Louis Trichardt (formerly
Trichardtsdorp) is a
town at the foot of the
Soutpansberg mountain range in the
Limpopo province of
South Africa. It is named after the
voortrekker leader
Louis Tregardt. It is the centre of the
Makhado Local Municipality, which comprises 16,000 km² with a total population of 270,000 (2001). Louis Trichardt is located in a fertile region where
litchis,
bananas,
mangoes and
nuts are produced. The
national road N1 runs through the town. Louis Trichardt is 437 kilometres from Johannesburg and one hour's drive from the Zimbabwean border at Beitbridge. Louis Trichardt was known as
Makhado for a short period (see below). Vleifontein, Elim, Tshikota, Madombidzha and Makhado Park surrounds the town at all directions. The mayor of the town is F.D. Mutavhatsindi.