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Letsitele

Letsitele is a small farming town in the Greater Tzaneen area of Limpopo's Mopani District, set in the Letsitele Valley along the Letsitele River, a tributary of the Letaba. The valley is one of South Africa's major citrus areas, with around 60 citrus farms, and also produces mangoes, avocados, bananas, litchis, tomatoes and macadamias. It is a quiet stop on the route from Tzaneen towards Gravelotte, Phalaborwa and the Kruger National Park.

About Things to do & see Close by Businesses Property

History

The town takes its name from the Letsitele River, whose name is usually translated from Northern Sotho as 'valley of the dead', a reference to the malaria that made the valley deadly until the 1930s. Malaria-control work based at the research station in Tzaneen (later the Siegfried Annecke Research Institute) opened the valley up to farming. The first Crown Grant in the area went to settler E.T. Elliot in the early 1900s on the farm Eiland, and the valley grew into one of the country's leading citrus-export districts.

Getting there

From Tzaneen take the R71 east for about 24 km to the R529 junction, then turn south onto the R529 into Letsitele (roughly 25-30 km in total). From Polokwane it is about 110 km via the R71 over Magoebaskloof and through Tzaneen. From Phalaborwa it is about 75 km west along the R71 past Gravelotte. The R529 also links Letsitele north to Giyani.

Weather & climate

Hot, subtropical Lowveld climate with summer rainfall (mainly November to March) and warm, dry winters. Summers are very hot and humid; winters are mild and sunny. Citrus blossom scents the valley in spring.

Things to do

  • Hans Merensky Nature ReserveA 5,000 ha reserve on the Great Letaba River, proclaimed in the 1950s, with walking trails, game viewing and close to 300 recorded bird species. Much of it can be explored on foot.
  • Kaross Studio VisitVisit the studio where Kaross embroiderers' work is finished and sold, and have something at the cafe. The embroidery shows scenes from local life in bright, detailed stitching. kaross.co.za
  • Letaba River Boat Cruises at Letaba JunctionBoat cruises on the Letaba River are booked through Letaba Junction Lodge, where hippos and crocodiles are often seen from the riverbank. letabajunction.co.za
  • Waterbuck Nature TrailWalking trail in a provincial nature reserve in Lowveld woodland, listed as Letsitele's local hiking option.

Things to see

Close by Letsitele

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Businesses in Letsitele

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All Accommodation (5)Agriculture (13)Business Services (2)Community & Government (2)Education (3)Food & Drink (1)Health & Wellness (2)Home & Building (3)Shopping (10)
AE ATKV Eiland Spa Holiday resort with mineral-spring pools inside the Hans Merensky Nature Reserve, listed under Letsitele. Resorts Letsitele, Limpopo BN BellaNova Nail Studio Nail studio on the R529 Eiland Road in Letsitele. Spas & Beauty Letsitele, Limpopo BO Belle Ombré Hoekstukke Agricultural business in the Letsitele Industry Park, listed in the directory's agriculture section. Agricultural Supplies Letsitele, Limpopo B BioBee Biological pest-control supplier on the Trichardsdal Road in Letsitele. Agricultural Supplies Letsitele, Limpopo CB Carrol Boyes Factory Carrol Boyes homeware and tableware factory, listed at Letsitele. Shopping Letsitele, Limpopo G Gasmac Gas supplier on the Trichardsdal Road in Letsitele. Hardware & Building Supplies Letsitele, Limpopo GP Go Pack Packaging business on Botha Street in Letsitele, listed in the directory's agriculture section. Agricultural Supplies Letsitele, Limpopo HA Harmonie Abattoir Abattoir (slagpale) on the farm Harmonie near Letsitele. Farms & Produce Letsitele, Limpopo HN Henley Nursery Plant nursery on Eiland Road, Letsitele. Garden Services & Nurseries Letsitele, Limpopo HK Houers Koöperatief Citrus growers' co-operative based in Letsitele. Co-operatives Letsitele, Limpopo KS Kaross Studio and Cafe Hand-embroidered art from the Letsitele valley Arts & Crafts Letsitele, Limpopo LD Laerskool Dr. Annecke Primary school in Letsitele Schools Letsitele, Limpopo LT Laeveld Trekkers Tractor and farm equipment dealer in the Letsitele Industria Park. Agricultural Supplies Letsitele, Limpopo LJ Letaba Junction Lodge Riverside lodge on the banks of the Letaba Lodges & Game Lodges Letsitele, Limpopo LE Letsitele Engelfonds Community relief fund in Letsitele. NGOs & Charities Letsitele, Limpopo LG Letsitele Guesthouse Comfortable rooms and self-catering in the citrus valley Guest Houses & B&Bs Letsitele, Limpopo LL Letsitele Lawn Mower Services Lawn mower service business in Letsitele. Garden Services & Nurseries Letsitele, Limpopo LP Letsitele Public Library Public library in Letsitele. Libraries Letsitele, Limpopo LS Letsitele Signs Signage business in the Letsitele Centre. Printing & Signage Letsitele, Limpopo MG Mahela Group (Citrus) Third-generation citrus growers in the Letsitele Valley Farms & Produce Letsitele, Limpopo MI Mati Irrigation Irrigation supplier in the Letsitele Industria Park. Agricultural Supplies Letsitele, Limpopo MC Miami Canners Fruit canning and preserves producer on the farm Miami along Eiland Road, Letsitele. Farms & Produce Letsitele, Limpopo NE NADORA Exquisite Gifts Gift shop in the Tempus complex in Letsitele. Arts & Crafts Letsitele, Limpopo NW Ndzalama Wildlife Reserve and Lodge Walking safaris in a 14,000 ha reserve Lodges & Game Lodges Letsitele, Limpopo

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More towns in Limpopo

Bela-BelaHaenertsburgHoedspruitMagoebaskloofPhalaborwaPolokwaneTzaneen