Map of Limpopo
Limpopo is a first-level division of South Africa. Its largest mapped city is Thohoyandou, with about 269,707 people in the metropolitan area. The interactive map below is centred on Limpopo, and the tables list its 5 mapped cities along with the World Heritage Sites nearest to them.
- Cities Mapped
- 5
- Largest City
- Thohoyandou
- Country
- South Africa
Interactive Map of Limpopo
About Limpopo
Limpopo () is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is situated in Lebowakgomo.
The province is made up of three former Bantustans - Lebowa, Gazankulu and Venda - and part of the former Transvaal province. The Limpopo province was established as one of nine provinces after the 1994 South African general election. The province's name was first Northern Transvaal, and was changed to Northern Province on 28 June 1995, with two other provinces. The name was changed again in 2002 to Limpopo Province. Limpopo is made up of three main ethnic groups: the Pedi, the Tsonga and the Venda.
Traditional leaders and chiefs still form a strong backbone of the province's political landscape. Established in terms of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders Act, Act 5 of 2005, the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders' main function is to advise the government and the legislature on matters related to custom, tradition, and culture, including developmental initiatives that affect rural communities. On 18 August 2017, Kgosi Malesela Dikgale was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Limpopo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Limpopo in Depth
History
The world heritage site of Mapungubwe National Park boasts archaeological finds from the period of a powerful local kingdom that ruled here between 800 CE and 1290 existed. The remains of a settlement from the period between the 15th and 17th century can be seen in Thulamela in the northern part of the Kruger National Park.
Until 1994 it was the northern part of the former Transvaal Province. For a short period since 1994 it was called the Province of Northern Transvaal and thereafter, through the Constitution of the public of South Africa Amendment Act No. 20 of 1995 from July 1995 initially Northern Province. The province was named after the Limpopo River by decision of the provincial assembly in 2002, and at the same time most of the cities on its territory were renamed.
Geography
Limpopo Province shares international borders with districts and provinces of three countries: Botswana's Central and Kgatleng districts to the west and northwest respectively, Zimbabwe's Matabeleland South and Masvingo provinces to the north and northeast respectively, and Mozambique's Gaza Province to the east. On its southern edge, from east to west, it shares borders with the South African provinces of Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and North West. Its border with Gauteng includes that province's Johannesburg-Pretoria axis, the most industrialised metropolis on the continent.
Limpopo contains much of the Waterberg Biosphere, a massif of approximately 15,000 km2 (5,800 sq mi) which is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Economy
Limpopo has a total population of 6.015 million with 1.641 million households. The province has a relatively high Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.710, which is the third highest in South Africa.
The bushveld is beef cattle country, where extensive ranching operations are often supplemented by controlled hunting. About 80% of South Africa's game hunting industry is in Limpopo.
Sunflowers, cotton, maize and peanuts are cultivated in the Bela-Bela and Modimolle areas. Modimolle is also known for its table grapes. An embryotic wine industry is growing in Limpopo. Tropical fruit, such as bananas, litchis, pineapples, mangoes and pawpaws, as well as a variety of nuts, are grown in the Tzaneen and Louis Trichardt areas.
Demographics
The population of Limpopo consists of several ethnic groups distinguished by culture, language, and race. 97.3% of the population is Black, 2.4% is White, 0.2% is Coloured, and 0.1% is Indian/Asian. The province has the smallest percentage and second smallest total number of White South Africans in the country. However, there are several localities with a White majority, notably Hoedspruit and Modimolle. It also has the highest Black percentage out of all the provinces.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Limpopo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Limpopo: Key Facts
| Population | 6,572,720 (2022) |
|---|---|
| Area | 125,754 km² |
| Capital | Polokwane |
| Head of government | Phophi Ramathuba |
| Established | 27 April 1994 |
Facts from Wikidata Q134907 (CC0).
History of Limpopo: Empires and States
The atlas records 5 polities whose mapped territory included part of Limpopo, from South African Republic in 1856 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here |
|---|---|
| South African Republic | 1856–1899 CE |
| British Cape Colony | 1877–1884 CE |
| The British Empire | 1877–1931 CE |
| British Africa | 1900–1931 CE |
| South Africa | 1932–2024 CE |
Historical Maps of Limpopo
Limpopo on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Limpopo
Limpopo Province is South Africa’s northernmost province. It borders Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Limpopo takes up 10.2% of South Africa's land area. Named after the great Limpopo River that flows along its northern border, this province is rich in wildlife, spectacular scenery and a wealth of historical and cultural treasures.
The Great North Road from Pretoria was carved by the creaking wheels of ox wagons. Today, when you follow the footsteps of the Voortrekkers, you'll travel on fast, safe roads with modern amenities. Known as the Great North, Limpopo is land of abounding ruins and relics, ancient forests, sparkling trout waters, hot mineral springs and waterfalls. Much of it has remained unchanged for centuries. Limpopo is home to Modjadji, the fabled Rain Queen, the Stone Age and Iron Age relics of Makapansgat Valley and the treasures of Mapungubwe that date back to time immemorial.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Limpopo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Limpopo
5 cities mapped. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thohoyandou | 269,707 | Limpopo | Populated place |
| 2 | Polokwane | 220,045 | Limpopo | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Tzaneen | 67,245 | Limpopo | Populated place |
| 4 | Lebowakgomo | 33,308 | Limpopo | Populated place |
| 5 | Musina | 20,191 | Limpopo | Populated place |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Limpopo
1 World Heritage Site mapped. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape | 2003 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) |
Limpopo: Quick Answers
- Where is Limpopo?
- Limpopo is a first-level division of South Africa, in Africa. Its mapped cities centre on 23.4398° S, 29.9260° E.
- What is the largest city in Limpopo?
- Thohoyandou is the largest city mapped in Limpopo, with a metropolitan population of about 269,707.
- How many cities are in Limpopo?
- YearMaps maps 5 cities and towns in Limpopo, with a combined metropolitan population of about 610,496. This counts mapped settlements, not every municipality.