This is the land of the upside down tree - the Baobab - the biggest tree in Africa. Polokwane is situated at the centre of Limpopo and borders three of South Africa's neighbours - Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is the economic and cultural hub of Limpopo and is attracting investments into the province.

The area around Polokwane is steeped in mythology and resonates with the sound of the ancient lands. It has seen the history of the Mapungubwe people who flourished during the Iron Age and Modjadji, the Rain Queen.

The Bakone Malapa Northern Sotho Open-Air Museum is a good introduction to the daily life of the dynamic Bakone people. The Bakone people are a highly sophisticated northern Sotho tribe.


The Polokwane Museum, housed in the historic Irish House, has interesting exhibitions including a history of the city and its environs. Here you will find artifacts from the Stone and Iron ages.

There are 4x4 adventure excursions and hiking trails in the Polokwane Game Reserve.

History
 Polokwane has been part of the history of the Stone Age nomads, Iron Age settlements and European migrations.

The Mapungubwe people settled in this area 2,000 years ago. They traded in gold with the ancient civilizations of China, India and Egypt. The Mapungubwe World Heritage site is at the confluence of the Limpopo and Sashe Rivers and borders Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. The site documents the civilization who lived in the area from 1000-1300AD.

Polokwane, previously Pietersburg, is the capital of Limpopo, the northern-most province of South Africa. Gold was first discovered in the area at Eersteling and the economy of the town flourished.

This was solidified 1886, when Pietersburg was named after General Petrus Jacobus Joubert, a leader of the Voortrekkers (first Dutch settlers in South Africa). The city was renamed Polokwane, which means 'place of safety'.

Football
 Professional soccer first came to Polokwane in 1995 when Real Rovers were promoted to the top flight. There have been two other Limpopo Province-based sides who have competed at the highest level.

Dynamos were based in the Limpopo Province and have had undulating football seasons. They twice came up and down between the Premier league and first division league. Their premiership status has since been purchased by Amazulu in the 2006/2007 season.

Winner's Park is a Mvela League (First Division). The team has seemed to be struggling and ended 9 th in the 2005/2006 season.

The Peter Mokaba stadium holds a special memory for the 2006 African Football Player of the Year. In 2001, Didier Drogba made his debut for Côte d'Ivoire in a decisive CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualification game. South Africa won the encounter 2-1, securing a place for Bafana Bafana in the 2004 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

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