beautiful places to visit in venda

Visit These 10 Nice Places In Venda Now!

• January 19, 2023

Austin Finnan

Venda is a vibrant and beautiful destination in South Africa that offers a wide range of attractions for visitors. From stunning landscapes to fascinating cultural attractions, Venda has something for everyone. Whether you are looking for an adventure or a relaxing holiday, Venda has something to offer. Here are some of the best places to visit in Venda.

The Thohoyandou Nature Reserve is a must-visit destination in Venda. This large wildlife reserve is home to some of the most beautiful wildlife in the region, such as giraffes, zebras, and antelopes. You can also enjoy bird watching, hiking, and camping in the area.

The Limpopo National Park is another great destination in Venda. This extensive park is home to some of the most diverse wildlife in the region, including elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, and more. There are also game drives , boat trips, and guided walks available.

The Tshipise Hot Springs are also a popular destination in Venda. The hot springs are surrounded by lush vegetation and are a great place to relax and unwind. The water is also said to have healing properties that can help with various ailments

• 1 Nice Places To Visit In Venda
• 2 Mapungubwe National Park
• 3 Thulamela Archaeological Site
• 4 Lake Fundudzi
• 5 Conclusion

Nice Places To Visit In Venda

Venda is a beautiful country in South Africa filled with amazing sites and activities to explore. There are many nice places to visit in Venda, such as the Thohoyandou Botanical Gardens , which offer a tranquil spot to relax and take in the local flora and fauna. Nature lovers can also explore the spectacular Nwanedi Nature Reserve , where they will find a variety of wild animals, as well as breathtaking views. For those interested in history , the Dzata Ruins offer an insight into the past of the region, with ancient stone structures and artefacts. Finally, the Mapungubwe National Park is a great spot for outdoor adventure, with its hiking trails, camping spots, and stunning landscapes. Whatever you’re looking for, Venda has something for everyone!

Venda, also known as the Venda Region, is located in the Limpopo province of South Africa . It’s a region rich in culture and natural beauty. Here are ten beautiful places in Venda:

• Lake Fundudzi : This sacred lake is one of the few natural inland lakes in South Africa . The lake and its surroundings are beautiful and serene.
• Thulamela Archaeological Site : Explore the ancient stone walls and artifacts of a civilization that existed about 500 years ago.
• Tshatshingo Potholes : A natural wonder carved by the swirling water of the Mutale River. It’s an impressive sight that’s a result of centuries of water erosion.
• Thathe Vondo Dam : This scenic dam offers great opportunities for picnics, boat rides, and fishing. The surrounding natural reserve is also home to a variety of birds and animals.
• Sagole Big Tree : This is the largest Baobab tree in South Africa and it’s believed to be around 3000 years old. It’s a must-see for nature lovers.
• Nwanedi Nature Reserve : This reserve offers stunning views of the Nwanedi River and the beautiful lush vegetation of the region. There are several hiking trails, as well as an opportunity to see wildlife.
• Tshimbubfe Archaeological Site : Another important archaeological site, Tshimbubfe is believed to have been inhabited by people from around 450 AD to 1400 AD.
• Makgabeng Plateau : This plateau boasts hundreds of rock art sites, showcasing the region’s rich historical and cultural heritage.
• Luvuvhu River : A great place for a peaceful and scenic walk, the Luvuvhu River is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species.
• Mapungubwe National Park : While not located in Venda, this park is near the region and well worth the visit. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was once the home of an advanced ancient African civilization.

Remember that some of these sites are considered sacred by the Venda people. If you visit, be respectful and consider hiring a local guide who can provide more information about the cultural significance of these sites.

Mapungubwe National Park

Venda is a beautiful landlocked province in South Africa , full of breathtaking landscapes and a unique cultural heritage. One of the most spectacular places to visit in Venda is Mapungubwe National Park . Located in Limpopo province and bordering Botswana, this national park is a world heritage site and home to one of the oldest and richest archaeological sites in Africa .

Mapungubwe National Park covers an area of 24,000 hectares and is made up of pristine grasslands, baobab trees, sandstone ridges, cliffs, and the Limpopo River. It is the perfect destination for nature lovers, as it is home to a plethora of wildlife, such as the rare African wild dog , elephant, white rhino, buffalo, zebra, and many species of antelope.

For those interested in history, Mapungubwe National Park is a must-visit. This ancient kingdom was home to the earliest known African civilization and an advanced trading network that stretched across the continent. The ruins of the royal city , which date back to the 13th century, are a testament to the skill and ingenuity of the Mapungubwe people.

In addition to its historical significance, Mapungubwe National Park is also home to some of the most beautiful vistas in Africa . From the top of the sandstone ridges, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the Limpopo River and surrounding landscape. The park also offers several hiking trails, allowing visitors to explore the natural wonders of the area.

Mapungubwe National Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a unique and memorable experience in Venda. With its rich cultural heritage, fascinating history , and stunning scenery, it is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

Thulamela Archaeological Site

Venda is an area of South Africa that is full of beautiful natural and cultural attractions. One of the most unique places to visit in Venda is the Thulamela Archaeological Site. This site is a World Heritage Site and is home to some of the most fascinating archaeological discoveries in South Africa .

Thulamela is an Iron Age site that was first discovered in the mid-18th century and is believed to be dated back to the 16th century. The area is located in the Limpopo Province and is situated in the foothills of the dramatic Soutpansberg mountain range . The site covers an area of around 4 hectares and contains the remains of a large settlement, including a number of stone walls, terraces, and the remains of many huts and other structures.

The site is an incredible source of knowledge about the Iron Age culture of the area, and is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of Venda. The site contains evidence of a sophisticated society, with pottery, metal-working , and other artifacts being discovered at the site. It is a testament to the ingenuity and skill of the people that lived in the area during this time.

When visiting the site, visitors can take a guided tour of the area and learn more about the history and culture of the people that lived there. The site is also home to a number of historical monuments, including a number of graves, which can be explored. Visitors can also take part in activities such as bird watching, hiking, and fishing in the area.

The Thulamela Archaeological Site is a unique and fascinating place to visit in Venda and a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of the area. With its incredible archaeological discoveries and breathtaking natural beauty, the site is sure to provide visitors with an unforgettable experience that they will never forget.

Lake Fundudzi

Venda is a stunningly beautiful province in South Africa , and it’s no surprise that it’s a popular tourist destination. From its majestic mountain ranges , to its lush green forests and rolling hills, there are plenty of amazing sights to take in. One of the best places to visit in Venda is Lake Fundudzi, a sacred lake that is believed to be the home of the Venda people’s ancestors.

The lake is surrounded by mountains, and it’s surrounded by a dense forest of trees, which add to its mystical feel. The lake is said to have been created by the god Thovhele Kuzwayo, who is believed to have descended from the heavens to create the lake. Legend has it that the lake is a portal between the physical world and the spiritual one, and that it is inhabited by spirits.

The lake is a popular destination for pilgrims, who believe that the lake can bring them closer to their ancestor’s spirits. Visitors can also enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding mountains and forests, go fishing and swimming, or even take a boat ride around the lake.

The lake is a great spot for bird watching, and visitors can spot a variety of birds, including the African Fish Eagle and the Red-billed Quelea. Visitors are also likely to spot monkeys, antelopes and even leopards, if they’re lucky.

Lake Fundudzi is a truly spectacular place, with its stunning scenery and its spiritual significance. It’s a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the beauty and mysticism of Venda.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In conclusion, there are a number of nice places to visit in Venda, including the Garden of the Twelve Apostles, the Kruger National Park , and the Victoria Falls. These are just a few of the many attractions available in this beautiful country, and there are many others that are just waiting to be discovered. If you are looking for a destination that will offer a unique experience, then you should consider visiting Venda.

Austin Finnan is a blogger, traveler, and author of articles on the website aswica.co.za. He is known for his travels and adventures, which he shares with his readers on his blog. Finnan has always been passionate about exploring new places, which is reflected in his articles and photographs. He is also the author of several books about travel and adventure, which have received positive reviews from critics and readers.

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Vibrant culture

Land of the venda: explore ‘the head of the elephant’ in limpopo.

T T he Venda people called their home ‘ Dzata ’, or ‘ the Good Place ’, and most visitors to northern Limpopo province readily concur . From stunning green landscapes boasting mountains, rivers, lakes and waterfalls to the ancient myths and histories of the people who have lived here for centuries, it has much to offer holidaymakers.  

The Dzata ruins are the remains of the first South African Venda settlement in the area. They were built from blue stone that is not found in this region – s ome speculate that it was carried to the site by slaves when the Venda migrated from central Africa more than 600 years ago.  

Further up the road in the land of the Venda is the Thathe Vondo forest, a sacred place said to be full of sprites and protected by 2 guardians: Nethathe the white lion (a former chief) and Ndadzi , the lightning bird – who, it is said , flies on the wings of thunder.  

Inside the forest is the sacred lake of Fundudzi , home of the mythical python, a fertility god. It is said that a young Venda man whose heart was broken after losing his great love walked into the lake and turned into the snake of legend. Y oung Venda women still perform the Venda- Domba dance of fertility to this day.  

Outsiders are required to get special permission from the Venda to visit the lake. It is considered so sacred that newcomers must turn their backs and view the lake through their legs. Fortunately for less spry travellers , the best place to see the lake is from the surrounding mountains , where these strictures won’t apply .  

If you have not had your fill of legend, stop and take a look at Mpephu's Village , but only from the roadside – n o one other than Venda people may enter. It is the burial place of the Venda chiefs , and is looked after by Venda women.  

