Polokwane is a well-known as Place of Safety. It is located in Limpopo province, South Africa. It is one of the best tourist destinations in South Africa as it is South Africa’s largest urban centre north of Gauteng. It hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Unfortunately, its incredible heritage and beauty haven’t widely been known.
The convenient weather of Polokwane attracts you to enjoy the outdoor activities, such as playing golf, karting, exploring wildlife, and many more. You will be able to experience a complete package of tourism there. Natural, culinary, cultural, historical, and festival tours are perfectly packed in the city. Its local inhabitants will warmly welcome your visits. Below are 5 reasons why you should visit Polokwane.
1. Meropa Casino and Entertainment World
No visit to Polokwane is complete without gambling in Meropa Casino. It is a must visit entertainment destination. 17 games tables, 414 slot machines, and a Salon Privè casino are available 24/7, bringing it as the best casino in Limpopo area.
Moreover, do not miss the experience of fine dining in the best restaurants there. You will not forget the taste the delicious steak at the incredible grill house, Harvest Charcoal Grill. If you want to sample the significant African dish, then you should visit The Jembe Tavern. Additionally, Ngoma Bar will faithfully accompany your games 24/7 with juicy drink.
Meropa Casino and Entertainment World also offers a lot of fun activities for your family. You can experience the interesting mini golf and go karting there. There is also The Magic Company that offers the unforgettable arcade games. Not only having fun, you can also learn a lot about culture and wildlife in Cultural Village and Wildthingz. You are also be able to relax your body by having authentic African spa experience in Moroccan setting.
2. Mapungubwe World Heritage Site
If you visit Polokwane, you have to visit one of the world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO, Mapungubwe World Heritage Site. This site, located along the bank of Shashe and Limpopo Rivers, is part of The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, a wide savannah landscape in South Africa. Mapungubwe had been the centre of the greatest Iron Age kingdom that was well-known in trading gold and ivory with India, China, and Egypt through East African ports.
There are a lot of fabulous and spectacular discoveries of gold and artifact there. One of most popular finding is the gold rhinoceros, which represents the symbol leadership among Zimbabwe citizens. Golden Sceptre and Golden Bowl are other artifacts found in this area.
3. Polokwane Art Museum
Schoeman St, Polokwane, 0700, South Africa
For you who are art lovers, this popular art museum, Polokwane Art Museum, need to be put in your destination list. This museum has a rich collection, both indoor and outdoor, that will never make you bored.
It includes more than 1,000 artworks with a wide variety of forms, such as paintings, ceramics, sculptures, photographic prints, and installations, created by outstanding South African artists. You can also explore its worth downtown sculpture park, the only one of its kind in South Africa. Moreover, it routinely conducts art exhibitions from around the country. You are very lucky if your visit coincides with the impressive exhibitions.
4. Northern Kruger National Park
Since Polokwane has authentic beauty of nature and biodiversity, you may not skip Krunger National Park from your tourism destination. It is the home to hundreds of flora and fauna. You can explore this large park by walking, driving, hiking, eco-trailing, and mountain biking.
If you come here, you should spend at least one night in Pafuri Camp. You can relax on the balcony while enjoying the picturesque view of Luvuvhu River and watching the nyala, elephant, bushbuck, or waterbuck coming down to drink.
You will also be given a premium access to enjoy the incredible biodiversity hotspots and experiencing some attractive activities there, such as day and night game drives, guided bush walks, and game viewing hides.
5. Typical Annual Events
There are a lot of famous festivals and events taking place in Limpopo. You can arrange your visit schedule following the typical annual events there, so your vacation will be more memorable. The events hosted by Polokwane / Limpopo are ranging from sport to culinary events.
Magoebaskloof Spring Festival is one the most well-known annual events. This festival is usually held in the late September to the beginning of October. You can enjoy the blossom sensation of the spring.
There are a lot of art and craft exhibition, food fairs, book shops and antique stores, as well as restaurants and coffee shops around there. To celebrate this festival more, mountain biking, horse riding, and picnicking are the best activities to do in Magoebaskloof Spring Festival.
Author is a famous member of Eleventy Traveller Blog.