THE SOUTPANSBERG

The Soutpansberg, South Africa’s northernmost mountain range, takes its name from the salt pans that lie at its base near the western end. These pans have supplied communities with salt from prehistoric times to today. The mountains stretch east to west for approximately 130 km, varying in width from 18 to 32 km. They boast several peaks that tower more than 1,500 m above sea level, which include Hangklip at 2,550 m and Lejuma at 1,753 m. The mountains feature a fertile, well-watered plateau that receives a high summer rainfall and supports wide range of crops and cultivated lands. Rainfall can be as high as 2,000 mm a year in certain places. The Soutpansberg is a unique wilderness area that accommodates over 500 tree species, 50 of which are endemic to either the Soutpansberg Range or the Limpopo River Valley. Close on 467 species of birds, numerous mammal, reptile and amphibian species and the beautiful Swanepoel’s Widow Butterfly – endemic to the region – are found here.