Polokwane: Art, Nature and Golf

Polokwane combines art, photography, history and golf with nature watching at nearby destinations. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you are most interested in collections and historical subjects, nearby landscapes or a golf offering open to the public. The selection includes places in Polokwane and attractions in the surrounding area. First consider whether your focus is on culture, nature or activities such as golf.

Nature nearby

Polokwane Bird Sanctuary covers 43 hectares. Three dams of varying depths, reed beds, shallow pans, a sandbank, riverside woodland and grassland define the area. More than 320 bird species were recorded there over a period of ten years. A 2024 travel description mentions opportunities for birdwatching, picnic and braai areas, and walking trails. Birdwatching and a variety of aquatic and riverside habitats are complemented by opportunities for picnicking and walking.

Polokwane Game Reserve protects the threatened Pietersburg Plateau False Grassland. The area’s plant life includes 110 grass species, around 280 flowering plants and 68 tree species. The entrance to the reserve is approximately a ten-minute drive from the city centre; the actual driving time may vary depending on the route and traffic. For planning nature outings, there is a clear distinction: birdwatching and aquatic and riverside areas take centre stage at the Bird Sanctuary, while the Game Reserve focuses on the plateau grassland and its plant life.

Art, photography and architectural history

Polokwane Art Museum, in the Library Gardens Complex, has an extensive indoor and outdoor collection reflecting the work of South African artists. The museum also exhibits works by local artists. Its scope thus ranges from a broad national perspective on art to works from the local scene.

In the vicinity of Polokwane, Hugh Exton Photographic Museum showcases historical photographs and artistic photography. Its collection includes around 20,000 black-and-white photographs from the 1890s. The images illustrate life at the time, with subjects such as clothing, ox wagons and acacia trees. Alongside an artistic focus, visitors interested in photography will find a specific historical perspective on everyday subjects of the era.

The Irish House offers a different focus: this late Victorian shop house depicts the province’s diverse cultures. Together, the art museum, photography museum and shop house offer different cultural perspectives—through South African and local art, historical photographic subjects, and the depiction of provincial cultures in a building.

Golf and other experiences

Polokwane Golf Course was founded in 1863 and has been around longer than the city. It is open to the public and has a bar, a braai area and an event hall overlooking ponds and bentgrass greens. This venue combines its long history with facilities beyond the game of golf. If you are planning a visit, check the current opening hours.

Nearby, Meropa Casino adds Wild Thingz, a bird and snake sanctuary, a mini-golf course and a go-kart track to the selection. Mini-golf and go-karting are listed as available during the day; check current hours before planning your visit.

The Bakone Malapa Northern Sotho Open-Air Museum is also located near Polokwane. Visitors can learn how to make a fire, brew beer and grind maize there. Craft demonstrations include wood carving and pottery. Unlike the art collections, the focus here is on activities and crafts. When choosing what interests you, you can therefore distinguish between nature watching, art and photography, golf, and demonstrations of traditional craft techniques.

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Go to the main travel overview: Northern Province.