Valley of the Olifants - 215km

GIANT BAOBAB

In various parts of southern Africa, the hollow trunk of a baobab tree has served as a toilet, a prison and a pub – as in the case of this enormous baobab. Established by an enterprising businessman during the gold rush era, the baobab became a popular rendezvous for miners to quench their thirst and swap stories. The hollow trunk can hold 12 people standing, while many other miners used to gather around outside the gnarled trunk.

EILAND RESORT

...was developed around the hot spring that surfaces in the bushveld just south of the Letaba River. Despite its name, the resort is not located on an island, but takes its name from the farm on which it and the adjoining Hans Merensky Nature Reserve are situated. The farm, in turn, was named after an island in the Letaba River.

The hot thermal pool, swimming pools and mineral hydro spa are undoubtedly the resort’s main drawcards, but there are many other activities and recreational facilities. Horse-riding excursions are available, guided game drives are conducted in the Hans Merensky Nature Reserve and motor-boating, water-skiing, sailing and canoeing can be pursued nearby. A variety of accommodation is available.

HANS MERENSKY NATURE RESERVE

Bounded by the Letaba River to the north, the Hans Merensky Nature Reserve covers 5 300 ha of mainly mopane and red bushwillow woodland and scrub. The reserve was named in honour of the pioneering South African geologist, Hans Merensky, who donated a water hole to the reserve. The son of missionary Alexander Merensky, the younger Merensky’s prospecting skills were instrumental in the opening of several mines.

Among these were Phalaborwa, the Rustenburg platinum mines and the Alexander Bay diamond fields.The reserve has been stocked with a variety of game, but on account of the dense vegetation the animals can be difficult to spot. Hippo and crocodile inhabit the Letaba River, waterbuck are never far from the river, while giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, impala, bushbuck and Burchell’s zebra are among the species to be seen in the woodlands.

The visitor centre has displays on various aspects of the reserve, and there is an interpretive trail, two nature walks and an easy but delightful three-day overnight trail for visitors who prefer to explore the reserve on foot. The reserve’s checklist of about 280 birds include species such as tambourine dove, green pigeon, several kingfishers, whitethroated robin and orangebreasted bush shrike. For many birders, however, a particular highlight is ticking Arnot’s chat, a species which in South Africa is restricted to mopane woodland.

TSONGA KRAAL OPEN-AIR MUSEUM

Located in the Hans Merensky Nature Reserve, the museum is a reconstruction of a traditional Tsonga homestead 2. Built from natural materials, the kraal is centred around an inner court and consists of several types of shelter: sleeping huts, a sacrificial hut, cooking huts and tree, granary, cattle byre and chicken pen. Various building styles are depicted, including some no longer in use, and artisans can be seen at work on pottery, woodwork and wickerwork.

As the museum is situated at the site of an ancient salt works, visitors can see how salt is produced, and demonstrations of iron forging are also given. In keeping with the concept of a ‘living’ museum, the Tsonga inhabitants 3 wear traditional clothing and perform music on traditional instruments.