The Phiphidi Falls, also on the same route, is an exquisite place to sit back and relax amid the lush forests of the area. Remember to respect this beautiful spot in the home of the Venda , as it is sacred and special – and not just to the Venda people.  

T T ravel tips & Planning  info  

How to get here

Thohoyandou – ‘the head of the elephant’ in Tshivenda, the language of the Venda people – was the capital of the former ‘ independent homeland’ of Venda during apartheid . It’s around 5 to 6 hours by car from Johannesburg , heading north on the N1 .  

Self-drive is the best way to explore the area , so hire a car if necessary . There are also tours that cover the route , if you prefer .  

Length of stay

Give yourself several days to explore the area and possibly visit the northern part of the Kruger National Park too.  

What to pack

Walking shoes, a swimming costume, a camera, sunscreen  

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Attractions in and around Thohoyandou

Thohoyandou.

Thohoyandou, meaning ‘head of elephant’ in tshiVenda, is the proud heart of the VhaVenda people.

The former capital of the independent homeland of the Republic of Venda, Thohoyandou is situated in the Vhembe Region of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Located in the South of Vhembe district, Thohoyandou is on the main road between Louis Trichardt and the Kruger National Park.

With banana plantations, subtropical fruit, tobacco, and maize lands, Thohoyandou is the lush agricultural center of the Vhembe region

Attractions and activities in the area include Big Tree (the largest baobab in the country), Dzata Ruins and Museum of the Drum, Kokwane Prehistoric Footprints, Lake Funduzi, Lwamondo Hill, Mphaphuli Cycad Reserve, Phiphidi Falls and Guvhukuvhu Pool, Thathe Vondo Forest, Thulamela (historical site with evidence of indigenous smelting of gold), Tshatshingo Potholes, Tshimbubfe (archaeological site containing iron furnaces).

The Punda Maria Gate entrance to the Kruger National Park is approximately 1 ½ hours drive away.

Royal Kruger Baobab Route

The name is derived from the name of the Lodge, the Kruger National Park and the mighty Baobab trees found along the route.

The 275 Km route starts from Royal Hills Lodge and Spa right into the Kruger National Park though Punda Maria Gate exiting via Pafuri Gate, proceeding through the scenic baobab trail towards Sagole back to Thohoyandou where the road lead to Phiphidi waterfalls.

Royal Hills Lodge and Spa is intending to partner with Awelani Lodge which is located about 10kms from Pafuri gate into Kruger National Park to enhance visitors experience. Awelani Lodge would be a great stop over for visitors to enjoy lunch, as well as to experience cultural, historical and heritage of the area.

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The Kruger National Park

The Punda Maria Gate is approximately 40km from the lodge. Travelling a further 10km, you will reach the Punda Maria Camp, in the northernmost region of the Kruger National Park.

The Camp is in the Sandveld Region, which is often described as the botanical garden of the Kruger National Park. Impala, zebra, buffalo, elephant, eland, and sable are the game species most likely to be sighted.

The area is also a birder’s paradise and numerous plant species are unique to the area.

Lake Fundudzi

The enchanted body of water known as Lake Fundudzi is a sacred lake of the Venda people  that lies in the heart of the  Soutpansberg region  and is one of the few true inland lake systems in  South Africa .

Lake Fundudzi can be found on the R523 between Thohoyandou and  Louis Trichardt , surrounded by the mythical  Thathe Vondo forest – believed to be so full of spirits that few Venda people venture into it for fear of hauntings and a lightning bird called Ndadzi.

Trips to the lakeshore are traditionally rarely granted to visitors, which is probably just as well as it is said to be infested with crocodiles . So sacred is the lake that newcomers must turn their backs on the lake and view the water from between their legs, according to the ritual after which the lake is named.

Fortunately, one of the most spectacular views of the sacred lake is found on the approach into the surrounding mountains, so visitors will have an opportunity to appreciate its beauty.

The lake has no obvious outlet and is formed from the water of the Mutale River, where a giant python god of fertility is said to reside.

The respect for the lake and the taboos that disallowed visitors have resulted in the lake being preserved and unspoiled.

Shingwezi 4×4 Trail

The rugged terrain that is sure to test your outdoor survival skills, the Shingwedzi 4×4 trail promises a truly African safari adventure. The trail is nestled within the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and spans approximately 250 kilometers.

It takes around 100 hours to complete and is only available as a guided trail. Under no circumstances are visitors permitted attempt the trail independent of a qualified and experienced guide). This eco-trail showcases some of the finest African landscapes, fauna and flora -from the comfort of your vehicle

Tshatshingo Potholes

Locals in Venda may be confused if asked about the Tshatshingo Potholes. Not least because the local soccer team is also called the Tshatshingo Potholes, but also because their existence and location may be unknown.

Legend has it that long ago, old local witches were drowned there. Potholes are found close to the villages of Tshidzivhe and Makwarani near Lake Fundudzi and Thathe Vondo.

Phiphidi Falls

Phiphidi Falls is one of several natural sacred sites of the Venda people. Others include Lake Funduzi  and the  Thate Vonde Forest . The elders of the Ramunangi, a Venda clan, use the falls to communicate with their ancestors. The beautiful cascade of water is surrounded by thick trees and lush vegetation.

Phiphidi lies within a forest on the Mutshindudi River. The rock above the waterfall is called LanwaDzon golo , and the pool below the waterfall; Guvhukuvhu . Both are considered holy. The Venda believe that the water and the pool are the home of ancestral water spirits to whom they bring offerings of beer and grain.

Mabudashango Hiking Trail

Hike through the Sacred Forest of Magoebaskloof.

Easily one of the most stunning trails in the Limpopo, this four-day hiking trail will take you through the mountainous eastern fringe of the Soutpansberg.

The trail winds past a number of revered sites and the burial grounds of Venda chiefs. A mystical atmosphere spreads through the lush indigenous forest. Keen birders should keep a lookout for glimpses of rare Narina trogons and Knysna loeries.

A highlight is the spectacular views of the sacred Lake Fundudzi, a place so protected that special permission has to be obtained from the VhaVenda people to visit it.

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Phiphidi Waterfalls in Venda

We visited phiphidi waterfall in venda, limpopo.

Phiphidi Waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Venda , actually the only one that I know of in Limpopo. It is said to be one of the sacred places for the vhaVenda people, and it’s not difficult to see why. The tranquility in that space is absolutely beautiful!

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A while back, we took a shotleft to Hoedspruit , Limpopo, to visit some few places, and we ended up passing Giyani and decided enroute that we wanted to check out Nandoni Dam. Being the adventurers people that we are, we decided to check out Phiphidi Waterfall as well, after all we were in Venda and it just made sense.

It was a beautiful sunny day, and we had everything ready and planned out, and drove to Phiphidi Waterfall right after Nandoni Dam.

We got to Phiphidi Waterfalls a little later than we would have liked, just after 4 o’clock in the afternoon, so we literally had about an hour to take in all that beauty and drive back to Giyani , which is where we were spending the night.

Entrance at the gate was R50, and we were told that a gentleman would come help us and show us around, then we were instructed to drive down to the parking, next to the waterfall. Unfortunately, the gentleman who was supposed to assist us, didn’t come, so we had to go back to the security gate for some assistance.

The Beautiful Phiphidi Waterfall 

30 minutes later or so, a very friendly  man came to assist us. We were excited, by then we could see the waterfall through the lush trees, and of course we could hear the sound of the water.

Then we made the descent down the stairs to where the waterfall was. The sound of the water was unlike anything I had heard before, beautiful, strong and just unforggetable. I had my reservations earlier on, as I don’t like unplanned trips, especially to places that I don’t know, but it became very clear very quickly that I would have regretted it had we not gone there.

And then there it was . . . the most beautiful waterfall I had ever seen. The beauty and the power of that water is something I won’t be able to put into words . . . put simply, it was breathtaking.

Of course we wanted to capture some of that beauty, and the gentleman was so kind, he offered to help us capture some of our images of me and my partner.

I Fell at Phiphidi Waterfall 

Now, looking back, falling into the water at Phiphidi Waterfall is definitely one of the scariest things that ever happened to me.

It happened as we were exploring the place, walking on the rocks. I (Xihla) slipped on one of the rocks, and I realised very quickly that I was in trouble. The bottom half of my body was in the water, and the stream was pulling on me but I managed to hang onto a rock, how I managed to do that is beyond me, because the rock was wet as well. But I know God was with me at that moment!

Mind you, I can’t swim very well, and even if I could, the strength of the water and all the rocks in that water would have knocked my head out , I wouldn’t have had a chance.

Lucky for me, my partner and the gentleman who was with us saw what had happened, they acted swiftly and pulled me out of the water. It was an extremely scary moment, and looking back, the thought of what could have happened makes me tremble.

Final Thoughts on Phiphidi Waterfalls

Don’t let my close encounter with death scare you. Phiphidi Waterfalls is absolutely breathtaking, you just have to be extra careful and say a prayer when you go there.

It’s definitely a must-do, if you have the adventurous spirit in you, and make sure that you go during the day to fully take in that beauty and snap those breaktaking shots.

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Venda Cultural Villages

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The Fascinating Traditions and Customs of Venda Culture

In Venda culture, traditions and customs play a significant role in shaping the social fabric of the community. One of the most fascinating traditions is the initiation ceremony for young boys, known as Domba. During this rite of passage, boys are secluded in the mountains for several weeks, where they are taught important life skills and the values of respect, responsibility, and discipline. This ancient tradition is believed to prepare young boys for adulthood and is highly respected within the community.

