Attractions Haenertsburg and Magoebaskloof Haenertsburg is an attractive village in a beautiful mountain setting with craft,curio and art shops,tea gardens,village market with fresh produce,home produced jams and preserves, cakes etc. and several excellent nurseries nearby. The restaurants and pubs are well known for their friendly atmosphere and good fare at very reasonable prices. Known as the 'Land of the Silver mist ", this picturesque village lies just off the R71 between Polokwane and Tzaneen. The village originated as a gold rush town in 1887 and remains of the old workings can still be seen. Enjoy the spectacular mountain views and the very special serenity found at the hilltop cemetery 1km from the village and well worth the drive or steep climb! The Louis Changoin hiking trail also starts from this vantage point. The unusual War Memorial and Long Tom Monument commemorate those of all race, colour and creed from the area, who gave their lives in various wars over the last century and these monuments are dedicated to future peace.There are three churches in the village, catering for most denominations The surrounding area is a world of crystal clear mountain air, craggy peaks, tumbling waterfalls tranquil lakes and magnificent indigenous forests. Several hiking trails exist and walking quietly it is possible to see antelope, bush pig, baboons, monkeys or even the rare caracal cat. Bird life is prolific and birders' tours with well known and qualified guides can be arranged. The Ebenezer dam, just outside Haenertsburg on the Georges Valley road, hosts the annual Ebenezer mile swim as well as yachting, power boating, river boat cruises, fishing, and picnicking Magoebaskloof lies between Haenertsburg and Tzaneen. There are numerous self catering and B&B establishments in the area and a magnificent wedding and conference venue. Two local hotels also have accommodation, dining, and wedding/conferencing facilities. It is renowned for its glorious profusion of flowering crab apples, cherries and azaleas in Spring and the Cherry Blossom festival in late September and early October has become a "must visit" for tourists. The steep winding,deeply forested Magoebaskloof Pass on the R71 national road between Magoebaskloof and Tzaneen, was named after Makgoba, chief of the Tlou tribe who repeatedly attacked the early white settlers in the area and found refuge in the dense forest valleys of what is now known as Magoebaskloof. He was finally tracked down and beheaded in 1895 by a Swazi impi under the control of Abel Erasmus.His monument stands in the Magoebaskloof Hotel Kruger Park visitors will find Haenertsburg/Magoebaskloof an ideal stop over to the Northern section of the Park. It is a comfortable 1.5 and 2.5 hours drive to the Phalaborwa and Orpen gates respectively. Tzaneen The name Tzaneen originated from the word Tsaneng. Oral and written evidence indicate that the area around Piesangkop, Mayland, Hansfontein, and south of Westfalia (Krabbefontein) had been known as Tsaneng since early times, long before any white settlers came to the district. The closest meaning of the name Tsaneng is “come together” or “the place where people gather”. To early German cartographers the sound ts as in Tsaneng, became tz as in Tzaneen. Tzaneen is the second lagest town in the Northern Province and is situated in the foot hills of the impressive Wolkberg, which is the northern reaches of the Drakensberg Mountain range. The town is the commercial center for the district with a large population residing in its area of jurisdiction and many more residing within a 30km radius. Tzaneen is the ideal centre from which to explore the region. Within easy reach, the visitor can find archeological sites, the biggest Boabab tree, wildlife and nature reserves and a full range of quality tourism facilities and services, catering for all needs and interests of the visitor. Its unique natural scenery provides the most beautiful background for all the recreational and the tourism products and services in the country. Tzaneen is also a birders paradise! Modjadjikloof (Duiwelskloof) This is another picturesque village in a valley approximately 15 kms. from Tzaneen, with panoramic vistas of the surrounding Wolkberg Mountains. From Modjadjikloof, the visitor is within easy reach of the Mooketsi valley (largest tomato production area in the country), the Modjadj Nature Reserve (Containing the largest natural concentration of a single cycad species in the world- Encephalartos transvenosus), the largest Boabab tree in the world (with a pub inside the tree) and the Debegeni Waterfall and picnic site. George’s Valley The valley is named after George Denys, a relative of Doel Zeederberg, who was captured by the British on 8 April 1902 during the Anglo Boer war. He later returned as a road builder and his obvious care in the alignment and landscaping of the R528 – known today as George’s Valley Road – sets the scene for a beautiful drive through the mountains. The Letaba River flows down the valley and is the main source of water in the Tzaneen Dam. Magoebaskloof Adventures can be found in this valley, just 12 Kms. from Haenertsburg. It offers one of only five Canopy Tours in South Africa,with 13 slides high above the Letaba river with its magnificent waterfalls,canyons indigenous vegetation and birdlife. Other adventure activities are also available. Other places of interest Old Coach Route Hans Merensky Nature reserve Tsonge kraal Museum Leydsdorp Ofcolaco Woodbush Forest Reserve River Capture Site Dap Naude Dam Tzaneen Dam Woodbush and De Hoek Forest Areas Rooikat Trail Wolkberg Wilderness Area Hans Merensky Nature reserve Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve Lesodi Trail Tzaneen Museum John Buchan Memorial and Viewpoint Chief Makgoba Memorial O’Connor Memorial Agatha crocodile farm