Thabazimbi, meaning ‘Mountain of Iron’, is situated in the Waterberg Region of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. The town is located at the feet of the Ysterberg and is surrounded by the Witfonteinrand and Boshofberg with the magnificent Kransberg in the background. The name of this town comes from the discovery of a lucrative iron ore reef in the area in 1919. Thabazimbi was proclaimed in 1953 after the full-scale production of iron and steel in the 1930’s. Another leading economic activity in this town is cattle ranching.
The Marakele National Park, 20 km north-east of the town, is situated in the heart of Waterberg Mountains and characterized by contrasting mountain landscapes as well as a variety of wildlife. Marakele National Park is the home of some of the Tuli Elephants. In 1999, these were the elephants that were caught up in controversy involving animal cruelty in South Africa.
Thabazimbi made headlines in 2003 as the site of Kamp Staaldraad, the Springboks’ infamous rugby training camp prior to the Rugby World Cup.
This peaceful and productive town offers a variety of accommodation to suit every taste, including luxury guest houses, bed and breakfast establishments, chalets, caravan and camping facilities as well as self-catering cottages. For a complete list of places to stay in Thabazimbi, please see our accommodation directory.
The Marakele National Park, situated 10 km West of Thabazimbi, is named after the Tswana word for ‘place of sanctuary’. A host of wildlife can be seen in this park, from elephant and rhino to the big cats. This park harbours the largest colony of endangered Cape vultures in the world which makes this a magnificent sight for bird-lovers. This park is definitely a must-see for nature and wildlife enthusiasts.
Other activities and attractions in Thabazimbi include: Annual Game Festival (Held in May), Atherstone Nature Reserve,Ben Alberts Nature Reserve, Hiking: Buffelspoort, Thaba Trails and many more, Hunting Mecca of the Bushveld, Outdoor Activities: 4×4, angling, Rhino Bushveld Eco Park