# Thulamela Municipality, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/limpopo/vhembe/thulamela/

Local municipality · Vhembe District 

# Thulamela

Thulamela is a local municipality of South Africa in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. It had an estimated **618,192 people** in 2020 on 2,642 km² (about 234 per km²). 106 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 680 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 618,192people (2020)
- 2,642km²
- 680mapped services
- 640 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Thulamela?

Thulamela had an estimated **618,192 people** in 2020 — 46.7% of Vhembe District, 14th of 190 local municipalities. There are 1,216 women for every 1,000 men (above the Vhembe District figure of 1,175). Spread over 2,642 km², that is about **234 people per km²**, 14th of 190 local municipalities.

35.0% of people are children under 15 and 6.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 22 years (it is 23 across Vhembe District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 71 children and older people.

0–4 ****69,324**

5–9 ****73,334**

10–14 ****73,746**

15–19 ****71,972**

20–24 ****52,971**

25–29 ****42,923**

30–34 ****45,220**

35–39 ****38,566**

40–44 ****29,782**

45–49 ****25,722**

50–54 ****20,787**

55–59 ****17,299**

60–64 ****15,870**

65–69 ****12,727**

70–74 ****9,809**

75–79 ****8,671**

80+ ****9,469**

Source: [Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zaf).

## Where is Thulamela?

Thulamela lies in [Vhembe District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/limpopo/vhembe/), [Limpopo Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/limpopo/), [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 3 other local municipalities: [Collins Chabane](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/limpopo/vhembe/collins-chabane/), [Makhado](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/limpopo/vhembe/makhado/) and [Musina](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/limpopo/vhembe/musina/). By area it is the 143rd largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 10.3% of [Vhembe District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/limpopo/vhembe/). The centre of Thulamela is about 405 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 18 km from Thohoyandou, the main town of Vhembe District. The centre point is at 22.7851° S, 30.5121° E. Local names: LIM343 .

Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf).

## Things to see in and around Thulamela

OpenStreetMap lists 5 named sights in Thulamela: 2 waterfalls; 1 attraction; 1 gallery; 1 nature reserve.

- Phiphidi Waterfall · waterfall
- Tshirovha Waterfall · waterfall
- Mphaphuli Protected Environment · nature reserve
- Lake Fundudzi · attraction
- Art gallery · gallery

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Thulamela

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- CurrencyRand (ZAR)
- Country calling code+27
- LanguagesZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug typesType C, D · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Postcode format4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports

- Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) · Phalaborwa144 km
- Polokwane International Airport (PTG) · Polokwane160 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.5 hours, sunrise around 05:07) and shortest in Jun (about 10.7 hours, sunrise around 06:35, sunset around 17:20).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in Thulamela

Open gazetteers list **106 villages, towns and localities** in Thulamela. The largest with a recorded population: Thohoyandou (107,144), Tshitereke (19,092), Tshandama (5,842), Mvelaphanda (1,872) and Lwamondo (1,557). Settlements here lie between about 421 m and 1,418 m above sea level (median 640 m).

- Bashasha
- Begwa
- Budeli
- Craighouse
- Dovhoni
- Dumasi
- Dzamba
- Dzindi
- Dzwerani
- Fondwe
- Georgenholtz
- Gogogo
- Gondeni
- Gouldville
- Ha-Lambani
- Ha-Madala
- Ha-Matsheketsheke
- Ha-Matsika
- Ha-Radali
- Hamakuya
- Khakhu
- Khalavha
- Khavhambe
- Khubvi
- Lambani
- Lamvi
- Lomondo Location
- Luheni
- Lukalo
- Lwamondo
- Madzingandevhe
- Makonde
- Makuleni
- Makumbane
- Makunya
- Makwarela
- Malamagwa
- Malavuwe
- Manamane
- Mangondi
- Mapate
- Masikhwa
- Matangari
- Matavhela
- Mavhuwa
- Mavunde
- Mianzwi
- Milaboni
- Mpapuli Location
- Mphego
- Muhuyu
- Mukande
- Mukomaasinanndu
- Mukula
- Mukumawabane
- Mukumbani
- Muledane
- Munwe
- Musunda
- Muthambi
- Mutshavhawe
- Mutshenzheni
- Mvelaphanda
- Natal House
- Ngovhela
- Ngwenani
- Palmaryville
- Phaswane
- Pile
- Rambuda
- Sambandou
- Shayandima
- Sibasa
- Siloam
- Takalani
- Thengwe
- Thohoyandou
- Thsidzini
- Thusalashaka
- Tshabvuma
- Tshabya
- Tshamulongwe
- Tshamutukwa
- Tshandama
- Tshapasha
- Tshaulu
- Tshianzwani
- Tshiavha
- Tshififi
- Tshifudi
- Tshiheni
- Tshikondeni
- Tshilapfene
- Tshiombo
- Tshirunzini
- Tshitereke
- Tshithotholwe
- Tshiulungoma
- Tshivhazwaulu
- Tshivumbe
- Tshixwadza
- Tswera
- Tswinga
- Vendaland
- Vhutandabos
- Vondwe

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Thulamela

Named natural and historic features inside Thulamela, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

5 rivers and streams; 1 lake; 1 waterfall.

