Magoebaskloof
Magoebaskloof Mopani District Municipality LP
Magoebaskloof/Haenertsburg is a beautiful mountainous area at the very North Eastern tip of the Drakensberg mountain range in the Limpopo Province. Fondly called “The Land of the Silver Mist” by historians and locals alike, the mountains and valleys of the area are regularly shrouded in a soft mist. Historically, this mist belt has created lush afro-montane forests in the river lines and fire protected locations with grasslands outside of the forested areas.
Haenertsburg is the village on the mountain whilst Makgobaskloof refers to the valley created by the Politsi river which flows into the Letaba River to the Tzaneen Dam. The Makgobaskloof is named after the tribal chief who was killed by warriors serving under Boer commander Abel Erasmus in 1895.
The area was first planted to pine and eucalyptus plantations. Recently various fruits including avocados, raspberries, blue berries and kiwi fruit have replaced many of the plantations.
The climate allowed for the development of ornamental gardens, open to the public. Plants like Japanese maples, flowering cherry trees and azaleas more suited to colder climates thrive in these gardens. The gardens are spectacular in Spring and Autumn when the vibrant colours are on display.
The Magoebaskloof Pass runs between the towns of Tzaneen and Haenertsburg on the R71 and offers stunning views over the kloof. The pass takes one from the highveld down the escarpment to the sub-tropical Lowveld, dropping about 600m over a distance of just 6km.