Guided Tours in the SURROUNDING AREA
Morning Sun Venda Culture and Heritage Guided Tours
The Venda culture and Heritage is steeped in the spirit world and finds expression in their arts and crafts. Being highly creative people the Venda people produce many fascinating works and many of the craftsmen being well known worldwide. The Venda Area is culturally unspoilt, un-commercialised and totally authentic; once you have visited you will want to return.
Venda land cultural tour:
Visiting Venda is a truly captivating experience filled with mystical forests, sacred lakes, water spirits, stunning scenery and world famous crafts. Our one-day tour guided by a professional guide takes in a number of attractions in the area.
- A visit to the Dzata ruins and museum, Venda Villages, Lake Fundudzi, Thathe Vondo Forest, Tshatsingo Potholes and enjoy the scenic beauty of Venda and the Soutpansberg. ( Full day tour includes a Picnic Lunch)
Our one-day Venda tour guided by our local Venda guide takes in:
- The Dzata Ruins and Museum where the Venda legends and interesting history of this very proud and colourful African tribe is brought to life by the relaying of actual stories and legends linked to the artefacts displayed there.
- Visit on route Venda villages where one gets an intimate insight into how the Venda people live and their culture.
- Lake Fundudzi is probably the most sacred site to the Venda. This beautiful lake is fed by the Mutale River, but it doesn’t seem to have an outlet and hence believed to be waters that covered the earth before creation, which has always been related to the spirit world with a legendary large white python God living below the surface of the water and sometimes you can hear the Tshikona sing, although no one appears to be present. It is the home of the mythical python and white crocodile.
- Thathe Vondo forest, the ‘Holy Forest’, with ancient trees and mountain ferns where all the great Venda Kings are said to be buried and so full of spirits that few Venda people venture into it for fear of the two mythical creatures keeping guard, namely the white lion and the thunder and lightning bird.
- Tshatshingo Potholes, which is a must see, and view beautiful waterfalls, river streams and nature. The waters of the Mutale River fall into a naturally formed pothole and disappear for some distance before reappearing and continuing on its course.
- The scenic beauty of Venda and the Soutpansberg Mountains
Venda Arts and Crafts Tour:
The Venda culture is steeped in the spirit world and finds expression in their arts and crafts. Being highly creative people the Venda people produce many fascinating works and many of the craftsmen being well known worldwide. Our Arts & Crafts day tour is an adventure as craft villages are scattered and some roads poor, so Venda life in general and can be experienced in between visiting some of the area’s best craftsman.
- Visit the cultural heritage resource centre; The Dancing Fish Galleryat Madi a Thavha for an introduction to the different cultural arts and crafts.
- In the Elim area we visit women making stunning batiks with traditional patterns, bead work and embroidery.
- Part of the tour is visiting the Mashamba potters, which is a huge workshop where 50 women make traditional Venda pots and more contemporary pots. All of these pots are naturally fired.
- From there it is on to another wood carver, Thomas Kubayi, who makes traditional music instruments such as drums and mariba, as well as carving traditional and contemporary sculptures. At his workshop, Thomas also teaches young people woodcarving skills.
Mapungubwe Heritage Tour:
This location was a precursor to Great Zimbabwe and Thulamela. Visit Mapungubwe Hill where a far developed African civilisation prospered between 1200 and 1270 AD. The area was already inhabited by a growing Iron Age community from 900 AD and became rich through trade with faraway places like Egypt, India and China. This is the place where archeologists excavated the famous golden rhino and other evidence of a wealthy African kingdom.
Visiting the Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage site and their awarded information centre, which is rich in biodiversity, great scenic beauty and the cultural importance of the agrological treasures where the famous golden rhino was found.
- At 07h30 we depart to the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site
- Depending on the days plan, you will stop on route at Alldays Pub for a quick refreshing drink.
- At the SAN Park entrance, our guide will take you to the architect-award winning Interpretation Centre where you will find out more about the ancient heritage & artefacts found in the area as well as a copy of the famous GOLDEN RHINO.
- You will be picked up by a SAN Park Guide who will take you on a tour to the famous Mapungubwe Hill where the ancient king and his families lived. Here you will enjoy the scenic view of the park.
- We will then offer a picnic- lunch in the park.
