Mokopane
Mokopane (formerly Potgietersrus, still nicknamed 'Potties') is the main town of the Mogalakwena Local Municipality in the Waterberg District of Limpopo. It is an agricultural and mining service centre on the Platreef of the Bushveld Complex, near Anglo American's Mogalakwena open-pit platinum mine, and serves farms producing citrus, maize, wheat, tobacco, cattle and game. Suburbs include Chroom Park, Trim Park, Nylpark and Kameeldoring Park.
History
Voortrekkers founded a settlement here in 1852, first called Vredenburg. It was renamed Potgietersrus after Piet Potgieter, killed in 1854 during the Siege of Makapansgat, when Chief Mokopane's (Makapan's) Kekana Ndebele people were besieged in the nearby caves for about a month. The town grew as a farming centre with tobacco and general co-operatives, and in 2003 was renamed Mokopane in honour of the chief. Platinum mining has since become a major part of the economy.
Getting there
About two hours' drive north of Gauteng. The N1 toll road bypasses the town on the way to Polokwane (about 40 minutes north) and Beitbridge; the R101 runs through the town centre and the N11 runs north-west from town. Mokopane has a small airfield (FAQR); the nearest scheduled flights are from Polokwane.
Weather & climate
Semi-arid bushveld climate with hot summers and afternoon thunderstorms, and mild, dry, sunny winters.
Things to do
- Doorndraai Dam Nature ReserveAbout 7,000 ha reserve around Doorndraai Dam, roughly 30 minutes from Mokopane, popular for birding and angling, with game such as kudu, zebra and giraffe.
- Kameeldoring Country Club golfBunker-free 18-hole par-72 bushveld course from 1978 where trees are the main hazard; carts for hire and open to the public every day.
- Percy Fyfe ConservancySmall bushveld reserve about 20 km from Mokopane towards Polokwane that breeds roan antelope and disease-free buffalo; cycling routes, a hiking trail and game drives.
- Thabaphaswa Hiking and MTB Trails38 km of self-planned hiking routes plus mountain-bike trails among granite domes, with camps, a tree shelter and glass-walled huts; leopard, brown hyena and nearly 200 bird species.
Things to see
- Arend Dieperink MuseumCultural history museum in an old stone school building, covering the region from Makapan's caves to the Anglo-Boer War, with a replica bushveld farmhouse and Piet Potgieter's grave nearby.
- Makapan's Valley (Makapansgat Caves)Fossil-bearing caves in a World Heritage-listed valley north-east of town, where Australopithecus africanus remains were found and where Chief Makapan's people were besieged in 1854. Visits must be booked in advance and are guided.
- Mokopane Biodiversity Conservation Centre1,300 ha breeding and conservation centre of the National Zoological Garden on the northern outskirts of town, with rare species such as black rhino, tsessebe, roan and lemurs.
Businesses in Mokopane
Add your business →
All
Accommodation (34)Agriculture (2)Automotive (18)Business Services (23)Community & Government (9)Education (13)Food & Drink (14)Health & Wellness (24)Home & Building (5)IT & Electronics (6)Shopping (36)Tourism & Leisure (2)Transport & Logistics (2)
House of Blessing
Two-room guest house in Nylpark with a self-catering kitchen and secure parking.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mokopane, Limpopo
Insolam Accommodation
Guest house with rooms and two self-catering units for business and leisure travellers; meals on request.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mokopane, Limpopo
Ipex Petroleum
Fuel station on Sussex Street.
Fuel Stations
Mokopane, Limpopo
Ivy Roots Gastehuis
Six self-catering units for two guests each, with private patios, air-conditioning and secure undercover parking.
Self-Catering
Mokopane, Limpopo
J & S Butchery
Butchery on Thabo Mbeki Street.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Mokopane, Limpopo
JCR Radiators
Radiator repair workshop.
Mechanics & Services
Mokopane, Limpopo
John-T Wheel Alignment Customs
Wheel alignment and tyre shop.
Tyres & Exhausts
Mokopane, Limpopo
Kameeldoring Country Club
18-hole par-72 bushveld golf course at the foot of the Waterberg, open to the public daily.
Golf Courses
Mokopane, Limpopo
KFC Mokopane Mandela
KFC fried-chicken outlet in Rainbow Plaza.
Takeaways
Mokopane, Limpopo
KFC Mokopane Mbeki
KFC fried-chicken outlet on Thabo Mbeki Drive.
Takeaways
Mokopane, Limpopo
Koos se Kardoes
Four self-catering units with private entrances, a pool and braai area among bushveld trees in Kameeldoring Park.
Self-Catering
Mokopane, Limpopo
Koos se Tonteldoos
Fourteen-room self-catering property that began as an antique shop and still sells antique furniture and gifts.
Self-Catering
Mokopane, Limpopo
Koos se Tonteldoos Antiques
Antique furniture and gift shop that also offers self-catering rooms.
Arts & Crafts
Mokopane, Limpopo
Kosmos Kwekery
Plant nursery.
Garden Services & Nurseries
Mokopane, Limpopo
Kruger Boekhouers
Bookkeeping and accounting practice.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Mokopane, Limpopo
Le Roux Law Inc
Law firm in Mokopane.
Legal & Attorneys
Mokopane, Limpopo
Learning Land Preschool Mokopane
Preschool.
Pre-schools & Crèches
Mokopane, Limpopo
Lebowa Funeral Parlour
Funeral parlour.
NGOs & Charities
Mokopane, Limpopo
Lecke Dux Overnight
Stopover guest house sleeping up to 26 with single, double and family rooms and an on-site bar and restaurant.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mokopane, Limpopo
Limpopo Chefs Academy Mokopane Campus
Culinary training school campus.
Universities & Colleges
Mokopane, Limpopo
Liquor City Mokopane
Liquor City store on Hooge Street.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Mokopane, Limpopo
Locksecure Limpopo
Security systems installer.
CCTV & Security Systems
Mokopane, Limpopo
Lutea Guest House
Quiet bed-and-breakfast guest house with Wi-Fi and in-room safes.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mokopane, Limpopo
M C Kekana Attorneys
Law firm in Mokopane.
Legal & Attorneys
Mokopane, Limpopo
Property in Mokopane
No property listed in Mokopane yet. List a property.