Known as Naboomspruit, Mookgopong, or Naboomspruit (its former name), is a town in Limpopo in the bushveld region. The environment is home to a variety of wildlife such as the sable antelope, impala and zebra, which can be spotted along the way on mountain bike routes.
Mookgopong and its surrounds offers many hiking trails. Walkers will discover a surprising diversity of geological features, as well as an impressive range of flora and fauna. Summer rains boost the bushveld biome and feed mountain streams, so year-round visitors will note distinct seasonal changes.
Afrikaans and Sotho are the major language groups represented in the region, and it is, therefore, no wonder that names like ‘Hanglipberg’ and ‘Skeurkrans’ are in use for hiking trails and the likes. Both the aforementioned routes are situated in the near the town of Naboomspruit, and offer scenic views of the outlying foothills and plains.
History of Mookgopong
The history of Mookgopong dates back to the late 1800s. The town was initially a rest station for the Pretoria-Polokwane mail coach, eventually growing around the railway station to become the town of Naboomspruit in 1907. The original name of Naboomsruit came about due to the profusion of euphorbia trees, which in Afrikaans are known as naboom.
The South African government renamed Naboomspruit as Mookgopong in November 2006. Much of Mookgopong’s growth is due to minerals being discovered in the area in the early 1900s. In 1910 there was a ‘tin rush’ that caused an influx of people to the town which grew from a small village to a town with multiple businesses. Platinum found in the area lead to further expansion of the town. Tin and fluorspar are still mined here today.
Around Mookgopong, you’ll find a number of splendid hiking trails that will delight nature enthusiasts. The Hanglipberg trail starts at th...