Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve
![Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve is located in South Africa](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/South_Africa_relief_location_map.svg/300px-South_Africa_relief_location_map.svg.png)
![Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve is located in Limpopo](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/South_Africa_Limpopo_relief_location_map.svg/300px-South_Africa_Limpopo_relief_location_map.svg.png)
![Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
The Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve is situated in the northernmost parts of South Africa, and is owned by the De Beers Diamond Mining Company - the mine itself is actually within the confines of the reserve.
The reserve is approximately 33,000 ha in size, and is characterised by the dominant mopane (Colophospermum mopane) veld-type. Whilst scenic, the area is very hot — summer temperatures regularly pass the 40 degrees Celsius mark.
The reserve is home to three of the big five (lion, elephant and leopard — but not rhino and buffalo). There was a population of African wild dog in the park which were part of a research project of the Carnivore Conservation Group, a branch of the Endangered Wildlife Trust.
Literally across the road is one of South Africa's national parks — the Mapungubwe National Park.