The layout of Venda villages is also worth mentioning. Houses are often arranged in a circular or semi-circular formation, with a central communal space known as the kraal. This design fosters a strong sense of community and encourages social interaction among residents. The kraal is a lively gathering place, where important ceremonies and festivities take place, further reinforcing the close-knit nature of the Venda culture.

Unveiling the Meaning Behind Venda Art and Craftsmanship

Venda art and craftsmanship is a rich tapestry of creativity and symbolism. Every stroke of the brush, every chisel of the stone, holds a deeper meaning that reflects the traditions and beliefs of the Venda people. From the vibrant colors of their paintings to the intricate carvings of their sculptures, Venda art tells stories of ancestral spirits, ancestral power, and the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds.

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Road tripping to magical venda in south africa.

VENDA: A   SOUTH AFRICAN HOMELAND

‘ Bantustans ’ were established by the Apartheid government as separate ‘black homelands,’ far removed from urban areas—located in the most rural corners of the country. A total of ten homelands were created. One, situated close to the border of Zimbabwe, which was given to the Venda speaking people in 1962.  

The homelands were places where very few from the outside world ever ventured.   After the Citizenship Act of 1970 was passed—allowing black people living throughout South Africa to be legal citizens in the homeland designated for their particular ethnic group, fears and prejudices grew far greater than ever before. Not only among white people, but also within varying black cultures.  

Fear was the homeland’s greatest safety. Nothing that didn’t belong inside, got in! Conversely, nothing that belonged outside, went out.   Y ears of isolation kept many things contained and safeguarded, anything from secrets, to sacred spaces and magical beliefs.

Today’s Venda is still shrouded under some of the greatest myths and legends. Whether you’d like to entertain a few mythical stories or not, the vast hills, ancient forests, disappearing waterfalls and mountain plateaus, remain the most dramatic and photogenic landscapes in all of Southern Africa.

LAKE FUNDUDZI AND THE TRADITIONAL DOMBA DANCE  

Within the first few minutes of turning off the main road, passing rolling tea-plantations and heading in the direction of the mountains, well-maintained traditional homesteads peak out from every direction. With every meter climbed, the familiarization of reality begins to slip away. Only moments earlier, the very poor, very steep dirt road, begins to look more like a dried up river bed crawling down between lush green trees and giant boulders. The ‘ 4X4 ONL Y’ sign I passed some meters back, now makes complete sense. Farther down the hill, vintage cars from days-gone-by are proudly parked in modest working-class driveways. Only women wrapped in traditional Venda cloth are in sight, walking briskly from one house to the next.  

Fundudzi Cultural Camp lies right at the very top, above it all, where it is clear not many attempt to drive. After what feels like an impossibly slow climb, even for an off-road vehicle, I finally arrived at a cluster of huts, modestly painted in monochrome colors, much like the shades of earth below them.  

Once inside, I found the hut to be swept clean, two paraffin lanterns and a box of matches were placed on the tiny tin table between two single beds, which were carefully covered with modest, but clean linens that smell like fabric softener. There were no windows. The smell rushes past my face, out the small door and into the open air. Everything feels strangely luxurious, and I cannot decide if it is the noticeable care taken in preparing the beds, or the design of the womb-like windowless-hut’s. I settle for both, lean my luggage against the wall, and close the door behind me as I walk out in a direction that seems to be an outdoor kitchen.  

Two ladies lean over giant pots filled with water coming to a boil. They offer me tea and I sip the warm liquid, feeling the safety of a this particular kind of isolation settle into my bones. I understand the importance of organizations like The Transfrontier Parks having mandates to help facilitate and maintain low-impact sustainable tourism experiences such as these.  

I stayed for two nights – setting and rising my body with the clock of the sun.  

Special attractions in the area and what not to miss …  

• Fruit Market between Louis Trichardt and the Fundudzi turn-off.
• The local tea plantations.
• Ask the local resident guide at the camp to organize live Domba dance entertainment, visit the nearby Lake Fundudzi, waterfalls and the Venda Sacred Forest.  

How to get to Venda?

The easiest route from Johannesburg to Fundudzi is 510km, the drive should take you about 6 hours. Head straight north up the N1 towards Louis Trichardt and turn right onto the R523. Carry on for about 21km before turning left towards Fundudzi. Should you be using your phone as a GPS, it is advisable to download Off-Route Maps as reception in this part of the world is not reliable at all. Visit Transfrontier Parks for exact location and more details.   https://www.tfpd.co.za/cultural-camps/fundudzi-cultural-camp

If you have any questions about visiting Venda, please leave a comment below.

Daréll Lourens

Tags: Fundudzi , South Africa , South Africa Road Trip , Venda , Venda road trip

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The Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

Mapungubwe national park.

Situated in the north of the Limpopo Province, Mapungubwe National Park is a magnificent game reserve and a World Heritage Site that is famed for being the home of the most socially advanced African society, one that then moved and later formed the empire known as Greater Zimbabwe.

Visitors to Mapugubwe can spend time game viewing and exploring the extensive savannah landscape where Elephant, Buffalo, White Rhino and other wildlife all roam. One can also take a tour to the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape to learn about the history of the area and view the virtually untouched remains of the settlement area and other historical landmarks.

The tour paints a fascinating picture of the social and political structures of the society that lived in the area and allows visitors to gain a unique insight into the highly complex societal structures, their ways of life, how they traded with the Chinese and Indians and the hierarchical structures that moulded their day to day life.

Interacting with Elephants

There are a number of places in Limpopo that offer visitors the opportunity to interact with African Elephants. Spend time with these gentle giants, learning about their family structures, feeding patterns and hierarchical structures and then have the opportunity to get up close and personal with them. An Elephant interaction is a highly recommended experience and one that all ages are guaranteed to enjoy.

Exploring the Venda Art Route

The Limpopo Province's indigenous people are the Venda people, a community world renowned for their creativity abilities and for the magnificent arts and crafts that they produce. The Venda Art route, or Venda Bender trail is a self-drive cultural route that takes visitors through the heart of the main Venda area.

Doing the Venda Bender

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Visiting Venda

by 2summers | Sep 13, 2016 | Emotions , Limpopo | 23 comments

I recently participated in a weekend trip to Magoebaskloof with a bunch of Instagrammers. It was a typical trip for me, in many ways: fun, social-media-oriented, filled with non-stop action, and planned by someone else. I loved it, and I’ll have lots more to say about that weekend in a future post.

But instead of going home at the end of the weekend, as I normally would, I stayed behind for another week and practiced a different kind of travel. I drove all over Limpopo, exploring corners of the province that are far from conventional tourism routes, following my own agenda rather than someone else’s.  Venda was my final destination.

My friend Lucky  is from Venda. It’s a former Bantustan  in the northeastern tip of South Africa. (Bantustans were separate “countries” the South African apartheid government set up in the mid-20th century as a way of keeping black people in poverty, essentially enslaved, and separating them from the ruling minority whites.) Venda borders Zimbabwe, and the Venda language is more similar to Shona (one of Zimbabwe’s dominant languages) than it is to any of South Africa’s other ten official languages.

I’ve been wanting to visit Lucky’s family in Venda for years, and last weekend we finally made it happen.

A Weekend in Venda

After an amazing experience exploring Limpopo’s Ribola Art Route , which I’ll write about in a future post, I met Lucky at a petrol station in the town of Makhado (formerly Louis Trichard). We did some shopping, I had my punctured front tire patched (rural Limpopo’s roads are not to be taken lightly), and we picked up Lucky’s younger brother, Mpho. Then we drove 30 minutes to Lucky’s parents’ house in Murunwa, Lucky’s home village.

After an hour or so in Murunwa we went on to Lucky’s new house, just up the road in Phadzima, where Lucky lives with his wife and two sons when he’s not working in Joburg.

Lucky finished building this one-room house about a year ago. The house is near the top of a steep hill, and all the materials for building the house were carried up a narrow dirt path that left me short of breath each time I climbed it. The house doesn’t have running water; Lucky’s wife, Vhutshilo, carries all of the household’s water in buckets up that narrow dirt path.

I loved Lucky’s house from the moment we arrived. I loved the view of the surrounding mountains. I loved the intimacy of the single room, which magically contains everything one could need. (Although my western, white-privileged brain could not conceive how four people can live there together. I mentioned this to Lucky during the drive back to Joburg; he laughed and said it’s not a problem at all.) I loved the sounds. I loved the smooth, polished cement floor and the neatly swept yard, made of dried cow dung.

I guess Lucky could see how much I loved his house. When I brought up the idea of sleeping at a B&B, as we sat over a meal of chicken stew, mango atchar, and sour pap, Lucky insisted that I would stay at his house for the weekend. He and Vhutshilo would take the kids and stay with his parents. I protested, briefly, but then agreed. Allowing me to stay alone at his house was the best gift Lucky could have given me.

