Modjadji Nature Reserve — Attraction in Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality

I first visited Modjadji Nature Reserve in 2011 and stayed in the thatched huts/ rondavels that were available for accommodation in the reserve then. It was a lovely and comfortable stay and most enjoyable. 14 years ago the reserve was well maintained with hiking trails. We hired a very friendly guide took us on a hike through the cycad forest to the museum and information center at the top of the mountain. The museum was well kept and was informative. It helped with explaining the significance of the area and landscape to the Balobedu people and their rain queen. Our guide was excellent and knew a lot about the ecology of the ancient modjadji cycads, and answered all questions. In 2023 I returned to the reserve on a road trip. The gate of the reserve was left open and security let us in without charging an entrance fee. The museum was dilapidated, the reserve falling into a state of abandonment and the huts that were there in 2011 were burnt down and no longer available as an option for accommodation. It is sad to see a forest of ancient endemic cycads being swamped by alien invasive vegetation like Lantana and Chromalaena. It is even worse to know that with the right basic management strategies this reserve is an absolute gem. I really hope that it gets revamped and cared for again some time soon. It would be a pity to loose such and irreplaceable and valuable asset to neglect. The cycads stand tall and magnificent despite the poor management. I don’t recommend visiting the reserve in its current state, although if it is ever revamped then it would be a fantastic...

What an embarrassment for Limpopo Province. Fascinating Cycad forest, the mystique of the Rain Queen - ruined by bad signposting and a terrible road to the reserve. Made worse by a 15 minute check in procedure and car vehicle search (feels like a border crossing). Drive to the "amenities" /car park to encounter closed and vandalized kiosk and buildings, no informational signs, no water and a disgrace for a set of toilets. Add to that two extended public works crews sleeping on the side of the road in the reserve at 11h00 when we entered, and still asleep at 13h00 when we left (Monday 23 March 2015). We were disillusioned to say the least -particularly as Limpopo is the "Eden". Please, Limpopo Tourism or Public Works, do something to fix this insult to the rain queen, and a wasted tourism resource that can generate...

Massive wasted potential. The trees themselves are amazing, a remnant of the dinosaur era. It could be a great tourist attraction.

But, due to the reserve not being taken care of, the facilities are run down and abandoned, pathways are hidden under a layer of leaves and branches then lost to the bush, and there is trash everywhere. No running water, no toilet.

We were last here a few decades ago where we walked and walked. Now 10mins was enough as we couldn't really walk anywhere, just look at the trees around the parking lot.

Looking at the register, there were 3 other cars entering the reserve during the entire weekend. Could be so...