The word rixile means 'rising of the sun' or 'the dawn of day'. The route, situated in the Limpopo province of South Africa, meanders between the small town of Giyani and Phalaborwa, the only town with a gate into the Kruger National Park.

The Limpopo Province is rich in cultural history and there is much to do in this land of myths and legends. The game viewing is possibly the best in the country and it is one of the most renowned eco-tourism destinations in Southern Africa. The province’s impressive mountain scenery beckons hikers, climbers and bikers, while mystic cultural destinations intrigue both local and international tourists.

The province is also referred to as the Great North. It is what the needle of the compass turns to for direction. Maps are ruled by it, and with it goes the symbolism and imagery of greatness and authority.

These are ancient lands. Some of the oldest and most comprehensive remains (and evidence) of prehistoric human habitation can be found at the Makapans Caves near Mokopane. Further along the time scale you find the unique history of the Stone Age San. Today their culture exists largely as spirits in the form of immaculate rock artwork, archaeological relics and in the tradition of storytelling.

Baobabs, also referred to as the 'upside-down tree', are a distinctive feature of the province. According to local legend these trees were uprooted and cast back to Earth by angry gods.

A compass swing to the east is the wildlife heritage of the Valley of the Olifants in the Lowveld. The Kruger National Park shoulders the province and houses a multitude of fauna and flora. Here are also the mountains, rivers and forests of the Letaba district, an unhurried, fertile area with its own distinctive characteristics.

South are the Nylsvley wetland and the mountains of the Waterberg. Here, the heat can be quenched and the muscles soothed by the mineral baths of the area's wealth of hot spring resorts.

Polokwane is the geographic and economic centre of the province. It provides the administrative workforce for a province of industry and determination. To the north of the province are the neighbouring Southern African countries of Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique and the Limpopo River, which also offers a number of activities for the tourist.

Limpopo is divided into four tourism regions, each representing a range of varied and interesting cultures, growing industries and an expanding tourism industry. Each region is unique.

The tourists regions of Limpopo include:

• The Waterberg, where the great Waterberg Biosphere incorporates the Nylsvley Nature Reserve and the Makapans Caves;
• The Capricorn region, which incorporates the provincial capital city of Polokwane;
• The Zoutpansberg region, which includes the Mapungubwe heritage site and the land of the vhaVenda people; and
• The Valley of Olifants, with towns such as Tzaneen, Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit.

There is an abundance of Marula/Maroela trees in the area. A local delicacy worth trying when visiting the region is cooked or fried Mopane worms