Here are my sharpest memories from staying at Lucky’s place:

• Sitting on a plastic chair in the yard at dusk, just after Lucky left with his family, listening to the sounds of the village and drinking pink wine from a water glass.
• Tugging open the corrugated iron door to the privy at the bottom of the yard, struggling to close it again once I was inside, and trying to act like long-drop toilets are the most normal thing in the world to me.
• Washing my face and hands in a small plastic bowl, becoming acutely aware of how much water I waste on a daily basis.
• Waking up at dawn to find the mountain surrounded by mist, listening to gospel songs wafting up from a funeral tent below. Funerals last all night in Venda.
• Posting as many Instagrams as I pleased, and even streaming podcasts on my phone because there is a Vodacom tower in Phadzima and the entire village has perfect 4G signal. (The South Africans among you will appreciate this.)
• Sharing my trail mix with the neighborhood kids, who wandered over and couldn’t figure out what I was doing alone in their friend Rudzani’s house.
• Catching a minibus taxi from Murunwa to Phadzima, just before sunset. Several wide-eyed teenagers approached me at the side of the road (I think it’s pretty rare to see a white woman waiting for a taxi in Murunwa) and told me how happy they were to meet me. One of them hugged me. When I flagged down a taxi and got in, the kids ran behind the van, waving and laughing.
• Waking up on the last morning, exhausted and emotionally drained, and texting my mom. “I was just thinking how nice it would have been if you were here with me visiting Lucky’s family,” I typed. And then I burst into tears.
• Walking down the steep, narrow path for the last time and getting into my car with Lucky, who was driving back to Joburg with me. Vhutshilo held Adi, who clutched the Instax photo I’d taken of his father. When Adi realized Lucky was leaving with me, his little face crumpled and he began to cry.

That was my weekend in Venda. I don’t have any more words to describe it. I’ll be back.

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23 Comments

This post it pure beauty. I love how you bring South Africa ‘home’ to South Africans. Thank you. X

Thanks so much, Maddy 🙂

Lekker post Heather, I feel you – there’s no more genuine hospitality and kindness than in some of our deeply rural areas.

True that. Thanks Roxanne.

What an experience and a memory to be cherished! It’s always something very special when you get to finally see the roots, the family, the hometown of someone who has been a part of your life for such a long time – and to find peace there, very special. I’m also delighted to see what villages in Venda look like, many of the kids at our school in Alex come from Venda and they always speak of their home villages – and the sense of identity they find there – with great pride. I see why now, it’s very beautiful there 🙂

It really is, and it definitely feels different from any other place I’ve been in SA.

Such a lovely post. Next time I am coming to Venda with you! X

Yes, please!

Gorgeous photos and post and yes, I forgive you for making me cry with your lines about your mother and Adi’s tears.

Haha, I appreciate that. Thanks.

Did you get called ‘Makuwa’ at all? When I was in Venda it was all people called us! I think it means white person? (In a non offensive way I was told haha)

Hmm, I don’t know! I definitely got called Mlungu a couple of times, which is a Zulu word for white person.

This made me cry, because I miss my country with a passion that only someone who has been there and known her people will understand. I loved your story about Lucky’s family and staying in his home, thank you for sharing.

Thanks so much, Sarah. I hope you can come back soon 🙂

Wow I love simple heartfelt account of visiting a friends house. I’ve looked over the picture a few times and I’m crying and I don’t cry. Thank you ????

Thanks so much, Lindi. Thanks for reading and I’m so glad you’re enjoying the blog.

Wonderful. Yes, it’s been my experience, too, that it isn’t until you are in a situation to see how ‘the other half lives’ that we are truly humbled. I’m sure I’ve shared though, how much I hated being with my Thai family when I was 16 and living so ‘poor’ – bucket baths, squat toilets, sleeping on the floor…

My b/f told me when he visited one of his students in rural China how shocked he was that the floor of their home was dirt. Packed dirt, but nonetheless, dirt.

So glad you embraced it. xxoo

Life without running water is really hard. I guess I should have known that already.

What a lovely experience for you. Thank you for sharing your friend, Lucky, his beautiful family and your insights. Very instructive on many levels!

Thanks so much, Katherine. Glad you enjoyed it.

Loved this post

Thanks Dad 🙂

venda my home

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Heather Mason

I’m an American writer/blogger/photographer living a quirky life in Johannesburg. Follow along as I explore Johannesburg, South Africa, and the rest of the world.

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Discovering Venda Culture on the African Ivory Route

Venda Culture was something completely new for me! Even the language, Venda, is something unfamiliar and doesn’t sound at all the Nguni languages of isiZulu and isiXhosa that I’ve grown up around. I had no idea what to expect from our next stop, and after Kruger National Park’s drought-ridden landscapes I certainly didn’t expect lush, fertile mountainous beauty!

The road to Fundudzi Camp

We were headed towards Fundudzi Camp, a community-run camp on the outskirts of Mukumbani Village, about 10km west of Thohoyandou. We wanted to learn more about Venda culture. The big attraction of our visit was the sacred Lake Fundudzi and the nearby Thathe Vondo sacred forest.

Game reserves are difficult places to leave – there is always the tempting thought that an incredible sighting is waiting for you just down the next road… After packing up our campsite in Kruger’s Shingwedzi Camp we headed for the Punda Maria Gate, Kruger’s via the least direct route possible. It was another blisteringly hot day in Limpopo, and once more I found myself on the sunny side of the car! I also had the pressure of being the navigator in an area that was completely new to me. With intermittent cellphone signal we resorted to our good old South African road atlas, and with my finger tracing the route we headed south-west.

We had been told to phone Nelson, the head guide and our host at the African Ivory Route’s Fundudzi Camp for directions once we got closer. I was a little concerned when he gave me directions like “When you get to the big rock, turn left and once you reach the bamboo stand, phone me for further instructions”! I began to wonder where we were headed. Nevertheless, his directions turned out to be spot on – the ‘big rock’ was unmistakable and we reached the camp without any wrong turns.

We also reached it in the nick of time – the sun was setting and navigating in the dark would have been an interesting experience. The golden evening light gave us the most incredible welcome to the area, and it is one of the most beautiful drives we have done so far on this trip! The rich red soils of the area are incredibly fertile. So much so that every house has a veritable orchard of fruit trees growing outside – mangos and litchis galore!

The area is also known for its tea, and we drove through a section of the Tshivhase Tea Estate, the lime green tea leaves juxtaposing beautifully with the red soil, and with their edges tinged gold by the sun. Mukumbani Village is set on the sides of a mountain, and its jungle-covered cliffs felt exciting, mysterious and other-worldly after the flat plains of Kruger.

Exploring Lake Fundudzi: Sacred places in Venda Culture

Lake Fundudzi and the nearby Thathe Vondo forest are sacred places in the spiritual life of Venda’s Vhatatsindi people. They believe that the lake is protected by a python god who lives in the hills around the lake. Residents can hear him beating his drums, and he is celebrated annually with a puberty dance performed by young girls from the villages close by.

The lake’s mysticism is inherent in its water, which is said to rise and fall independent of rainfall, and although three rivers flow into the lake it never overflows. On two separate occasions, the lake’s water has risen apparently specifically to thwart outsiders’ plans for development along the lake’s edge.

The lake is also unique in that local villagers can enter the water without fear of attack from the numerous crocodiles who live in the lake. Our guide Nelson recounted stories of having crocodiles swim past him when he was playing in the lake as a child. Not knowing if this protection extended to white visitors, we decided not to risk it, even though the day of our visit was another uncomfortably hot and dry day in Limpopo !

To make more sense of Lake Fundudzi and Venda culture, our day’s tour with our guides Nelson and Susie began with a visit to the Phiphidi Falls, a series of cascading falls that have significance in the local Venda culture. From there we went on to the lake itself.

Lake Fundudzi hasn’t escaped the severe drought conditions ravaging the area and after parking Thomas above the historic water line, we began a half hour walk across dry ground to the pool that remained. Nelson told us it was the lowest he had ever seen the lake. After explaining more about the significance of the lake, he instructed us on how to greet it in the traditional way, the  ukodola . On first sighting of the lake, you must bend over and greet it upside down through your spread legs. You repeat a Venda phrase that if Nelson’s translation was to be believed, isn’t appropriate for publishing here! The next step is to spit on the ground and throw a small stone through your legs into the lake behind you. All of this we did. When in Venda…

Following the lake, we escaped the heat in the Thathe Vondo sacred forest. The spirituality of this area was tangible, and sitting on the damp grass under a cool canopy of green, Nelson explained to us the process of a second burial. In Venda culture, the ancestors must be petitioned for the deceased of the family to join their ranks. If the ancestors permit, the bones of the deceased are exhumed and reburied amongst the graves of the tribe’s ancestors, the location of this cemetery being a secret. The exhumed bones mustn’t be allowed to touch the ground, and are carried by a young girl of the family whilst in transit. This important role, which to me seems quite traumatic for a young girl to undertake, must be an honour in Venda culture.

Taking in the sights around Mukumbani Village

As I mentioned, the landscape around Mukumbani Village is absolutely breathtaking. The village itself is nestled on the slopes of a jungle-covered mountain, and overlook the lime green hills of the Tshivhase Tea Estate. During our stay, we took in a few of the local sights.

The highlight for us was a visit to the Tshathingo Potholes. This series of small cascading falls and large natural swimming pools is a favourite amongst locals. Because the pools get deeper the further down the falls you go, Nelson and Susie explained to us that the top pools were for small children learning to swim whilst the lower pools were for the older children. We watched some teenagers making precarious rock jumps off the cliff walls into the lowest pool below and decided that he was right!

The potholes really are a sight to take in and the series of falls and pools ends in the river plunging down a vertical face into a swirling cauldron below – the final pothole from which there would be no escape if you were unlucky enough to fall in. Keeping this in mind, we gingerly navigated the narrow rock platform above the pool, desperate to get a good look over the edge but not quite trusting that final shuffling step!

