Magoebaskloof
A drive in the direction of Tzaneen is the spectacular mountain reserve of Magoebaskloof. The area is well-known for the excellence of its hiking opportunities.
The district boasts some of the most beautiful gardens in South Africa. Spring brings the magnificence of brilliantly coloured azaleas and the rich soft hues of massed flowering cherries to the "Letaba Garden Route". The magnificent spectacle of the blossoms of these, orchids, and citrus trees occurs in September and October each year.
The Magoebaskloof Spring Festival is held at this time to celebrate the new growing season. There is an excellent Orchid display laid on by the Wolkberg Orchid Society.
A variety of arts and crafts stalls combine with an opportunity to try out your own artisanal skills (make your own Christmas presents!). For kids, activities such as kite making, mealie meal painting, and a touch-and-feel zoo are organised. There is a wide range of fresh home made food to eat at the Festival or take away (jams, pastas, pickles, dried fruit, local cheeses etc).
Particularly worth visiting is the ancient cycad forest at Modjadji- home of the legendary Rain Queen. Tourists exploring the African Ivory Route can stay over in the traditional hutted camp in the reserve.
Also worth a trip are the local tea estates such as the Middelkop Tea Estate, ironically dedicated (in part) to another Queen (see below).
The Middlekop Tea Estate features the peculiarity of the Commonwealth Plantation, a 11 hectare plot containing three varieties of Eucalyptus trees planted experimentally in 1914. In 1939 the plot was "dedicated" to the Commonwealth Forestry Commission when their annual conference was held in South Africa.
These are magnificent trees, averaging 55m in height, and the atmosphere inside this small man-made forest is serene.
Sapekoe's Middelkop Tea Estate is virtually next to the R71, seven km from the Tzaneen/ Duiwelskloof road turn-off.
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- Our Limpopo Lanner Northern Birding safari takes in Magoebaskloof.
- We visit the nearby gardens of the famous Rain Queen, the unique Mojadji cycad forest, in the Kruger2Canyons Meander.
