Historical insights and cultural attractions in and around Polokwane
If you are a tourist looking for historical insights and cultural attractions, Polokwane is certainly not going to disappoint.
POLOKWANE – In and around the city are a host of wonderful museums and as you head further away from the capital, you will find ancient African kingdoms, sacred traditional sites and archaeological digs. History and culture offer insight into this modern city.
Kick-start your cultural outing at the Polokwane Art Museum in the Library Gardens Complex.
The museum has an extensive indoor and outdoor collection, reflecting some of the country’s best artists.
When it comes to history and culture, perhaps the most famous spot is The Irish House Museum, a late-Victorian building that depicts the different cultures of the province.
The history of this mega tourist attraction began in the 1840s when the Voortrekkers, under the leadership of Andries Potgieter established Zoutpansbergdorp, a town 100 kilometres to the northwest, along the N1 highway stretching from Cape to Cairo.
This settlement had to be abandoned because of clashes with the local tribes.
They founded a new town in 1886 and named it Pietersburg in honour of Voortrekker leader Petrus Jacob Joubert.
The British built a concentration camp at Pietersburg during the Boer War to house almost 4 000 women and children.
The town officially became a city on April 23,1992 and on February 25, 2005, the government declared the official name of the city as Polokwane, a name that was generally in use by the speakers of Sepedi.
Polokwane provides access to various nature and wildlife viewing opportunities for ecotourists.
The Polokwane Bird and Reptile Park is home to over 280 species of birds.
The Polokwane Game Reserve houses various South African species of wildlife, bird life and plants in an unspoiled Bushveld environment.
The Moletzie Bird Sanctuary protects rare birds like the Cape vulture.
The Modjadji Rainforest near Modjadjiskloof holds the largest concentration of indigenous cycads in the world.
An extensive art collection is preserved in Polokwane’s art gallery, open to the public.
The city has more public sculptures per capita in its parks than elsewhere in South Africa.
Polokwane was also the first to unveil a bust of South Africa’s first democratically-elected president Nelson Mandela, in its City Square which was authorised by Nelson Mandela personally.
The city is considered the premier hunting destination in South Africa.
War memorial outside the Polokwane Art Gallery consisting of hundreds of guns melted after the Anglo-Boer war. There is a Sun International casino and hotel in Polokwane.
Sun Meropa is a Moroccan-style 24-hour casino with various outdoor entertainment amenities such as go-karts, mini-golf and a wildlife park.
The Bakone Malapa Open-Air Museum depicts the traditional and modern-day lifestyle of the Bakone people.
The museum is centred on a traditional village still occupied by members of the tribe, who sell various crafts to tourists.
Background information can be obtained in the visitor centre.
Within the museum complex are archaeological sites with remains of iron- and copper-smelting installations, as well as rock paintings from around 1000 B.C.
Eersteling Monument is the site of the country’s first gold crushing site and its first gold power plant are marked by monuments.
Polokwane features a semi-arid climate under the Koppen climate classification.
Despite its position on the Tropic of Capricorn, the climate is tempered by its position on a plateau 1230 meters above sea level.
As with much of inland South Africa, Polokwane has experienced notably warmer seasons over the last decade than its long-term average.
Polokwane has a dry climate with a summer rainy season and a pronounced dry spell during winter. Average annual rainfall is 495 mm, with December, or less often January, the wettest month, and July the driest.
There are regular flights to and from Polokwane International Airport and road access via car or bus along the N1 and N11 highways.
Winter is a good time to visit the city and its surrounding attractions, as the days are generally quite moderate in terms of temperature.