The rich and fertile soils of the area mean that no home, however poor, goes without food. Fruit trees line every garden fence and branches heavy with mangos and litchis hang well within reach. Susie took us to visit a family friend on our way back to Fundudzi Camp and we were greeted by one of the most jovial and welcoming families I have ever met. The youngest daughter supplied me with a steady stream of ripe litchis that she found on the ground while her father set about picking us a bagful to take home. The wife and aunts fetched traditional gear for me to try on and the granny of the house quickly went and changed into her traditional Venda outfit to join me for a few photographs. I say a  few  photographs, but what actually happened was that everyone who owned a cellphone formed a circle and we were surrounded by the Venda paparazzi, furiously snapping away while we posed for them! I’m sure those photos are circulating around Facebook somewhere! So much fun and laughter with people with whom we couldn’t even speak English.

After a great day out it was time for a shower and then dinner at the local Kid’s Corner Tarven. No, that is not a typo of on my part as we saw branding and advertising for a number of local tarvens on our drives through the area! Dinner was a delicious meal of fried chicken and chips, eaten on the verandah whilst enjoying a glorious sunset over the red and green hills below.

Final thoughts

Although Lake Fundudzi may not currently be on your trip planning radar, it is a very special place and we had a great time there, learning about Venda culture and traditions. The  African Ivory Route’s Fundudzi Camp  was a perfect balance – set in the cool green hills above the village and a delightful haven away from the heat and bustle and yet within walking distance of Mukumbani Village and its welcoming people. The chance to interact with the locals was a very special and enriching experience. South Africa is a country that is incredibly rich in cultural diversity, so why not make a plan to explore more of that on your next holiday?

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Joh! Having great fun. Little is known about these parts and you have brought it to life. Interesting trip you are having.

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Venda Sacred Places

Lake fundudzi and mashovhela rock pool.

Lake Fundudzi

Possibly the most sacred spot of all in Venda Culture is the enchanted body of water known as  Lake Fundudzi  in the Thathe Vondo Forest, in Venda and is the home to the mythical python and white crocodile.

Lake Fundudzi, the only natural lake of its kind in South Africa, was originally formed by a landslide, say scientists. But the local people see it in a far more mysterious way. They’ll point out that three rivers flow into the lake, yet it never overflows and there is no obvious outlet.

Thathe Vondo Forest

Lake Fundudzi  is surrounded by the  Thathe Vondo forest  – so full of spirits that few Venda people venture into it for fear of the two  mythical creatures  keeping guard, namely the white lion (the spirit of Nethathe an important chief) and the thunder and lighting bird called Ndadzi which according to myths flies on the wings of thunder, its eyes flash lightning, from in its beak it bears rain and when it drops an egg at a foot of a tree this tree will be destroyed by fire.

The forest has giant trees (jakkelsbessie, yellowwood), a wide variety of ferns, creepers and a wealth of plants and trees which makes the forest nearly impenetrable on foot. One can also find the  giant edible mushrooms , Nkoa in these woods.

Venda Legends

• The Venda people say that the  Mutale River  that flows into the lake actually flows underneath the lake and does not move the surface water.
• A legend tells of a Venda man who had a broken heart because of the loss of a great love. In his sorrow he walked into Lake Fundudzi at which time he turned into a python. This python is the god of fertility and cares for the crops and who is pacified annually by the pouring of sacrificial beer onto the water and by young virgin Venda maidens performing the famous Domba-python dance.
• A white crocodile guards the ancestral spirits who inhabit the lake. The fullness of the lake and its colour indicate the mood of the ancestors, and predicts the coming rainy season. This crocodile might have really existed because this Lake is still today infested by large crocodiles, and an albino might have once occurred. No-one washes in this lake.
• One legend is that a leper begged for food at one of the villages where the lake is now. He was refused food and subsequently cursed the village, which was suddenly covered by water and that one can still see the people living at the bottom of the lake.
• When any object is thrown into the lake, locals say the spirits will catch it and throw it back out onto the bank to be discovered the next morning.
• Sometimes you can hear singing, although no one appears to be present. It is believed to be buried ancestors which are are said to come alive singing and playing drums beneath the water.

However, to truly appreciate its importance, do our  Mystical Venda Tour  of the area and hear the local stories.

Respect for Venda Culture

• The Venda will truly appreciate it if you show the proper respect by doing the requisite greeting when you first see the lake. Turn your back to it, and bend down to look at it upside down through spread legs, a salute known as the ukodola.
• Then please the gods of the lake further by walking down and throwing a few of your hairs into the lapping wavelets. The Venda will love you for it.

Mashovhela Rock Pool

Mashovhela , “the place where the drums can be heard”, is the second-most-sacred place in Venda culture. This sacred site is still used occasionally by Sangomas in rain-making ceremonies, like a few years ago – shortly after which Venda had the heaviest rains and most devastating floods in living memory.

The Venda Culture Legend

According to Venda tradition the legendary and powerful Venda King, Thohoiyanda, had a mystical drum, Ngoma Lungundo, “drum of the dead”. As his enemies approached, this drum was played and the foe just dropped dead.

One night, King Thohoiyanda and the sacred drum mysteriously disappeared from his royal kraal. Neither were ever seen again. It was believed he disappeared into the  Western Soutpansberg , where  Mashovhela Lodge  is situated.

Tradition has it that it is this sacred drum that can sometimes be heard in the echoes from the rock cliffs of Mashovhela pool.

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Discounted Mashovhela Bush Lodge Chalet Rates: (Proof of age is required)

Rates for Children under 12 years: Sharing on the side bed

• 50% DISCOUNT; Children 2- 12 years pay 50%  when sharing a chalet with at least one  Adult on the side bed
• Children under 2 years stay free, when sharing a room with parents

(Cots are available on request subject to availability)

• Third Adult sharing gets a 50% DISCOUNT on the side bed

Rates for Teenagers 13-16   years

• 15% DISCOUNT: Teenagers pay 85% when sharing a chalet on the Loft bed

Rates for Pensioners  over 65 years (Proof of age is required)

• 15% DISCOUNT: Pensioners pay 85% when sharing a chalet

(Subject to availability & subject to change)

Booking Conditions:

• 50% deposit is required to secure the booking as CONFIRMED
• The balance is payable 2 weeks prior to arrival
• Payments may be made via bank transfer; cash deposit or credit card
• Regret no cheques or travellers cheques
• The FULL amount of the booking must be settled before or AT CHECK-IN

Morning Sun Booking Cancellation Policy:

• 100% Cancellation charge for total services reserved if cancelled 6 or fewer days in advance; ( this includes all “no-shows” – non-arrivals without written valid reason for cancellation caused by illness or death).
• 75% Cancellation charge for total services reserved if cancelled between 7 and 14 days prior to arrival;
• 50% Cancellation charge as outlined above if cancelled between 15 and 21 days prior to arrival;
• 25% Cancellation charge as outlined above if cancelled between 22 and 30 days prior to arrival;
• 0% Cancellation charge if cancelled 31 or more days prior to arrival.
• Please note: Unforeseen cancellations due to war, unrest or any other related circumstances are subject to the abovementioned terms and do not constitute a valid reason for waiver of the cancellation policy terms.
• In the event of cancellation bonfire arising from illness or death, the provision of the consumer protection act apply, subject to proof being furnished.

*Tour Leader/Tour Guides/Driver must be employed by either the International Tour Operator or the South African Inbound Tour Operator

CHECK-IN TIME: 14h00 to 19h00   CHECK-OUT TIME 11h30 at Lodge Reception

Morning Sun Nature Reserve Gate closes at 21h00 unless otherwise arranged!

PLEASE do NOT use your GPS Coordinates ( You will land up somewhere else !!! )

Please use our WEBSITE DIRECTONS / MAP and coordinates only !!!!!

Venda People

The Venda in South Africa

The South African Province of Limpopo is not only a fantastic destination for nature safaris, but it hosts in its territory one of the populations who has managed to keep alive the traditions, myths and legends of its culture: the Venda.

A stop on our journey, through Eastern South Africa, was at a cultural village; we decided to stop here as we wanted to learn more about this population.

The Venda, or VhaVenda, come from the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, from which they migrated, in search for more fertile territories and pastures for their livestock; during their migration they united with other populations and this has created an interesting mix of cultures.   The Venda culture seems to have incorporated some typical aspects of the populations of East Africa, Central Africa, Nguni and Sotho; for example, the Venda prohibit pork consumption, a prohibition that is common along the East African coast, they practice male circumcision, that is common for the Sothosor for the Nilotic populations, like the Masai, while it is not practiced by the most of the Nguni populations.

The territory of the Venda is composed, in large part, of wide valleys, mountains and green hills, that preserve legends and myths, that, even today, are handed down orally from father to son.

The most fascinating characteristic of this population is in fact linked to their system of mythical beliefs and the spiritual world that influences their daily life and above all their artistic style.

The territory of the Venda is in fact dotted with numerous workshops for the processing of fabrics, ceramics and wood.

We were lucky enough to spend some time with the lovable manager of the cultural village, who told us some traditions and legends.

Among the traditions of which he spoke there is that linked to the engagement, the Venda realize the refined bracelets, they use the horsehair or donkey hair and wrap them with a delicate silver thread; these bracelets are used as engagement ring.

The spiritual world is linked to the luxuriant nature that characterizes their territory, forests are the place of election of ancestral spirits and many sacred sites are found in the forests or lakes of the region.

The forest of Thathe Vondo is considered sacred by the Venda, the myths and legends tell that here are the sacred white lions, the powerful fiery birds, that are said to "fly on the wings of thunder"; also here are the broken-hearted men who ventured into the forest and were turned into pythons.

The Venda fear so much the spirits that lodge in the forest that rarely enter it and, for the respect of the spirits, the excursions are forbidden, even if today it is possible to make some, guided tours headed by a local guide.

