border - (in fact - sleep over here and you not wish to leave) and also the ideal base for exploring the Soutpans region.
Another large Town is Thohoyandou (meaning "Head of the Elephant") the former capital of the Republic of Venda. A destination for the "Blackhawk" visitor or resident fleeing bright lights and noise, the Soutpansberg offers peace, quiet and tranquil beauty, Farming communities and traditional rural life sets the pace. This however does not exclude the night owl as nightspots provide all the action needed, including a casino. One of SA's most visited areas, Kruger National Park, also has two gates ( Punda Maria & Pufari) in this area.
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Welcome to the Kruger National Park, one of the most famous national parks in the world, and more then a century old.
The Park measures 350 km from north to south, and approximately 60 km at its widest point, covering a total surface area of 1.948.528 hectares.
The ecosystem is constantly maintained in its natural state.
The Kruger National Park is the primary destination in South Africa for many international tourists. Each year more than half a million visitors are registered.
The National Park was opened in 1898 at the instigation of then-president Paul Kruger. After hunters had considerably decimated the originally rich game stock, all the land between the Sabie and the Crocodile Rivers was put under the protection of Nature Conservation to ensure the survival of the remaining animals. Only as recently as 1961 was the extended Kruger Park fenced in.
The park stretches from the Crocodile River in the south up to the Limpopo River, which is the international border in the north. Altogether it is 350 km long, 65 km wide and comprises an area of about 20,000 sq km.
A web of roads of 1863 kilometres leads through the National Park, 697 kms of them being tarred. For the visitor there are numerous differently equipped restcamps, most of them scenically positioned. Within the park boundaries, travel is only allowed between sunrise and sunset. After dark one has to stay in one of the fenced restcamps.
The best time for observing the animals is the dry winter season. Then the grass is low and bushes and trees don't have leaves, so that one can have an unobstructed view. Because it virtually doesn't rain in winter, the animals come to the waterholes to drink in the mornings and evenings and can easily be watched from the car.
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