Limpopo

National Park

This mountainous national park is at the southwest end of the Waterberg biosphere. The animals grazing beneath the red cliffs include the Big Five, as well as giraffes, zebras and cheetahs, but the landscape itself demands attention. A great place to eyeball it is the vulture-viewing point (be warned: the road up is precipitous), where you can also see one of the world’s largest colonies of the endangered Cape vulture (800-plus breeding pairs).

Park

Stunningly stark, arid, rocky landscapes reverberate with cultural intrigue and wandering wildlife at Mapungubwe National Park. A Unesco World Heritage Site, Mapungubwe contains South Africa’s most significant Iron Age site. The birdwatching here is excellent, as is the wildlife, which includes lions, leopards and elephants. But the park is as much about history as wildlife – archaeological finds from the 1930s are on display at the excellent Interpretative Centre and the site itself can be visited on a tour.

Zoo

A few clicks south of Hoedspruit along the R40 and attached to the Kapama Private Game Reserve, the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre was set up to take a holistic approach to South Africa's endangered species through research and breeding programs, as well as a big focus on education. Daily two-hour tours in open safari vehicles show you the animals and explain the work of the centre, which complements a Kruger safari.

Viewpoint

Four wonderfully sited viewing decks sit atop the cliffs and allow for uninterrupted views out over the river plain, the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers and three countries – Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa; on an island in the river, you may just be able to make out the Botswana flag. The views are splendid, particularly so around an hour before sunset. The viewpoints come complete with scurrying rock dassies (little guinea-pig like creatures).

Museum

The impressive centre, one of the country’s finest modern buildings (it won the 2009 World Architecture Award), was designed in sympathetic resemblance to the landscape. Inside it is contemporary and air-conditioned, and has tastefully curated exhibits. There’s plenty of information on the Mapungubwe cultural landscape, including finds from archaeological digs. Keep an eye out for the exquisite beadwork and the replica of the famous gold rhino. Guided tours may amount to someone following you around to make sure you don't take pictures.

Viewpoint

A narrow, serpentine but paved road climbs to this splendid vantage point with sweeping views; arguably the best views are on the way up. Once at the summit (take the right branch of the roads at the top), ignore the rather ugly communication towers, park your car and then walk for a couple of hundred metres. It may take some looking and false starts, but the breeding colonies of the endangered Cape vulture (800-plus breeding pairs) are worth the effort.

Cave

While not visually arresting, this National Heritage Site carries great palaeontological significance – artefacts from throughout the Stone and Iron Ages have been unearthed here. In the Historic Cave, chief Makapan and 1000-plus followers were besieged for a month in 1854 by Paul Kruger and the Voortrekkers. You must prebook visits to the site, 23km northeast of town; the guide also speaks French.

Wildlife Reserve

This private rehabilitation centre, the work of Silke von Eynern and established in 2003, is a testament to persistence. After her husband's death in 1997, she set up this facility, which, after many false starts, now thrives and focuses on vervet monkeys, with more than 300 being cared for here. Join a 1½-hour tour to learn more about the monkeys, from newborns through to those about to be released into the wild. Advance booking is essential. It's 20km north of town.

Wildlife Reserve

Go on safari at this 32.5-sq-km reserve less than 5km south of Polokwane. It’s one of the country’s largest municipal nature reserves, with 21 wildlife species, including zebras, giraffes and white rhinos, plus a good network of roads and hiking trails. It's like a trial run for those going out on safari – if you've already been out in Kruger or elsewhere, it will all feel a little tame, although seeing a rhino is never underwhelming.