The forest surrounds one of the most sacred places, the Fundudzi Lake, that is said to be the home of a giant python, the god of fertility.

The lake is infested with crocodiles and among them the Venda believe that there is also the white crocodile, guardian and protector of the water spirits; even today for the Venda there is the taboo to hunt and eat the meat of crocodiles, both for the respect of the white crocodile-keeper, and because the belief wants the reptile's brain to be poisonous.

The cultural heritage of the Venda has remained intact, or almost, thanks to a series of events that have preserved its authenticity: first of all the Venda were the last population to surrender to the conquest of the white settlers, perched on the mountains they were able to resist both the Zulu at first and the Boer attacks later; also the creation of the Republic of Venda, from 1979 to 1994, has preserved the Venda influence from the apartheid era.

These events allowed the Venda to maintain the culture, language, arts and crafts that have survived so strongly until today.

Kruger National Park: Lions - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Our car! - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Ndebele - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Xhosa - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Basotho - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Pedi village - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Mapungubwe National Park - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Kruger National Park: Lion - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Swazi people - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Hlane Royal National Park: Rhinos - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Mkhaya Game Reserve - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

iSimangaliso Wetland Park: uMkhuze Game Reserve - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi: Wild dogs - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi

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• Accommodation

Immerse yourself in the culture of the Venda people at Fundudzi Cultural Camp

• Tai Chishakwe
• January 25, 2022

Unwind and discover the traditions of the Venda people of Limpopo at Fundudzi Cultural Camp , which you will find on a hill-side at the foot of the Luaname Mountains.

Located just above the village of Mukumbani, Fundudzi Cultural Camp offers amazing views of the area’s beautiful farmlands and landscapes. It is also an ideal place from which to explore this part of Limpopo, which is famous for its sacred places and traditional Venda arts and crafts.

Day hikes are a popular activity for guests to enjoy, whilst their rock pools are a great way to cool down during those hot summer days.

The camp also part of the African Ivory Route and is run by Transfrontier Parks Destinations , which runs several other amazing holiday destinations across South Africa.

Many of their previous guests had wonderful things to say about the camp’s facilities and the hospitality they received from the staff.

Accommodation at Fundudzi Cultural Camp

At Fundudzi Cultural Camp, you can choose between five, comfortable stand-alone thatched rondavels, each with two single beds, linen, chairs and a bedside stand. The units are en-suite with flush toilets, shower and basin.

Besides a stand-alone communal bathroom, there is also a communal kitchen (with pots, crockery and cutlery as well as a gas hob, fridge and freezer), dining and camp-fire facilities.

Catering by local villagers can also be arranged.

Note that there is no electricity at the camp. However, there are LED solar lights in rooms and USB-solar charging facilities.

To make your online booking, click HERE .

Activities in the Luaname Mountains

From your base at Fundudzi Cultural Camp, enjoy various activities such as Hiking & Walking at the base of the Soupansberg Mountain.

The area also offers many opportunities for 4×4 off-roading as well as excellent birdwatching.

Reviews from previous Fundudzi Cultural Camp guests

“We stayed at this cultural camp for two nights for a cultural experience and it was a great one. But please be warned that the sand road to this camp is not a nice one and you must make arrangements with the camp to meet you where the tar road ends and the dirt road starts. This is a treacherous road with very little signage and one could get lost very easily. None the less, the staff are great and the cultural experience excellent. My guests enjoyed the rooms although very rustic but this is part of the experience. The local food at the camp was good,” wrote catztours on their TripAdvisor page .

Fundudzi Cultural Camp is located along the Fundudzi Camp Road, Thohoyandou, in Limpopo. Here is their location on Google Maps . For bookings, call +27 (0) 15 781 0690; email [email protected] or visit them online at www.africanivoryroute.co.za/cultural-camps/fundudzi-cultural-camp today.

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Actually, Home Food and Travel offers a lot more than just reviews of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities.  We also visit great destinations, receive advice from interior designers and stop to smell the roses and taste the coffee.

Our team of journalists are seasoned travels and love visiting the myriad of exciting places around South Africa.  Whether it is off the beaten track or in the heart of the top attractions of the country, we’ll be there,

Home Food and Travel advice on finding the right accommodation

So what is the right accommodation ?  Well more often than not, it’s your travel budget that dictates the type of accommodation that you choose. 

Expensive is not always better.  Our team at Home Food and Travel will tell you that they have camped in areas with limited ablutions and had a wonderful holiday.  They have also spent a night in a five star hotel only to be disappointed because their expectations exceeded the experience.

The reason for your travels will also affect your choice.  A business trip requires different amenities to a beach holiday. 

Our articles, reviews and experiences can certainly help you make your decision.

Restaurants with a good mix of service, food and ambiance

To my mind a great  restaurant  offers three things – excellent service, great food and a wonderful ambiance.  Of these, service is the most important. 

No matter that the food is delicious and the setting delightful, poor service can ruin the occasion.  However, great service combined with mediocre meal and a plane jane restaurant can still be a pleasant night out.

We’ve eaten in restaurants that are really dirty but with incredible food and couldn’t help but give a rave review.  We’ve also hardly noticed what we ate because the setting was just amazing.

However, the best restaurants come with the best of service, food and ambiance.

Spas are the ultimate relaxation aid

How do you know when you have had a great  spa  experience?  The answer, of course, is when you doze off on the treatment table. 

Well that’s our theory anyway.  It also doesn’t take a grand location with enormous facilities for a spa to be really good

A small, personal spa that is owner run can result in the best massage you have ever experienced.  However, the grand spas in five star hotels offer unsurpassed facilities in an environment that just makes the stress in your shoulders and neck melt away before you even finish checking in.

You don’t have to be an adrenaline junky to enjoy an exciting experience.  In fact, what are commonly termed  adventure  activities usually have incredibly high safety standards and unblemished safety records.

Ziplining, bungy jumping and shark cage diving are all very safe.  It’s just that our mind tells us we are craaazzzzyyyy to be doing this.

On the road to great places of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities

If you’re driving, be safe and make use of all the wonderful farm stalls that populate South Africa’s open roads.

If you overhear somebody asking a lot of questions or see someone taking photos of empty bedrooms chances are it’s one of our Home Food and Travel team members.

We’re out looking or those great places of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities.

See you  on the road !

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About the Publisher, Graeme Lund

The tourism industry has been my bread and butter for most of my life.  It started with my incorporating a tour company in 1995 just as South Africa was opening to international tourism. I was the first qualified field guide in the Eastern Cape and later became the approved tour guide trainer for the region.  At various times I have owned a tourist information office, an advertising agency specializing in marketing tourism businesses,  sat on the board of directors of various tourism organisations and a been a publisher of travel magazines and websites.

Southern Africa is my home and the diversity of cultures,  scenery and fauna and flora are what make it so special.  I have a passion for exploring and have done so by driving, hiking, strolling, cycling, boating, sailing, diving and flying and know that their is still so much more to see.  

Along the way their are so many amazing places to stay and to eat and they are an integral part of what makes this such a special place. These private and public tourism enterprises play a huge part in ensuring that our natural environment remains intact.

I am a fervent conservationist.  I have served on the Board of Trustees of Bayworld and am currently a director of Bay Action Network Alliance. I believe that tourism is one of the few effective ways of protecting a dwindling natural heritage in the face of overpopulation and irresponsible and selfish exploitation of natural resources. Sadly conservation for conservation sake is as out of date as fax machines and typewriters.  Animals and conservation areas must make more money from tourism than they can from exploitation to ensure their long term survival.  It is for this reason that I love working with responsible tourism organizations around Southern Africa.

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Travel Affordable

The venda weekend getaway package 3 days 2 nights, r 2450.00 per person.

The package includes 2 nights accommodation with breakfast, Full day tour on the Venda Lifestyle Tour, transport, tour guide and picnic included.

Venda Lifestyle Tour

The lifestyle tour offers a mixture of modern and traditional life in predominantly TshiVenda-speaking areas. It goes through rural villages and end up in Thohoyandou, meaning Head of the Elephant, the capital of Venda and surroundings.

See how and where most rural Venda households grind their maize meal

Follow the N 1 to the north and turn east on the Witvlag-road. Continue on the Witvlag road driving pass macadamia nut, avocado and litchi orchards, pine plantations and saw mills until you reach Maelula village. You are now in the tribal land of the former Venda homeland with its many villages, homesteads and small farms. Continue past villages and mountainous landscapes.  After passing the river in Phadzima village, you will see Phadzima mills on the left side of the road. You can visit the mill and experience how village women prepare traditional maize meal – in the very old days two women would have crushed the corn pips in a stamp block in a rhythmic almost dance-like trance.

You will go through Nzelele valley en route to Thohoyandou visit Vhutshilo Mountain school and pop in at Phiphidi waterfalls

Along the R 523 running through the Nzhelele valley towards Thohoyandou/Sibasa, you find Vhutshilo Mountain School on your left side. This is one of the projects that Madi a Thavha supports. You can visit this school and centre for HIV orphans and vulnerable children. The teachers like to show you around and inform you about their work. Then one goes back to the R523 and continue in the direction of Sibasa / Thohoyandou passing Vondo dam with its many crocodiles, brilliant green Tshivhase tea plantationsand the Phiphidi Waterfalls, sacred to some Venda tribes.

