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The Limpopo Northern Route
Arguably the route with the broadest array of fruit in the country, this is the heart of the subtropical fruit area. Not such an interesting start to the journey as one has to head east from Polokwane, the bustling capital of the Limpopo Province.
In and around Polokwane the fruit of choice is citrus, and in fact on of the countries most celebrated citrus orchards, Zebedelia is a huge farm that has had its ups and downs as a result of land reform programmes, but now back on its feet.
Haenertsburg is a quaint little town on the road to Tzaneen, and it has a wide variety of fruits as a result of its favourable climate. Although not visible from the road, a bunch of innovative and hardworking farmers have found their homes in Haeanertsburg.
The cold conditions suit the growth of berries like raspberries and blueberries, while the lower reaches suit the subtropical fruits like litchis and avocados.
It’s a town that’s worth spending time in, as it has a very comfortable feel to it. A visit to the pancake place on the way in, and a gentle walk along the main road will give you time to see the quaint shops along the way.
There are two roads to Tzaneen, one down the spectacular Magoebaskloof pass which can be hair raising in the mist, or by turning right just out of Haenertsburg down the R72 through Georges Valley.
This route is an easy downhill cruise to Tzaneen with glimpses of the ever important Ebenezer Dam on the way down. Important because water is everything in fruit production!
Vast forests of pines remind us that forestry is big business in South Africa, but these make way for the first avos and mangoes that you are likely to see on either side of the road. At first glance its quite difficult to tell the difference between the two, but don’t worry, we will make you into an expert as we go.
A stop at Tenby Gardens on the way down is worth it, they have a wonderful range of goodies and fruits to buy and it’s a really nice place to sit in the garden and enjoy the tropical environment.
Bananas become very evident in Tzaneen, and not many people know that a banana has only one life to bear fruit. The central stalk of the banana tree comes right out of the middle of the plant and hangs downwards bearing the fruit eventually. The blue bags you see covering the bananas are there for the very reason, to protect their development for the ravages of the outside world. Ultimately the banana bunch is ready for picking, which is done so with the utmost care, sometimes on a washing line-like pulley, where the bunch is steered towards the packhouse.
Once inside the first thing that is checked is for…guess what…snakes, (nice hidey hole for a black mamba) and then the bananas are systematically cut off in “hands” with the individual bananas being called the fingers., and packed, green into boxes. (These bananas are kept at 3 degrees and artificially ripened on the wholesalers’ premises later).
Later on our route we will venture into a bigger banana area of Komatipoort, home of the famous Lebombo brand of bananas.
Tzaneen is a pretty town, surrounded on all sides by fruit farms. We head out on the road past Macdonalds Farm Stall which is home to a good variety of local fruits and is well worth a visit. A circular route takes you to Trichardsdal and the Letsitele Valley past farms that are some of the country’s leading citrus producers.
Focus often tends to be on navels (they have that belly button on the end of the fruit) and valencias, but the term citrus of course also covers lemons and easy peelers, like clementines and naartjies. You will find them all here, and in Letsitele you will marvel at the size of one of SA’s most prominent wholesale fruit nursery, called du Roi. Interestingly du Roi also breed bugs that are attack other bugs that are harmful to fruit plants, a new eco initiative fast gaining popularity. It’s all there in Letsitele.
Letsitele is a tiny place, but its worth popping into the farmstall at Tzaneen Country Lodge, for some really fresh local in season fruits.
One may also be tempted to stop at the sellers at the fourway stop to Giyani/ Nokuwakuwa, some of which fruits may be on sale without the farmers’ consent, freshly picked under the moonlight!
The route takes us back through Tzaneen, stopping at the Tzaneen dam, which is surrounded by avocado, mango and banana trees. The dam is the lifeblood of the fruit industry here, and dam levels are always a talking point.
Back on the R36, through Tzaneen, any of the little farmstalls are worth stopping at, nestled in amongst the banana and avo plantations, to add to your collection of fresh fruits.
Modjadjiskloof is a small but bustling town which is also home to Westfalia, a company well respected in world circles for their fruit exports and value added products. The company is big, with offices in London. And talking of big, you are now entering the world of really big, in another kind of fruit, er actually veg, and that’s tomatoes.. This is ZZ2 country, and for those not in the know, ZZ2 grows more than 80% of the country’s tomatoes.
The farms are scattered all over the area, run as economic units, with packhouses, and staff accommodation. ZZ2 employs over 3000 people, and is a model agricultural farm practicing eco farming in the form of “natuur boerdery”. The story is an example to everyone: in 2002 ZZ2 went the natural route, using compost and sustainable farming practices. The result: wild animals and birds that they had not seen for many years came back to the area, proving that its all worthwhile and rewarding!
Back on the N1 to Makhado, the first guava trees are to be seen: and the variety of fruit trees on offer just gets better and better.
Makhado is town nestled against the Soutpansberg mountains, well wooded with forestry and fruit trees. The rainfall average of 950 mm per year is advantageous for fruit production: and some of the widest varieties of subtropical fruits and nuts are to be found in the region.
But it’s the R524 that’s the real treat, and if you are heading to Punda Maria in the Kruger National Park, you will be able to buy enough fruit on the road to feed a nation!
Levhubu is 40 kilometers along this road towards the town of Thohoyandou. Your senses will be wide awake as left and right all along the route, as far as the eye can see are fruit trees!
There are plenty of healthy Macadamia nut groves, and to a lesser extent, pecan nut groves. Bananas are plentiful here too, with visible blue bags in amongst the trees protecting the fruit as it develops.
An absolute must stop is at the Royal Macadamia nut factory. Meet Ronel and Marius sitting under the tree cracking nuts, and Sylvia will sell you some amazing macadamia nut oil for back home use. Visitors can go on a tour of the factory, which is really worth while.
Check out all the guavas, most of the country’s guavas come from here, an amazing vitamin C-filled fruit. Past Valley Farms, acclaimed producers of fruit juices and dried mangoes, through the town of Levhubu, and on to Venda proper.
The amazing thing about Venda is that every house is in an orchard of either paw paws, litchis, avocados or mangos, just growing naturally everywhere. Little wonder that all along the route, traders are selling fruits, picked just now from their gardens. If you are in the area, look out for Venda pots and wood carvings along the route, this is where they are made.
You may venture into the top of the Kruger Park via a small town called Tshipise. Tshipise is in a valley renown for its excellent citrus, in the form of Valencias and lemons, and for those of you going to the Tshipise Spa you will pass the some of the most fertile and well farmed citrus orchards in the country, with water coming from the nearby Nzhelele Dam.
This is a wonderful route, presenting the best sub tropical fruit South Africa has to offer, along with some excellent citrus and nuts. In addition its an interesting cultural area, and, if you are in Thohoyandou, don’t forget to follow the tradition and eat a few Mopani worms that are being sold in bags alongside the road! |