Route 71 - from Polokwane to Phalaborwa - the new route. Beautiful scenery of vast contrast, highland and lowland, forest and savannah, cool and moist, hot and dry defines Route 71. From our friendly people to our passion about our culture, this is a part of our country that speaks to your heart. Come discover...

Route 71 starts in Polokwane - the capital city of Limpopo Province,also known as the Province of Peace. Founded in the gold rush in the 1800's, Polokwane was first known as Pietersburg, but in 2002 was renamed to Polokwane, a Nothern-Sotho word meaning "Place of Safety". As the name suggests Polokwane has one of the lowest crime-statistics in the country.With its rich history and culture this is a historian's paradise, with lots of museums where one can spend hours reliving the days of yester-year.

Following the route through the mountains via Magoebaskloof to the quaint little village of Haenertsburg - known as the land of the Silver Mist - one feels a sense of belonging. Haenertsburg can trace its name also back to the discovery of gold in 1886 by Ferdinand Haenert and his brother.This lovely town in the mountains has succeeded to keep it's rustic charm and character but is most beautiful in Spring with its azaleas and cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Tzaneen - the place where people get together - is the heartland of Limpopo Province, and when people talk about the Land of Plenty - this is it. A sub-tropical paradise with agricultural splendour of tropical and sub-tropical fruits such as bananas, mangoes, litchis, avocados, papayas, macadamia nuts, the biggest tomato farm in Africa and some of the biggest citrus farms in South Africa, forms the backbone of the economy of the Greater Tzaneen Area. This beautiful area of South Africa is not only part of legend of the Rain Queen, Modjadji, but lies at the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains. Not only a place that brings people together, but this is truly a case of come as a stranger - leave as a friend.

Route 71 ends with the mining town of Phalaborwa - known as the Town of two summers. Phalaborwa is not only the Gateway to the central part of the Kruger National Park but also to the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park and the Mozambique Channel. Not only is Phalaborwa a thriving mining town, boasting one of the world's biggest open-cast mines, but Phalaborwa Gate is still the most popular gate through which to explore the beauty of the Kruger.

This is not where your journey ends but only where it begins as you return again and again to explore the beauty of our mountains, the magic of our cultures, the friendliness of our people.