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Limpopo is bushveld country grasslands, thorn trees, the magic baobab and effortless blue skies. Host to a wealth of incredible scenery and a mysticism shrouded in age-old history, its land steeped in the mysteries of cultural heritage, Limpopo is known as the place of peace and friendliness.
Lying to the very north of the country, it is also famous for its waterfalls, trout-filled rivers, forests and wildlife. Visit the mountain hamlet of Haenertsburg, the world's largest baobab tree at Sunland, the ancient cycads at Madjadji village, the ruins of Mapungubwe, the Kruger National Park, Bela-Bela, Tha Vondo Forest and Lake Funduzi.
Forever Resorts Warmbaths
Grab your kids for mega wallowing and splashing about at Forever Resorts Warmbaths.
Even if you're not crazy about family-oriented resorts, a trip to Bela-Bela wouldn't be complete without a dip in the bubbling hot mineral spring. But if it's a quiet getaway you're after be warned on weekends and school holidays you might be joined by thousands of holiday makers.
The source of the ancient spring gushes out 22 000 litres of water at 52 degrees Celsius every hour. Rich in limestone minerals including calcium carbonate, sodium chloride and other salts, the water is popular for healing treatments.
Apart from the hydro therapy of the Jacuzzi, indoor hydro pools and the main pool, the resort offers cable water skiing, go-karts, mini quads, a fufi-slide, pedal boats, target shooting, 'Monster Web' climbing, putt-putt, kids play park, speed slide, wave pool the list is endless!
Things to Do in Limpopo Province
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The Cradle of Humankind is one of eight World Heritage Sites in South Africa. Here, the landscape is dotted with subterranean limestone caves that have turned up a rich fossil record for human evolutionary studies, which lend credence to the 'Out of Africa' theory of where our ancestors came from.
About 50km north-west of Johannesburg is the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, an area of undulating grassland, rocky outcrops and river courses typical of the Highveld before it was overtaken by urban sprawl.
It's a place that draws visitors from around the world for the fossil record that lies in the network of limestone caves beneath the surface.
Here you'll find the Sterkfontein Caves, Swartkrans and Kromdraai, among other fossil sites, all places that tell the story of what the world was like when our human ancestors were evolving some two to three million years ago.
At the Sterkfontein Caves alone, the remains of more than 500 hominids (the hominid family includes modern-day humans and their direct ancestors) have been uncovered, lending credence to the Out of Africa theory, which is that humans and their ancestors evolved in Africa first.
So rich is this hominid fossil record that the area was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, one of eight in South Africa.
Fossils were first unearthed here in the 1890s when the caves were blasted open for lime needed for the extraction of gold discovered on the Witwatersrand in 1886. But it was only from the 1930s that serious scientific work started to take place.
One of the first major discoveries was that of 'Mrs Ples', a pre-human skull dating back more than 2-million years (Australopithecus africanus) unearthed by Professor Robert Broom and his assistant, John Robinson, in 1947 at the Sterkfontein Caves.
The skull was originally classified as Plesianthropus transvaalensis (hence the name) and was an adult version of the same species as the Taung Child, the tiny fossilised skull of a child about three years old that had been found at the Taung limeworks in what is now the North West province, and identified by Professor Raymond Dart in 1924.
Although smaller than us, Australopithecus africanus is regarded as one of our early ancestors because it walked upright. In 1997, a complete hominid skeleton called 'Little Foot', also found in the Sterkfontein Caves, was introduced to the world and is still in the process of being described.
In 2005, two more areas of significance were added to this World Heritage Site, bringing the number of official fossil sites in the Cradle of Humankind to 13. These were Makapan (in Limpopo) and Taung (in the North West province). Together all these areas are now known as the Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Environs, recognised by UNESCO for their significance in human evolutionary studies.
You'll find a small but good exhibition centre at the Sterkfontein Caves and a much larger, more interactive one at Maropeng.
And you can play, too
Aside from a visit to the Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng, the official visitor centre of the Cradle of Humankind, 'the Cradle' as it is locally known is also a playground for the people of Gauteng, with a range of facilities and activities, including loads of accommodation choices, restaurants, coffee shops, conference centres, cycle tracks, horse trails and hot-air ballooning.
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Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis)
DESCRIPTION
The Southern Right Whale, Eubalaena australis is a large black stocky whale that has a number of features making identification relatively easy. They reach a maximum length of 17m and weight of 80 - 90 tonnes. It is the only large whale that lacks a dorsal fin. It has short blunt paddle-shaped flippers and the broad head carries a number of white callosities (raised rough patches of skin) that form individual identifiable pattern. This latter feature enables researchers to gather vital life history information on this species. This distinctive appearance combined with its slow moving behaviour make it difficult to confuse with any other species. The common name refers to the fact that it was the favoured target of the early whalers, the 'right ' whale to hunt.
DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT AND STATUS
The Southern Right Whale inhabits the southern and sub-antarctic oceans except during the winter breeding season. During this breeding season the whales migrate to warmer temperate waters around the southern parts of the African, South American and Australian land masses.
Like the Humpback, commercial whaling decimated Southern Right Whale numbers. Its habit of lingering in bays and sheltered coastal areas made it an easy target so much so that it had virtually disappeared by the beginning of the 20th century. Fortunately, with strong protection its numbers are gradually increasing and the species is returning to most of its former range.
FOOD AND FEEDING
Like all the baleen whales, Southern Rights are essentially filter feeders, using their finely meshed long narrow plates to catch their prey, usually copepods or krill. They do not undertake the spectacular feeding displays of the Humpback, but use a steady open mouthed movement through prey swarms skimming out the food.
BREEDING
Calving is thought to occur only every three to five years. A single young is born after a gestation period of 12 months and within a year, the calf is weaned and independent.
A small market with a lot of soul. Where good friends meet, eat, and buy beautiful things...
An amazing array of fresh organic produce, homemade delicacies, artisan breads, probiotic yoghurts, handmade cheeses, home smoked fish, happy hen eggs, wheat-free bakes, a whole variety of arts & crafts, as well as live music, plants and all things that are good for your health and happiness!
HERMANUS APARTMENTS
Hermanus Apartments offers luxury self-catering accommodation within walking distance from the Village Square and popular tourist attractions in Hermanus.
The spacious and well-appointed apartments offer sea views and are equipped with satellite TV, DVD player, air conditioning and washing machine. The modern kitchen includes a dishwasher and a microwave.
Guests can make use of the outdoor pool at Harbour House Hotel. Facilities include housekeeping and a centralized check-in and concierge. Activities in the surrounding area include cycling, fishing, whale watching and hiking.
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Eastern Freestate Golden Gate
The Clarens Valley in the Eastern Free State Highlands is situated 20 km's from the Golden Gate National Park, 40 km's from Bethlehem, and on the Northernmost point of Lesotho. Clarens is known for its spectacular sandstone mountains and wonderful climate and is one of the most picturesque spots in South Africa. Clarens also has spectacular horse riding country that very few people have discovered.
Adventure Things to Do in Clarens
Clarens offers a fleet of attractions and is an adventure tourism hotspot, with quad biking, paintball, abseiling and white water rafting all available nearby. So plan a trip to Clarens now and find out for yourself why is called The Jewel of the Free State.
Restaurants & Art Stellenbosch
Palette Fine Art Gallery is nestled among the romantic Oak-lined trees of Church Street in the historic town of Stellenbosch. Palette showcases bronze sculptures and paintings of local artists, ranging from Abstract Art to typical South African Landscapes.