Hey y’all! You may be wondering what an American granny is doing with a wooden puzzle elephant from a place called Tzaneen.
But, yes, this happened on a two-week road trip with hubby and kids to the tip of Africa – South Africa. And, my fabulous puzzle elephant that you can see below came all the way from Tzaneen, a small town in the far north, close to the Border of Zimbabwe.
The puzzle is made up of different types of wood and stands upright when complete. It is difficult to do! But, my grandkids have great fun dismantling it and putting it together again and are getting quite good at it.
To get to Tzaneen, you have to fly to Johannesburg, the financial hub of South Africa. You can then take a separate flight to Tzaneen or you can travel by car. It is a long distance of around 250 miles and takes about six hours if you don’t stop on the way.
We decided to travel by car and have a fun road trip with stops along the way to see the sights.
Therapeutic Waters in Bela Bela
We spent the first night in a small town called Warmbaths (in English) and Warmbad (in Afrikaans). The town has since been named Bela Bela which means ‘boiling boiling’. I guess you can figure from the name, that the town is famous for its warm therapeutic mineral waters where you can relax and be immersed in the natural healing powers. My hubby managed to get in a round of golf at the country club where he was amazed to see a family of impala watching him from the sidelines.
Next Stop Polokwane
Polokwane, originally known as Pietersburg, was our next stop. Polokwane, meaning ‘Place of Safety’ is a bustling city in the northern province of Limpopo. The Polokwane Game Reserve is a piece of the wild near to the city where you can see the famous African giraffes, rhinos, and sable antelope. On our game drive, we were lucky enough to spot a mother rhino and her baby calf. My hubby is an avid bird-watcher and he was enthralled by the huge variety of species in the Reserve.
Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
After getting a taste of wildlife we were motivated to learn more about the amazing creatures of Africa. Taking a detour, we traveled to Hoedspruit, a small town known for its Endangered Species Centre. In the center, professionals provide a safe haven for a variety of species including cheetahs, wild dogs, blue cranes, rhinos, leopards, lions, and more. The highlight of the tour was the ‘Vulture Restaurant’ where hundreds of vultures descend to pick up the food that is put out for them.
Just outside Tzaneen is a sensational waterfall that offers a refreshing stop. The Debengeni Falls is a great spot in the forest for a picnic or a cool-off in the crystal clear pool under the falls (if you are brave enough). In fact, the name comes from the deep pool that resembles a large pot, and means ‘place of the big pot’. The lush greenery and the sound of cascading water create a serene atmosphere that makes you want to linger a while and soak up the ambiance.
A Beautiful Waterfall
Paradise on Earth
If you are a believer like me, I think the closest you could get to paradise is at a magnificent venue called God’s Window on the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga. God’s Window is located in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and offers breathtaking views. You do need to have a head for heights – which my hubby does not have. He chose to remain on the path in the forest, which is also awesome, but he missed out on the views.
From the viewpoint, you can see cliffs that drop down almost 3000 feet to the green gorge below that is filled with huge trees, shrubs, and teaming wildlife.
The guide pointed out the view to the famous Kruger National Park (another venue on my list of places to visit). God’s Window has inspired writers and poets from around the world and you get an incredible sense of awe and wonder as you gaze out across the landscape. For those who are brave, a steep footpath leads to the viewpoints along the edge of the escarpment. There are also picnic sites and a path that takes you into the rainforest which is filled with delightful small streams and moss-covered rocks.
Exotic Wood in Tzaneen
Our next stop was Tzaneen in the far north. This quaint town is known for its supply of exotic woods that come from the surrounding forests. Many types of exotic woods are available from pine to meranti, eucalyptus, saligna, and more. We visited a wood factory and learned all about how the forests are cared for to produce sustainable wood without destroying the environment.
Also in Tzaneen is the huge Tzaneen Dam where my kids tried their hand at fishing and caught a huge carp under the watchful eye of a professional guide. You can also enjoy a boat ride, which I declined after being told that there are hippos and crocodiles in the water. We opted instead for a leisurely picnic on the banks of the river.
After missing out on a swim with the crocs, we decided to visit the Agatha Crocodile Ranch to learn more about these scary creatures. Did you know that they spend most of their life lazing in the water, but when they need to move they can run at up to 12 miles per hour? Crocodiles existed during the era of the dinosaurs, but unlike these unlucky creatures who did not survive, crocodiles flourish on the planet in this day and age. Crocodiles will eat anything including birds, rats, fish, and even larger prey like buffalos and humans!
Elephant Puzzle
It was in Tzaneen that I found my puzzle elephant. As you can see, it is made of different woods that create the unique tones in the design. The shop owner told us that the puzzles are hand-carved by local craftsmen who live in the area. After choosing this fabulous curio, I could not resist buying the cutest baby elephant puzzle to take home with the mother.
