South Africa Guide
Limpopo
The Soutpansberg Mountains
Lush, rounded mountains rising to a height of over 1700m and cut by some dramatic outcrops of pinky-orange rock, the Soutpansberg seem to form a final barrier of colourful relief before the long hot plains either side of the Limpopo River. Travelling north on the N1, you begin to climb immediately after leaving Makhado, up what becomes a narrow, winding road not easily negotiated by the heavy trucks plying the route.
Along this stretch of the N1, you'll pass a number of hotels and guesthouses that use the lush surroundings to create a mountain-resort-type atmosphere. The best of these includes the Mountain View Hotel ( 
015 517 7031, 
mountaininn@webmail.co.za; Price: R301-400), 9km north of town, or, even better, TheInn on Louis Trichardt ( 015 517 7088, 
www.inn-on-louistrichardt.co.za ; Price: R401-500), 12km north of town, which has various rooms set around pleasant gardens and a pool, as well as an attractive craft shop and tea garden in the grounds (daily 8am–5pm). Of the guesthouses hidden in the folds of the Soutpansberg, one of the nicest is 
Harnham House ( 015 517 7260; Price: R301-400), 6km westwards along the scenic Bluegumspoort road, which has rooms in the attractive main house as well as in a lovely remote cottage overlooking a dam. Backpacker beds and camping sites are also available here. Once over the low pass, on the much less dramatic northern slopes, you'll find the newly refurbished Ingwe Ranch Motel ( 015 517 7104; Price: R301-400), offering a variety of rondavels and rooms, a coffee bar and one of the better restaurants in the area.