LTA and LEDET explore Makgabeng Plateau

MAKGABENG

The Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) and Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), have recently collaborated to take ‘Tourism Thursday’ programme to Makgabeng Plateau to expose some of the hidden gems in that part of the world.

Makgabeng Plateau is located at Blouberg Local Municipality and considered one of the best tourism destinations in Limpopo Province. The Makgabeng Plateau lies south of the Blouberg and west of the Soutpansberg, near the village of ‘My Darling’ in the north-west of Limpopo. 

During the programme, members of the community, LTA and LEDET officials as well as media personalities, were taken to three of the many breathtaking tourism sites of the plateau.  

The delegation was led by the LTA’s Chief Marketing Officer, Modjadji Makoela who welcomed the community members and explained the purpose of being at Makgabeng Plateau.

“In August 2024, the MEC of LEDET, Mr. Tshitereke Matibe and the Premier of Limpopo, Dr. Phophi Ramathuba made a pronouncement of Tourism Thursdays, which seeks to encourage all and sundry to choose at least one site or tourism facility or attraction to celebrate and share the posts on social media platforms to encourage travel in Limpopo. This we decided to bring to Makgabeng today to show the country and the world the rich heritage and history you have here. We are all excited about what we saw today which can bring some revenue for you and reduce poverty and unemployment,” she said. 

According to Jonas Tlouamma, who represented Blouberg Municipality and also a qualified tour guide, the main attraction of The Makgabeng Plateau is the more than 890 San and Sotho rock art sites that are hidden under strange sandstone overhangs and outcrops.

“This area was inhabited by the Tswana, Sotho, San and Khoi-khoi people for many centuries. Additionally, this area also offers an interesting recent history of war between the Boers and the proud chiefs around the area at the time like King Rachacha Maleboho of the Bahananwa people who historically originated from Botswana. This is wonderfully isolated, and has somehow avoided mass settlements over the past hundred years, which has left the habitat beautifully pristine,” he said. 

Archaeologists have studied this South African rock art site for decades, yet this vast wilderness still remains almost entirely unexplored as far as its bird life goes. You can delve into the wonderful and fascinating history that this area offers and take a step back into centuries of South African history.

Rising 200 metres above the bushveld, the Makgabeng stretches over a distance of 250 square kilometers and most of this is uninhabited.  Imagine towering ochre cliffs, strange rock formations rising out of the bushveld surrounds, vast expanses of wilderness and over 800 unique Khoi-Khoi, San and Sotho rock art sites undisturbed for centuries.  Imagine this and you are still nowhere close to the reality of this awe-inspiring, wild and wonderful place.  

Tlouamma thanked the presence of the LTA and LEDET delegation, emphasizing the importance of looking after the environment, stating that it is important for sustainable tourism.

“Poor road infrastructure is a huge deterrent for tourism as there were about four buses that were supposed to have come here to experience the rich heritage in our area but they couldn’t because of bad state of our roads. The other disruption we also experienced was caused by COVID-19 that hindered us from establishing a homestay pilot project. We are still on with that and we will pursue that plan. The rock art found in this place has an opportunity to give us the status of a national heritage but that is taking long but with the help of Wits University, we are confident we will win”, said Tlouamma. 

He further pleaded with the members of the community not to cut trees, saying that will exterminate important trees that are even good for people’s health and life.

A community representative, Thomas Lebje, commended the delegation for bringing the event to Makgabeng, however, pleaded with them to make a return as a once off trip to the community will not help.

He said returning the programme will help make the community to understand tourism better. He also encouraged the leadership to resolve the issue of young people who were trained but never received their certificates.