Giyani
Giyani is the main town of the Greater Giyani Local Municipality and the administrative seat of the Mopani District Municipality in north-eastern Limpopo. The town is split into numbered sections (A to F) plus the leafy Kremetart suburb, and about 91 villages surround it. Most residents speak Xitsonga, and the town is a centre of Tsonga culture, known for the xibelani dance and for mopani worms (matomani) sold in the busy CBD, which locals call 'Benstore'. Masingita Mall and the older Giyani/Masingita Plaza complexes are the main shopping hubs.
History
Giyani was established in the 1960s as the capital of the Gazankulu homeland, on land belonging to the Homu royal family. The Risinga community was forcibly removed to make way for the new capital and resettled at the foot of Man'ombe Mountain. They later won back land, including the CBD and parts of several sections, through a government settlement. After 1994 Gazankulu was absorbed into Limpopo, and Giyani became the seat of the Mopani District Municipality.
Getting there
The R81 runs through Giyani and links it to Polokwane (about 185 km to the south-west, where it joins the N1 to Pretoria and Johannesburg) and to Malamulele in the north. North of town the R81 meets the R524, which leads to the Punda Maria gate of the Kruger National Park. Johannesburg is roughly 550 km away. Minibus taxis run from the Main (OBC) and Ndhambi taxi ranks to Tzaneen, Phalaborwa, Polokwane, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Weather & climate
Hot, sub-tropical bushveld climate. Summer highs reach about 41°C, and winter days peak around 25°C with cold nights. Rain falls mainly from September to March, and winter (dry season) runs from April to August.
Things to do
- Giyani Golf CourseBushveld golf course in town where zebra, giraffe and bushbuck are often seen on the fairways.
- Man'ombe Nature ReserveReserve about 6 km east of town at the foot of Man'ombe Mountain. Guided tours cover local history and a small Shangaan history museum, and the reserve has kudu, mountain zebra, giraffe, crocodile, waterbuck and impala. Chalets, a caravan park and picnic spots are available.
- Nsami DamDam just outside Giyani used for fishing, swimming, water sports and picnics, with a caravan park nearby.
Things to see
- Giyani CBD ('Benstore') informal marketBusy informal trading area in the town centre. Traders sell Tsonga food such as mopani worms (matomani) and tihove, along with pottery, beadwork, ceramics and wood carvings.
- Tsonga culture and xibelani danceGiyani is a heartland of Xitsonga culture. Local dance groups perform the xibelani, a skirt-swirling dance, at cultural events and festivals around the town.
Businesses in Giyani
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Accommodation (22)Automotive (6)Business Services (5)Community & Government (7)Education (3)Food & Drink (9)Health & Wellness (11)IT & Electronics (3)Shopping (22)Transport & Logistics (2)
Ackermans Giyani Masingita Mall
Ackermans family clothing store in Masingita Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Giyani, Limpopo
African Bank Giyani Regional Mall
African Bank branch in the Giyani regional mall (Masingita Mall).
Financial Services
Giyani, Limpopo
African Bank Giyani Shoprite Masingita Plaza
African Bank branch at the Shoprite Masingita Plaza centre in Giyani.
Financial Services
Giyani, Limpopo
Ankuweni Guest Lodge
Small guest lodge in Section D1 with in-room Wi-Fi, satellite TV and a garden. Grab-and-go breakfast is included.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Giyani, Limpopo
Bathu Masingita Mall
Bathu sneaker store in Masingita Mall, Giyani.
Clothing & Fashion
Giyani, Limpopo
BestDrive Osbro Wheel & Tyre
BestDrive tyre and wheel fitment centre on Magistrate Road.
Tyres & Exhausts
Giyani, Limpopo
Bradlows Giyani
Bradlows furniture, bedding and appliance store.
Shopping
Giyani, Limpopo
Buffalo Cove Spur Steak Ranch
Spur family steakhouse restaurant in Masingita Mall, Giyani.
Restaurants
Giyani, Limpopo
Build it Giyani
Build it building-materials and hardware store.
Hardware & Building Supplies
Giyani, Limpopo
Capitec Bank Giyani Masingita Centre
Capitec Bank branch at the Masingita Centre in Giyani, one of the Capitec branches that offer Home Affairs smart ID and…
Financial Services
Giyani, Limpopo
Cashbuild Giyani Central
Cashbuild building-materials store in central Giyani.
Hardware & Building Supplies
Giyani, Limpopo
Cashbuild Giyani Masingita
Cashbuild building-materials store at the Masingita complex.
Hardware & Building Supplies
Giyani, Limpopo
Church View Luxury Inn
Guest accommodation in the Church View Estate.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Giyani, Limpopo
Clicks Masingita Mall Giyani
Clicks health, beauty and pharmacy store.
Pharmacies
Giyani, Limpopo
Dam Vista Retreat
Retreat next to Nsami Dam, just outside Giyani.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Giyani, Limpopo
Debonairs Pizza Giyani Mall
Debonairs pizza takeaway and delivery outlet at the Giyani (Masingita) Mall.
Takeaways
Giyani, Limpopo
Debonairs Pizza Masingita Plaza
Debonairs Pizza outlet at Masingita Plaza (separate from the Masingita Mall store).
Takeaways
Giyani, Limpopo
Dis-Chem Masingita Mall
Dis-Chem pharmacy and health and beauty store.
Pharmacies
Giyani, Limpopo
Dr L.H. Magagane
General practitioner with rooms in Masingita Mall.
Doctors
Giyani, Limpopo
Dr Moloko J Mashao Inc
General practice of Dr Moloko John Mashao at the Shoprite Centre.
Doctors
Giyani, Limpopo
Elridge Mountain Lodge
Lodge accommodation in Section D2 of Giyani.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Giyani, Limpopo
Fashion World Giyani
Fashion World clothing store at the Masingita Centre.
Clothing & Fashion
Giyani, Limpopo
Fishaways Giyani
Fishaways seafood takeaway at Masingita Plaza.
Takeaways
Giyani, Limpopo
FNB Giyani
First National Bank branch serving Giyani town.
Financial Services
Giyani, Limpopo
Property in Giyani
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