Golwe Picnic and Campsite is a large shady site situated in a secluded valley in Venda off the Masisi Road. The site is rural and tranquil, an ideal place to get-away to. Bird watching is good in and around the campsite. At dawn one can hear African Broadbill around the campsite. Other special birds are Pink-throated Twinspot, Scaly-throated Honeyguide and Crowned Hornbill. Marked circular trails lead from the campsite up the valley and to a waterfall. The campsite offers a convenient base from which to visit Mpaphuli Cycad Reserve, Makhuya Park and the Gundani Brachystegia Woodland. We recommend booking Christopher Nethonzhe, who is the local site guide (Birdlife SA accredited) to guide you along the trails. Golwe is owned and run by members of the Vhurivhuri community. All proceeds go towards the development of the community and supporting unemployed people in the village. The campsite has ablution facilities with hot/cold water and flushing toilets, braai stands, picnic tables and 4 camp sites. Firewood is available to buy. The area is multifunctional and can accommodate people who want to have open-air meetings and parties. The site is accessible to 2-wheel drive vehicles and caravans. How to get there: From the south - Turn off the R524 towards Thohoyandou. Drive through Thohoyandou to Sibasa and straight on to the T-junction indicating Donald Fraser Hospital (left) and Masisi (right). Go right towards Masisi. Continue towards Masisi for another 37 km. (At time of writing the last 25km of this road which is gravel was to be tarred) Turn right off the road towards Lambani/ Gunda and follow the signboards to the site for another 1,8 km. From the north - Turn off the R525 at Masisi towards Tshikondeni Mine. Do not take the left turn to the mine but continue straight on towards Sibasa/Thohoyandou for another +/- 25km. The site is sign posted off this road to your right. Contact details: Booking is not required, but notice of your arrival is appreciated, so that preparations can be made. Christopher Nethonzhe: 076 302 9383 (Community Representative) Ernest: 076 196 3691 (Community Representative) Rates/Entry Fee: R5 per adult entry. R5 per vehicle. R30 per adult camping. Day visitors welcome.

This is the only known patch of Miombo (Brachystegia) woodland in South Africa. Miombo woodland is common in Zimbabwe and further north. A number of bird specials associated with Miombo have been seen here. These are White-breasted Cuckooshrike and Southern Hyliota. Frequently seen is Pink-throated Twinspot. If you are lucky you might find Blue-spotted Wood-Dove. There are unconfirmed reports of Red-throated Twinspot and Spotted Creeper (so please send reports of sightings of these species). A charming campsite has been opened at the woodland, funded by the Jensen Charity Foundation and facilitated by the birding route. The campsite will assist the community derive economic benefit from tourism, especially avi-tourism. The people who manage the campsite live in the village and are otherwise unemployed. All proceeds go directly into maintenance of the campsite and into a community fund. There are hot/cold showers, flush toilets, firewood for sale and 6 cleared tent sites. To make the best of the birding in the woodland, you should spend at least one night, preferably two, there. It can get hot, so use the late afternoon and early morning to bird. There is a marked trail into the woodland and thus 4x4´s are not required. However do be careful in the campsite, as the area is very sandy! If you do get stuck the camp assistants will help push you out. To get there: From the south - Turn off the R524 towards Thohoyandou. Drive through Thohoyandou to Sibasa and straight on to the T-junction indicating Donald Fraiser Hospital (left) and Masisi (right). Go right towards Masisi. Continue on this road for 12 km and turn left towards Thengwe. Continue for 5.1 km until and turn right towards Mutale. Continue for 21 km until you see the signboard to Gundani to your right. From this turn off it is 3 km to the campsite. It will take about 45min from Thohoyandou. From the north (Pafuri/ Musina) turn off the R525 and get onto the road that runs past Sagole Spa and the Big Tree. West of the Big Tree is a road to the south marked ´Sibasa´. Take this road, past Shakadza, to where the tar road begins. Follow the tar road until you see the signboard to Gundani, indicating left. Booking is not required, but notice of your arrival is appreciated, so that preparations can be made. John Thavhanyedza: 072 222 9154 (Community Representative) Vho-Musanda Miranda: 072 214 0258 (Community Headman) Rates: Entry Fee: R30 pp camping. R5 pp for day entry. R5 per vehicle.