About Thohoyandou

Thohoyandou, whose name means "head of the elephant" in Venda, was established in 1977 and became the capital of the former Venda bantustan in 1979, built on land where the Netshiluvhi people had lived before apartheid-era displacement. Today it sits in Limpopo's Vhembe District, at the heart of a lush agricultural region producing bananas, subtropical fruit, tobacco and maize. The University of Venda, founded in 1982, is the town's major institution, drawing students and staff from across the region and anchoring a fast-growing local economy alongside the newer Thavani Mall shopping centre. With Venda spoken by the large majority of residents, the town remains the cultural and administrative centre of the Venda people.

Thohoyandou kicks off the season with Muhedans 6th Annual Birthday Spin Bash at Shuma Park, followed shortly after by the more academic The Inaugural Memorial Lecture: Prof Gessler Muxe Nkondo at Univen Auditorium. Food lovers should mark September for the Limpopo Heritage & Food Festival Thohoyandou at Makwatambani Resort, while the Phalaphala FM Royal Heritage Fest turns Nandoni Royal Gardens into a multi-day heritage celebration later that month. October brings the Miss Resilience Thohoyandou 2026 Grand finale to the Khoroni Hotel Casino Convention Resort, closing out a run of festivals, food events and pageantry across town.