Nature and art in the Limpopo region

"Africa has its mysteries, and even a wise man cannot understand them. A wise man respects them' The quote is from Miriam Makeba, a South African artist who built an international music career in the last century. Returning to her home country in 1990, encouraged by Nelson Mandela, she left a rich legacy for young Africans, inspiring them through her voice, her thoughts and the dream she had for her country. With its nine provinces and its diverse worlds - from coastlines to majestic mountains, from vast expanses of savannah to semi-desert areas, from lakes to waterfalls, from canyons to forests - South Africa is an inspiring land for international visitors as well. Because of the variety and breadth of its landscapes, it attracts a good mix of travellers, attracted by the history of its people, the tribal rituals still in use, and the opportunities to discover unique wildlife and nature.

Our journey begins in the capital, Johannesburg, to rediscover the roots of the population, and then go on to discover Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa, which borders Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe and is named after the majestic river of the same name. It is about a 12-hour flight from Italy to Johannesburg, with a European stopover flying with Lufthansa or via Middle Eastern hubs for those who choose a connection operated by Emirates or Qatar Airways. The City of Gold, in the heart of Gauteng, is an essential stop to understand the country's history. It has become the centre of South Africa's cultural ferment thanks to the restyling of certain districts such as Braamfontein, Newtown, 44 Stanley and Maboneng. It is worth dedicating a couple of days to the city, starting from Constitution Hill, a symbolic place that celebrates the Constitution of the new South Africa. For an understanding of racial segregation and the symbolic episodes of the civil struggle, the Apartheid Museum is an essential site. The Saxon Hotel is an address to keep in mind for a stay in the city: set in a beautiful garden and with a large art collection inside, it is one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. Alternatively, there's Daze House, which boasts a modern and thoughtful design, while 12 Decades Hotel is an art hotel where each room has been designed with inspiration from a decade of the city's history. Also worth mentioning is HallMark House, a young and smart hotel in Maboneng, which hosts events, a jazz club and an in-house barber shop. For dinner, one is spoilt for choice, from Marble, specialising in meat and local cuisine, to Proud Mary, a contemporary bistro and wine bar.

It is famous for having the only street where two Nobel laureates, Mandela and Desmond Tutu, have lived. We are talking about Soweto, South Africa's largest township, which you can explore on a bike tour, such as Lebo's Soweto, during which you can hear stories and anecdotes about this part of town. Soweto is also a great place to sample the most authentic South African cuisine, for example at Sakumzi Restaurant, a house-restaurant with an extremely simple and genuine atmosphere that fully reflects the spirit of the township. The second address is Acid, in Parktown North, born out of the collaboration between a chef and a sommelier with the aim of highlighting businesses run by women and the Bipoc community (an acronym that includes Black, Indigenous, People of Colour). Next, it is worth a tour and some shopping at the Maboneng precinct (literally 'place of light'), a redeveloped industrial district and one of the city's most hype areas, with shops, design ateliers, bars and restaurants.

A one-hour internal flight operated by Airlink takes travellers from Johannesburg to Polokwane, the capital of the Limpopo province. The area is not part of the traditional tourist routes like its better-known neighbour, Mpumalanga, but thanks to its nature reserves, the Unesco site of Mapungubwe (which was the capital of a country the size of the Kingdom of Swaziland surrounded by more than 200 small villages), its cultural heritage steeped in myth and legend and its fascinating mountain ranges, it is now an attraction for travellers in search of less-travelled roads. The province is characterised by the Waterberg, a high plateau in the west, the Marakele National Park, the privately owned Welgewonden Game Reserve and the renowned Lapalala Conservation Area. Limpopo is also known for its rich cultural heritage. Wood carvers, potters and elaborate beadwork can be found here. In the Venda region, in north-east Limpopo, are Lake Fundudzi and the deep indigenous Sacred Forest, sites particularly revered for their ancestral character. The southern slopes of the mountains have a subtropical climate with lush cultivations of macadamia nuts and avocados, although higher up one finds a more typically mountainous landscape with gorges, waterfalls and hills where more than 550 species of trees grow. Thanks to its exceptional ecosystems, the area has been declared a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. Amongst the many activities one can enjoy horseback riding, sighting the Big Five on safari, bushwalking, fishing and climbing.

As a first stop on your Limpopo trip, before reaching the Leshiba Wilderness Lodge, you can opt for lunch at the Radisson Park Inn, which is a 15-minute drive from the airport, and then continue your journey of discovery through South African nature, which in two hours leads to a true mountain sanctuary, where you can plan at least a couple of overnight stays. Leshiba is a private luxury destination particularly suitable for eco-tourism and getting close to wildlife at the top of the Soutpansberg Mountains. Here you can choose from various accommodation options, from the classic lodge to the farmhouse (a private residence with six guest rooms not far from the main building). On arrival in the afternoon, guests are welcomed with a high tea, before an evening game drive to discover the local wildlife, followed by an aperitif made unique by an exceptional panorama and a starry sky. Not forgetting the experience of the Braai, the barbecue, which in South Africa is a social ritual that allows guests to share a moment of conviviality around the fire. The next day you can dedicate yourself to a guided bush walk to discover rock art and medicinal plants. After brunch, guests are treated to the 'Venda Cultural Walk', a walk with a storyteller narrating the cultural roots of the Venda people.