Thohoyandou, rural hip fused with modern African brands

Once in Thohoyandou the vibrant capital of the vhaVenda people, a local shopping experience at the old open market reveals an abundance of informal shops between formal shops, hair salons, and road stalls bursting with colour, textures, traditional music discussions on every corner.  You can park your car at the Game parking area and take the pedestrian walkway to the old shopping heart of Thohoyandou with itsvariety of traditional foods, traditional doctors with their indigenous medicinal cures, traditional clothingall mixed in a colourful buzz. Ask the street vendors the directions to the old Khoja’ shop and Spar supermarket, both are experiences in its own right.

Thohoyandou means Head of the Elephant

The Thohoyandou Arts and Culture Centre sit on the R524, the road between Louis Trichardt/Makhado and Punda Maria gate of the Kruger National park. Here, prolific artist Avhashoni Mainganye and his studentscreate and test various mediums to sculpt, paint, etch, print or photograph. Still in the vicinity of Thohoyandou our tour guide Musa (only he!) knows how to find artist and jeweler Japhter Luvhimbi, who creates marvelous chunky jewelry from indigenous wood, sure to become a conversation piece for anyone donning his “wearable” art

We travel back  home via Tshakhuma fruit market

To go home to Madi a Thavha will be taking the R524 going west and continue straight towards Tshakuma/ Louis Trichardt. Do stop at Tshakuma open market  with its abundant fruit and vegetables stalls on both sides. You can buy fresh seasonal fruits of the subtropical Levubu valley at this vibrant 24/7- market and can have interesting conversations with the villagers who run the market.One can also visit artist Mishark Raphalaninext to the open market at Tshakhuma. From the market you drive back to Louis Trichardt / Makhado and Madi a Thavha.

Mangos, Guavas, Avocados and bananas from the region

Makhado Places of Interest

• I want to go to ...
• Check-in and check-out
• About Makhado
• Accommodation
• Things To Do
• Attractions

Attractions IN Makhado

Landmarks / Lakes / Dams

Albasini Dam

The biggest body of water in the area, Albasini Dam lies east of Makhado (Louis Trichardt), just south of the Entabeni State Forest. Named after João Albasini, a slave trader and elephant hunter the remains of whose trading post lies close to the new ...

Nature Reserves

Blouberg Nature Reserve

Situated west of Makhado, just off route 521, the Blouberg Nature Reserve lies in relative obscurity in the midst of rural village and farming communities at the foot of the eastern foothills of the Blouberg Mountain, for its part an inselberg of the ...

• Golf Courses

Louis Trichardt Golf Club

The Louis Trichardt Golf Club takes its name after the town it has been built in and is widely known as one of the very best South African nine-hole golf courses. The course enjoys stunning scenery and right off the tee one can enjoy mountainous vistas, ...

Morning Sun Nature Reserve

Morning Sun Nature Reserve lies in the Soutpansberg Mountains of Limpopo, a natural heritage site that forms part of the UNESCO Vhembe Biosphere Region. The Vhembe Biosphere Region includes the northern part of the Kruger National Park, the Mapungubwe ...

Birdlife or Wildlife Sanctuaries / Forests / Nature Reserves

Roodewal Forestry Nature Reserve

The African broadbill is one of the most difficult birds to spot in South Africa. But you can find it in Roodewal forest. It is the one place in the Soutpansberg where you are almost guaranteed to see at least one, which is why the reserve is so popular ...

Mountain Passes / Popular Tourist Routes

Wyllie's Poort

From Makhado (Louis Trichardt) the N1 heads due north to carve its way through the Soutpansberg, reaching the northern side of this stretch of mountains through a narrow gorge known as Wyllie's Poort. Two tunnels, one after another, take one directly ...

Attractions AROUND Makhado

Entabeni forest.

Entabeni forest is a strip of Afro-temperate mist-belt forest that is part of the state Entabeni plantation. As such it is one of few remaining forests of this description and harbours some of the province's most exciting ...

Forests / Mountain Reserves

Hanglip Forest Reserve

Locally known as Hanglip Bosreservaat, the reserve has over 340 hectares of indigenous sub-tropical forest criss-crossed with hiking paths, mountain forest streams and the call of birds. During the heat of the summer months, the forest provides a ...

Lake Fundudzi

The enchanted body of water known as Lake Fundudzi is a sacred lake of the Venda people that lies in the heart of the Soutpansberg and is one of the few true inland lake systems in South Africa. Lake Fundudzi can be found on the R523 between Thohoyandou ...

Langjan Nature Reserve

Lying just north east of Blouberg Nature Reserve, on the R521 to Alldays, west of Makhado, the Langjan Nature Reserve is typified by gorgeous red sand dunes and scrub-acacia bushveld vegetation - lush during the summer rainfalls and equally dry during ...

Landmarks / World Heritage Sites

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape is situated in the extreme north of this country, where South Africa meets Botswana and Zimbabwe. However, it was once (between 900 and 1300 CE) the centre of gold and ivory trade with ...

Game Reserves / National Parks

• Mapungubwe National Park

Set right up against the northern border of South Africa, uniting Botswana and Zimbabwe, lies Mapungubwe National Park - an extensive savannah landscape situated at the meeting place of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers. This is the land of sandstone ...

Maremani Nature Reserve

Maremani Nature Reserve is a 41 000 hectare reserve north east of Johannesburg. It is owned by a charity foundation whose focus is to preserve nature and protect wildlife. A relatively unknown private nature reserve, Maremani lies in an arid to semi-arid ...

• Game Reserves

Nwanedi Game Reserve

Lying west of the northern reaches of the Kruger National Park, Nwanedi Game Reserve is particularly scenic situated as it is in the foothills of the Venda Mountains. Nwanedi is home to a rich supply of animals who take advantage of the effortless ...

Mountain Reserves / Forests / Nature Reserves

Soutpansberg Conservancy

The Soutpansberg Conservancy, consisting of 90 000 hectares, was formed to protect an incredibly sensitive and beautiful part of the world. Drive across the arid, flat vastness of the northern Limpopo Province, and the sandstone of the Soutpansberg ...

Forests / Nature Reserves

Thathe Vondo Forest

Regarded as the most majestic and beautiful forest in the Limpopo region, Thathe Vondo is also regarded as sacred by the local Venda people. Folklore tells of many tales, ranging from sitings of sacred white lions, thunder-and-lighting birds which are ...

Miscellaneous / Natural Wonders

• The Baobabs

The giant Baobab trees grow mainly in the hot, semi-arid areas north of the Soutpansberg mountain. Legend has it that in a frivolous mood, the gods planted Baobabs upside down with their roots exposed to the sky. The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) is ...

Game Reserves / Nature Reserves

Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve

In what can only be described as the far northern reaches of South Africa lies the 36 000 hectare Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve in the Limpopo Valley. The reserve is called a 'piece of old Africa', not least because of the presence of Baobabs and rather ...

... and a little further afield

Ben lavin nature reserve.

The rather heady mix of assorted sour bushveld, riverine woodland that lines the almost always arid watercourses, and vast plains of thornveld set against the rolling foothills of the Soutpansberg, make the Ben Lavin Nature Reserve, close to Louis ...

Makuya Nature Reserve

Makuya, also known as Makuya Nature Reserve, shares a fenceless border with the Kruger National Park and is about an hour's drive from the Pafuri Gate. A relatively small reserve its 16 000 hectares are leased from the Makuya, Mutele, and Mphaphuli ...

Musina Nature Reserve

Musina Nature Reserve has one of the largest collections of baobabs in the country, and incorporates the former Baobab Forest Reserve – formed in 1926 to protect the baobabs from commercial interests. These huge 'upside down' trees, more formally known ...

Forests / Landmarks

Phiphidi Falls

Phiphidi Falls is one of several natural sacred sites of the Venda people. The others include Lake Funduzi and the Thate Vonde Forest. The falls are used by the elders of the Ramunangi, a Venda clan, for communicating with ...

Game Reserves / Landmarks / National Parks

Punda Maria Gate

Punda Maria Gate allows access into far nothern Kruger Park. Recognised as the best region in the park for spotting the Nyala antelope, this part of the Kruger is also excellent for bird watching, sighting elephant and experiencing a less inundated ...

Landmarks / Miscellaneous

Sagole Big Tree

Sagole is the name of the biggest baobab tree in the world. Your guide, if you have one from the local community, will tell you the tree is 3 500 years old, but actually it has been carbon dated as 1 200 years of age. It stands 22 metres high, and has ...

Lakes / Dams / Landmarks

Tshatshingo Potholes

It can get confusing, when asking locals in Venda about the Tshatshingo Potholes, not least because their local soccer team is called the Tshatshingo Potholes, but also because not everyone knows where these potholes are, or that they ...

Makhado as a destination

Also in the neighbourhood.

• Alldays , Louis Trichardt , Mapungubwe , Musina , Soutpansberg Conservancy , Thohoyandou , Vivo

Staying Overnight

Chinaka Game Lodge

Chinaka Game Lodge offers accommodation in a secluded, private and affordable game lodge set in the heart of the Bushveld in the Limpopo Province...

The Anza Lifestyle Lodge

Welcome to Anza Lodge, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Makhado, Louis Trichardt, where culture, nature, and luxury converge to provide a uni...

TwinBee Apartment

TwinBee Apartment is a spacious, beautifully decorated two bedroom apartment. The apartment has a spacious open-plan kitchen which equipped with ...

Located on the outskirts of Louis Trichardt, Rose & Ivy offers quality accommodation and is ideally suited for a family or group of friends trave...

The Ultimate Lodge

Ideal for travellers en-route to Kruger National Park, The Ultimate Lodge offers warm and comfortable accommodation with friendly service in a sp...

Fern Cottage

Fern Cottage is a cosy self-catering cabin in the beautiful Soutpansberg mountain range in Limpopo. The holiday home is air conditioned and can a...

