Opportunities for sightseeing and other activities in this scenic area are plentiful and appeal particularly to nature lovers who enjoy hiking and bird watching.
Pristine rivers and dams also offer excellent fly-fishing opportunities. There are wonderful tea gardens to visit, local cheese to sample and rafts to cruise the waters of the Ebenezer Dam.
While it is difficult to single out any one area over another, the beautiful Magoebaskloof Mountain Pass between Haenertsburg and Tzaneen deserves to be mentioned. It offers stunning scenery and some of South Africa's finest indigenous forests in which waterfalls, lakes and craggy kloofs are found. The pass leads from the highveld down the Drakensberg escarpment to the sub-tropical Lowveld, dropping about 600 metres over a distance of only six kilometres. Picnicking, fly-fishing, swimming and hiking are popular pastimes in the region.
One of the scenic highlights is the Debegeni Waterfall, which means "place of pots" in North-Sotho. Situated at the foot of the Magoebaskloof, the waterfall is a favourite picnic spot in summer. Braai facilities are available.
An entrance fee is charged to visitors.
The Woodbush State Forest, the largest indigenous forest in the Limpopo Province, and Dap Naude Dam are reached via a scenic drive off the R71. The dam offers a lovely picnic site in an oak forest below the dam wall.
The O'Connor Memorial, in the forest, honours the former District Officer for the Woodbush Forest, Alexander O’Connor, and is found at the end of an avenue of enormous gum trees, planted by O'Connor himself.
The Market Square - This open land in the centre of the village has been created as an International Arboretum and contains trees and shrubs from different continents.
On one corner of the square is the Long Tom Memorial, a simple but unique monument for those who died in wars, battles and skirmishes from the time of the Makgoba War in the 19th century, up until the end of the "border wars" in the 1980’s.
Also on the market square one can find the “Peace Pole”, which is dedicated to the Limpopo Province, for being the PEACE Province.
The Grassland Resource Centre – The old Moth Hall in the village was the original Magistrate’s Court and is now being converted into the Grasslands Resource and Information Centre. Environmental Education programmes and special excursions for school children will be run from this Centre and a unique activity will be to go “underground“ and discover the wonders of a termite mound and what the grasslands would look like to the average mole! Wolkberg Wilderness – in the south of the Greater Tzaneen area, the Wolkberg is part of the massive Drakensberg range. The Reserve provides ideal tropical rain forest wilderness trails and a perfect destination for backpackers and mountain climbers.
Wolkberg Wilderness – in the south of the Greater Tzaneen area, the Wolkberg is part of the massive Drakensberg range. The Reserve provides ideal tropical rain forest wilderness trails and a perfect destination for backpackers and mountain climbers.
Modjadji Nature Reserve - One of the largest reserves which grow a single species of cycad in the world. The cycad nursery, picnic sites, day trails and information centre make this reserve a highlight on any tour to the Rain Queen’s Kingdom.
Tzaneen Dam Nature Reserve – This wilderness area incorporates the dam basin and peninsula of the dam. The dam offers good angling and boating opportunities.
Hans Merensky Wilderness – is situated 38km from Tzaneen on the Eiland Road. Hans Merensky is particularly popular for its four excellent hiking trails and is also home to the Tsonga Kraal open-air museum and the Eiland Spa resort.
Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve - This area covers a huge 18 718 hectares of protected escarpment, scenic landscape, mountain vegetation and wildlife. Accommodation facilities are available with a conference room and swimming pool.
Kruger National Park - is situated only 96km from Tzaneen on the R71 route. This world-renowned conservation park can be entered through the Phalaborwa gate.
Entrance times to the Kruger National Park:
Old Gold Mines – By special arrangement with the management of Magoebaskloof Hotel, it is possible to visit some of the old mining sites which are situated at the foothills of the Wolkberg.
Cyril Jackson Observatory – Cyril Jackson constructed a small stone building in 1955 on a hilltop just outside the village of Haenertsburg. It was here that he made several discoveries that made him one of South Africa's leading astronomers.
Restaurants and pubs – A variety of restaurants and pubs can be found in and around the Tzaneen area, offering a variety of fine foods, mostly prepared from only the best ingredients, sourced from our fruitful valley.
Cemetery – On the hilltop above the village is, undoubtedly, South Africa's most scenic cemetery. From here one may enjoy expansive views of the peaks of the Wolkberg, Northern Drakensberg, Ebenezer Dam as well as the forests and grasslands that surround the village.
Cheerio Gardens – In Magoebaskloof area are the famous Cheerio Gardens, where hundreds of different Japanese flowering cherry trees come into spectacular bloom during late September / early October.
Wegraakbos Organic Cheese Factory – Here the tourist will be taken on an informative tour through the factory to see how they milk the cows and how the organic cheese-making process really works. Tourists can enjoy a cheese tasting and buy directly from the factory.
The "River - Capture" Site - It was here, many long years ago that the Great Letaba River eroded back into the hills and captured the headwaters of the Mohlapitse River.
The John Buchan Memoria - This simple monument – a large craggy boulder of local stone, rolled into place, unembellished except for a bronze plaque with a quotation from John Buchan's autobiography – can be seen on the Georges Valley Road (R528), overlooking a breath-taking view of the Ebenezer Dam.
The romantic garden of Kings Walden - A garden full of water features, fountains and ornamental ponds will keep you enchanted while seeking out the mirrored rose garden. This magnificent garden is laced with an endless network of little paths and ever-changing vistas of the Drakensberg and Lowveld.
The Legend of King Makgoba – The memory of King Makgoba lives on in the name of the scenic Magoebaskloof, where he reigned, and a regal bronze bust of his famous head stands proudly in the entrance square of Magoebaskloof Hotel.
BOOK SPA
BOOK ACCOMODATION