- An afternoon game & sight-seeing drive through the park will lead to the confluence viewpoint where the Sashe and Limpopo rivers divide the South African, Botswana and Zimbabwe borders. Here you will enjoy a small snack & a drink to then depart back to our Mashovhela Bush Lodge where you will have your dinner.
Local Kavambe Cultural Village:
Experience day to day life in an authentic Venda village, buy crafts directly from the craftsman and learn about local beer making.
- Visit a Venda family at their home, the guests are shown how the Venda people live, how they make African beer, traditional jewellery making, building materials for their houses, drawings, clothing etc.
(The Venda village gets 30% commission from each per person rates)
- All tours must be booked 24 hours in advance at our Lodge Reception
- A minimum of 2 Adults rate is required to enable the tours to be booked
- All entrance fees, tour fees as well as a picnic lunch is included in the Full Day tours
- Children under 12 years get 50% discount with a minimum of 2 Adults rate.
Optional STEP ON GUIDE: (Using our guide with your own vehicle)
FROM R400.00 (halfday-4hour) to R800.00 (full day-8hour) PER TOUR
Explore the surrounding Northern
LIMPOPO Guided tours
We are perfect centrally located in the most Northern Limpopo region to be able to do tours, covering the following Highlights of this beautiful diver’s area.
Western Soutpansberg Tour:
A visit to the Soutpansberg salt pans, Blouberg Nature Reserve, Schoemansdal Museum and the “Dancing Fish” African Art Gallery.
- Bergpans salt pans: The Soutpansberg Mountains derived its name from these large salt-pans, which have probably been used by game since time immemorial and whose salt has been exploited from the Stone Age time’s right up to present.
- Blouberg Nature Reserve: View the largest colony of Cape Vultures.
- Schoemandsdal Museum: An exhibition of old building styles
- “Dancing Fish” Gallery at MadiaThavha: A variety of African Art to admire and appreciate.
Baobab Tour:
Visit the Musina Baobab Nature Reserve, Sagole Spa Big Tree and the Nzhelele Dam Area.
- Musina Baobab Nature Reserve: Famous for its high number of Baobab Trees.
- Big Tree at Sagole Spa: The world’s oldest and largest Baobab tree, estimated at 3000 years and with a circumference of 43m. Sagole Spa also features a natural hot spring and Tshikovha, a local herbalist and diviner of international repute, can be visited by arrangement.
- Tshipise Hot Springs: Only by special entrance arrangement we might be allowed to relax in the hot waters that bubble out of the earth’s crust.
- Nzhelele Dam: This beautiful dam, recognised for excellent fishing, is surrounded by a nature reserve plentiful in plains game.
Northern Kruger Park Tour:
Your will enter Kruger National Park at the most northern Punda Maria Gate, spend the day game viewing around the Limpopo river area. You will exit the park at the Pufari Gate on your way back to the lodge.
- Punda Maria Gate: to enter or exit the Kruger National Park; is the most northerly gate in the Kruger National Park and was originally established as an outpost to catch ivory poachers. This area offers outstanding birding and often described as the “botanical garden” of the Kruger.
- Thulamela Archaeological site: This is a stone walled site dating back 450 – 500 years. This forms part of the Zimbabwe culture, which is believed to have started at Mapungubwe. There is evidence that gold was already being smelted here in 1300 AD.
- Big Tree at Sagole Spa: The world’s oldest and largest Baobab tree, estimated at 3000 years and with a circumference of 43m. Sagole Spa also features a natural hot spring and Tshikovha, a local herbalist and diviner of international repute, can be visited by arrangement.
- Crooks Corner: acquired its name from the number of outlaws living there. Situated where South Africa. Zimbabwe and Mozambique meet, it was an ideal for them to slip across a border when the authorities came searching for them.
- Pufuri Gate: to enter or exit the Kruger National Park
- All tours must be booked 24 hours in advance at our Lodge Reception
- A minimum of 2 Adults rate is required to enable the tours to be booked
- All entrance fees, tour fees as well as a picnic lunch is included in the Full Day tours
- Children under 12 years get 50% discount with a minimum of 2 Adults rate.
Optional STEP ON GUIDE: (Using our guide with your own vehicle)
FROM R400.00 (halfday-4hour) to R800.00 (full day-8hour) PER TOUR