Sou House is a chic safari guesthouse offering accommodation in Makhado on a large, peaceful property with a beautiful view. The guesthouse has a...

Mountain Inn Country Hotel

Mountain Inn Country Hotel is situated near the Hangklip Forest Reserve, just 11km outside of Louis Trichardt. The hotel is situated at the top o...

Mount Azimbo Lodge

Mount Azimbo Lodge is situated in the Limpopo Province, just 12 kilometers north of Louis Trichardt (Makhado) on the N1. You have the option to s...

Lalapanzi Hotel

Located in the beautiful Bandelierkop, surrounded by trees, cattle and bush, Lalapanzi is an old English-style hotel that has been welcoming gues...

Cuckoo's Nest Guest House

The Cuckoo's Nest Guest House is named after the beautiful cuckoo birds that regularly visit the area. Located approximately 5km from the centre ...

Masili Boutique Hotel

Masili Boutique Hotel offers an ideal comfortable stopover for guests travelling through the area to either the Beitbridge Border Post located 10...

Schimper View Boutique Guest House

Schimper View Boutique Guest House offers luxury accommodation in Louis Trichardt. Located in the upmarket area of Louis Trichardt, this property...

BlackBee Apartment

BlackBee Apartment can be found in the town of Louis Trichardt. With eclectic styling and charming decor your stay here will be comfortable and u...

Madi a Thavha Mountain Lodge

Madi a Thavha, meaning "water from the mountains", is set in a beautiful and quiet valley of the lush Soutpansberg mountain area of Limpopo, only...

Forest Hills Lodge

Forest Hills Lodge is situated in Louis Trichardt, 135km from the Punda-Maria gate at Kruger National Park. This Louis Trichardt accommodation is...

QueenBee Apartment

QueenBee Apartment is a spacious, beautifully decorated one bedroom apartment furnished with a King-size bed. The apartment has a spacious open-p...

Wildnut Lodge and Game Farm

Wildnut Lodge and Game Farm is a beautiful wildlife farm just outside Louis Trichardt. The farm offers privacy and is the perfect destination for...

Zvakanaka Farm

Zvakanaka Farm is located on the south-facing slopes of the eastern Soutpansberg and is just 11kms from Makhado. The farm offers beauty, tranquil...

A-Cody Place

Located in Louis Trichardt, A-Cody Place is 6.9km from Makhado Crossing Shopping Centre, 8km from Hangklip Forest Reserve, and the property is al...

Softwaters Farm Guesthouse

Softwaters Farm Guesthouse offers comfortable accommodation close to the Entabeni Forest in the area of Louis Trichardt. Two of our units are off...

Purdy's Place

Purdy's Place is located in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo. The guest house offers accommodation in a quiet residential area. The Makhado Crossing Shop...

139 On Munnik Guest House

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Soutpansberg mountain range, 139 on Munnik Guest House is a luxurious property offering upmarket accommodatio...

Leshiba Wilderness

This eco friendly Game and Nature Reserve offers accommodation on top of the Soutpansberg mountains in the Limpopo province, South Africa, in one...

Leshiba Lavish Suites

Leshiba is not a destination, it's the beginning of a journey, a new story. Here, you will discover not just a private yet affordable game reser...

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• Tourist Attractions
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Top Things to Do in Venda Nova Do Imigrante

Things to do in venda nova do imigrante.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Good for Kids
• Honeymoon spot
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Big Groups
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Couples
• Adventurous
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Fazenda Carnielli

2. Sítio Busato

3. Lagoa Alto Bananeiras

4. Vinícola Tonole

5. Sítio Bella Toza

6. Morro do Filleti

7. Mirante da Torre de TV

8. Sitio da Familia Brioschi

9. villa toscana.

10. Lorenção

11. Paraíso Bar e Piscina Casa de Campo

12. Claudia Artessanato

13. Caprinova

14. terminal rodoviario américo comarela, 15. zandonade cafés especiais.

16. Canaltur ES

• Fazenda Carnielli
• Vinícola Tonole
• Sítio Busato
• Sítio Bella Toza
• Mirante da Torre de TV
• Sitio da Familia Brioschi

10 Beautiful Places To Visit In Antigua And Barbuda

A ntigua is one of the lesser-known islands many travelers often overlook when planning an island vacation. But this island offers so many amazing experiences , and it also has lots of beautiful spots that are picture-perfect.

Besides their scenery, these destinations also offer exciting adventures that will make a visit even more satisfying. Without further ado, here are some beautiful places in Antigua and Barbuda that travelers should visit on their next vacation.

Frigate Bird Sanctuary

The Frigate bird sanctuary is termed the natural bird paradise because it combines beautiful vegetation, the sea, and the sky, to form a haven for an estimated 100,000 birds . It is a place to see pelicans, terns, tropical mockingbirds, gulls, and the frigate bird, which is the most popular bird in the sanctuary.

Watching the numerous beautiful birds fly around the area is a satisfying experience.

• Location: Codrington, Barbuda Island
• Entry Price: $2 - $5

Related: 10 Largest Bird Sanctuaries In The World (And Where To See Them)

Betty's Hope

Betty's Hope comes with interesting history and incredible natural scenery. It was a sugarcane plantation that consists of two old sugarcane mills dating back to 1650 when the island became an English colony.

Today, these mills have been preserved and visitors are welcome to come to enjoy the green scenery and learn about the history of the place.

• Location: Near Pares, Antigua
• Entry Price: From $2

Devil's Bridge

Located in Willikies, Antigua, Devil’s Bridge is a natural rock bridge formed for hundreds of thousands of years by the continuous collision of seawater on the rock. The site is fascinating and is worth visiting as it is beautiful especially when the collision is taking place.

• Location: Willikies, Saint Philip Parish, Antigua
• Things to do nearby: Swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, beach walking

Related: 11 Of The World's Most Amazing Natural Arches

While it is not advisable to go near the slippery bridge or swim in the surrounding waters, there is a beach nearby and it is a great place for snorkeling and sunbathing.

Pigeon Point Beach

Pigeon Point Beach is a beautiful beach turquoise beautiful warm water, soft sand, and surrounding trees. It is one of the best beaches in the island country not just because of its scenery but because of the amazing things it offers.

Here, visitors will have easy access to shops, restaurants, cabanas, and luxury hotels. Opportunities for exciting activities like snorkeling and boating are offered on this beach and the waters are also calm enough to make swimming enjoyable.

• Location: Near English Harbor, Antigua
• Facilities: shower, bathrooms, playground

Nelson's Dockyard National Park

Nelson’s Dockyard is a historic attraction in Antigua that offers amazing scenery and exciting adventures. Here, one will be met with historic sites, galleries, and museums that shed more light on the history of the area and also hiking trails that take visitors through the most beautiful spots.

With shops, hotels, and restaurants located in the park, visitors are sure to enjoy every moment of their visit to this place.

• Location: St. Philip's Parish, on Antigua Island
• Cost of admission: $8

Artcafe Barbuda

Artcafe is a cafe dedicated to entertaining people with beautiful art and delicious homemade food. Cook Cleair Frank started this organization as she was an artist too.

The cafe is an average-sized facility located outside Codrington and while the food is one of its main features, the beautiful interior lighting, and decoration of artwork on walls are also some of the reasons it is particularly worth visiting.

• Location: One mile outside Codrington
• Check out the Artcafe website for more information

Ffryes Beach

Ffryes Beach is a picture-perfect shoreline in Antigua characterized by charming turquoise water, soft white sand, and surrounding trees and hills. The beach is home to some of the best luxury hotels in the country and it also features bars, restaurants, and shops.

The beach is a favorite for locals and tourists and some of the things to enjoy here include swimming in the calm water, enjoying delicious meals with incredible views, and having picnics.

• Location: West Coast of Antigua, 8 miles from St. John’s
• Facilities: Restaurant, bars, shops, cabanas, luxury hotels

Valley Church Beach

Valley Church Beach is a beautiful beach that welcomes visitors with soft white sand and turquoise waters. The beach is usually quiet which makes it a perfect spot to just relax and sip a drink while watching the picture-perfect combination of the sea, the sky, and the sand.

On a part of the beach, there is a bar, restaurant, sap, and a shop which makes the experience here even more enjoyable.

• Location: South of Jolly Harbour, Antigua West Coast
• Facilities: Changing rooms, showers, restrooms, beach chairs, shower

Museum Of Antigua And Barbuda

If there’s one destination to visit in this island country, then it should be the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. As one of the oldest museums in the country, it contains a rich collection of materials that tell a great deal about the history of this area even before outsiders came.

While its wealth of knowledge is its most appealing feature, the museum’s exterior and interior designs are also stunning and good for some shots. The museum also has a gift shop and after taking pictures and exploring the exhibits, visitors can also shop for some souvenirs before leaving.

• Address: 45C4+VC5, Long St, St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda
• Admission fee: From 3 US

Shirley Heights Lookout

A vacation in Antigua and Barbuda is not complete without visiting Shirley Heights Lookout as it offers the best view one can see in this island country.

The lookout is located at 490 feet above sea level and from there, one will get to see gorgeous forest-covered islands, a picturesque harbor filled with ships, and the deep blue water body that blends perfectly with the sky.

• Location: English Harbour, Antigua
• Admission: 10 USD

Besides the views, this lookout also has other exciting things visitors will love like hiking and a massive party that takes place every Sunday.

Of all the beautiful places to relax and sightsee in Antigua and Barbuda, Shirley Heights Lookout might be the most memorable.