Louis Trichardt (J 5)

Name: Louis Trichardt (Makhado)

Louis Trichardt is at the foot of the densely forested Soutpansberg Range near the Zimbabwean border and the Kruger National Park, in a highly fertile, rapidly growing agricultural area, Louis Trichardt has become one of the Limpopo's premier business and tourist destinations.

The town lies 100 km north of Polokwane and 100 km south of the Beit Bridge border post. The N1 passes through Louis Trichardt that forms part of the Maputo sub-corridor. The town has a population of 120 000 and 600 000 within a 50 km radius.

The town is named after the Voortrekker leader Louis Trichardt. A memorial commemorates the man, who during the Great Trek in 1838, wanted to move as far away as possible from British rule. After an arduous trip of 12 months to Delagoa Bay (Maputo today), Trichardt and his wife died of malaria.

The Church of the Covenant was built after the battle between the early settlers and the Vendas and the white building stands in striking contrast to the blue mountains in the distance. Fort Hendrina was a mobile fort used during the Anglo-Boer War from where many of the atrocities by the infamous Breaker Morant were perpetrated.

Schoemansdal Open Air Museum portrays the way of life of those early pioneers.
Several routes around Louis Trichardt highlight the interesting aspects of the area, such as the fruit route to farms where a variety of fruit and nuts are produced and the arts and craft route in the Elim area where sisal mats, candles, silk-screen prints, batik articles, traditional Venda pots and wood carvings are made. It is also possible to see the life of the Shangaan people.

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