Limpopos

Limpopos is a term used to refer collectively to the geographic region centered on the Limpopo River basin and the adjacent areas in southern Africa where the name is applied, notably the Limpopo Province of South Africa and the northern parts of neighboring Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The river itself flows generally northward from its highland sources to the Indian Ocean, and the basin covers a wide area with varied climates, from semi-arid savannas to subtropical lowlands. The region is ecologically rich, hosting seasonal wildlife and protected areas, including portions of Kruger National Park near its eastern edge.

The area has a long precolonial history with Bantu-speaking communities such as the Venda, Tsonga, and Northern Sotho peoples, as well as older hunter-gatherer groups. European colonization in the 19th and 20th centuries, border delineations, and mining and agricultural development shaped the modern distribution of the Limpopos. The Limpopo Province is the northernmost province of South Africa, bordered by Zimbabwe to the north and Mozambique to the east, and is a center for agriculture (especially fruit and sugarcane), mining (notably platinum and other minerals), and tourism.

Name: The origin of the name Limpopo is linked to the river and local languages, though the exact etymology is disputed.