- Fundudzi
- Luvuvhurivier
- Mutshindudi
- Pfaleni
- Phiphidi Falls
- Rambuya River
- Tshirovha

### Hills and mountains

60 mountains; 34 hills.

- Tshiya · 1,529 m
- Thononda · 1,488 m
- Vhuhulwi · 1,446 m
- Tshithuthuni · 1,432 m
- Vhulambanngwe · 1,426 m
- Maaname · 1,412 m
- Tsifume · 1,403 m
- Mazwimba · 1,399 m
- Ha-Mphwaninga · 1,379 m
- Nwanani · 1,359 m
- Lutanze · 1,358 m
- Mphathele · 1,338 m
- Tshamavhudzi · 1,315 m
- Dzimluali · 1,306 m
- Lwangululu · 1,282 m
- Uuvhava · 1,271 m
- Khaphamali · 1,270 m
- Tsamatangwana · 1,269 m
- Thosa · 1,262 m
- Tshidzivhe · 1,262 m
- Mandala · 1,250 m
- Mangwele · 1,230 m
- Murangoni · 1,205 m
- Tshilungwi · 1,200 m

…and 70 more.

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Thulamela and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Vhembe District, the warmest month is Dec (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Jul (17 °C). About 585 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (113 mm) and the driest Aug (6 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to December**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 26 113 

Feb 26 93 

Mar 25 68 

Apr 23 38 

May 20 9 

Jun 18 7 

Jul 17 11 

Aug 20 6 

Sep 22 15 

Oct 24 37 

Nov 26 75 

Dec 26 113 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Thulamela

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Donald Fraser Hospital · Thulamela 11 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-22.88369&mlon=30.47968#map=17/-22.88369/30.47968) 

Bank Capitec Bank Mutale Tshilamba Centre · Thulamela 4.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-22.74483&mlon=30.52979#map=17/-22.74483/30.52979) 

ATM Capitec Bank ATM · Thulamela 5.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-22.74148&mlon=30.53371#map=17/-22.74148/30.53371) 

Petrol pump Sasol · Thulamela 2.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-22.76095&mlon=30.51690#map=17/-22.76095/30.51690) 

Hotel Musanda Lifestyle Centre · Thulamela 4.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-22.79491&mlon=30.55271#map=17/-22.79491/30.55271) 

Mall Tshilamba Retail Central · Thulamela 5.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-22.74400&mlon=30.53112#map=17/-22.74400/30.53112) 

School Luvhaivhai Community Crech · Thulamela 1.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-22.79269&mlon=30.52742#map=17/-22.79269/30.52742) 

College Thengwe Campus, Vhembe TVET College · Thulamela 3.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-22.75135&mlon=30.51106#map=17/-22.75135/30.51106) 

Police station Saps Sibasa Police Station · Thulamela 18 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-22.94594&mlon=30.47270#map=17/-22.94594/30.47270) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Thulamela

Places mapped inside Thulamela in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals12
- Banks31
- ATMs24
- Petrol pumps30
- Hotels51
- Shopping malls11
- Schools405
- Colleges and universities19
- Cinemas1
- Pharmacies16
- Restaurants78
- Police stations2

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other local municipalities in Vhembe District

- Collins Chabane
- Makhado
- Musina

## Quick answers

- Where is Thulamela?In Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
- What is the population of Thulamela?618,192 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Thulamela?About 22 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Thulamela?About 234 people per km²
- What borders Thulamela?Collins Chabane, Makhado and Musina
- What is there to see in Thulamela?Art gallery, Lake Fundudzi, Mphaphuli Protected Environment, Phiphidi Waterfall
- What time zone is Thulamela in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Thulamela?Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in Thulamela?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Thulamela?106 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Thulamela?Settlements lie between 421 m and 1,418 m
- What is the highest point in Thulamela?Tshiya (1,529 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Thulamela?January to December
- Where is the nearest hospital to Thulamela?Donald Fraser Hospital, about 11 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Thulamela?Capitec Bank Mutale Tshilamba Centre, about 4.8 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Thulamela?Capitec Bank ATM, about 5.3 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Thulamela?Sasol, about 2.7 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Thulamela?12 mapped
- How many banks are in Thulamela?31 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Thulamela?24 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Thulamela?30 mapped
- What is the P-code of Thulamela?ZA9343 (OCHA common operational dataset)