Mpumalanga - which means 'place where the sun rises’- is one of South Africa’s tourism hotspots, loved by both local and international visitors for its beauty and diversity.
This province is home to The Kruger National Park (‘big five’ country), exquisite panoramic views, mountains, rivers, trout fishing and birding opportunities, eco-tourism, adventure holidays and the rich offerings of the local Ndebele and Swazi cultures.
Overview
Mpumalanga is bordered by Mozambique and Swaziland in the east, and Gauteng in the west. It is situated mainly on the high plateau grasslands of the Middleveld, which roll eastwards for hundreds of kilometres.
In the northeast, the land rises towards mountain peaks and then terminates in an immense escarpment. In some places, this escarpment plunges hundreds of metres down to the low-lying area known as the Lowveld.
Even though it is one of the smaller provinces (79 490 km2 in surface area), Mpumalanga is home to some three million people.
Climate
Mpumalanga is a summer rainfall area with hot summers, especially in the Lowveld regions. The weather is relatively mild in winter, although it can become very cold in the Highveld areas.
Getting to Know Mpumalanga
As the safari capital of the country, the major draw-card to the area is the world-famous Kruger National Park. However, Mpumalanga has a lot more to offer than the ‘big five’ – the province is home to magnificent scenery and boasts a rich cultural heartland.
Forests, pristine waters and trout fishing opportunities abound and there is no shortage of adventure activities, such as rock-climbing, abseiling, 4 x 4 trails, paragliding, kloofing and other high-adrenalin activities.
Tourism Regions
Because the province is so diverse, the tourism authorities have divided it into seven regions:
- The Highlands Meander: a nature lover’s paradise for those who love fly-fishing and bird-watching.
- The Panorama Route: all breath-taking views and natural wonders such as God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon.
- Cultural Heartland: get in touch with the colourful Ndebele culture.
- Wild Frontier: gateway to Mozambique, Swaziland and the Kruger National Park
- Grass and Wetlands: Tranquil times at Chrissiesmeer – SA’s largest freshwater lake.
- Cosmos Country – this is mining territory that explodes into colour every summer when the pink and white cosmos flowers come into bloom.
- Lowved Legogote – home to the oldest dolomite caves in the world and a serious adventure activity zone.
Major attractions in the area:
The Kruger National Park
One of the major tourist attractions of the country, the Kruger National Park is among South Africa’s finest assets. Well-equipped to offer big five safaris, the park includes a large number of accommodation options, ranging from five star lodges to affordable rest camps.
This famous park boasts over 140 species of mammals and over 500 species of birds, not to mention a wide variety of amphibians, reptiles, flora and fauna.
Best game Lodges in the World
A number of private camps and lodges are on offer in the areas surrounding the Kruger National Park. The Sabi Sands area is renowned for being home to some of the best African game lodges in the world, bar none. These lodges are known worldwide for their exclusivity and top-of-the-range accommodation.
South Africa ’s Premier Fly-fishing Capital
The perfect getaway for fly-fishing enthusiasts, Dullstroom and surrounds offer fantastic accommodation including everything from five-star hotels to modest Bed and Breakfast establishments. The spectacular beauty of the area and its many lakes makes Dullstroom the perfect weekend getaway spot (even if fishing is not your thing). A number of quaint restaurants and pubs dot the area.
Gold-Digger’s Delight
The little town of Pilgrim’s Rest offers a step backwards into South Africa’s history, complete with themed-museums, restored buildings… and the notorious Victorian-inspired Royal Hotel. The area is a favourite for overseas and local visitors and is well-equipped to handle all of the attention with a good offering of restaurants, bars and reasonably priced accommodation available.
Best pancakes in Africa
A short drive from Pilgrim’s Rest lies Graskop, famous for it’s scenic waterfall and for Harrie’s Pancake Shop, known to serve up the best pancakes this side of the Kruger National Park. It is an established tradition to stop off here for a favourite sweet or savoury pancake en route to the Blyde River Canyon.
Green Belt
The green belt of Sabie offers a wonderful base to explore Mpumalanga’s Escarpment. This is the centre of South Africa’s forestry region and boasts excellent lodges, bed-and-breakfast establishments as well as a rather fine backpacker’s lodge. Although the pace in Sabie is rather laid back, there are a number of activities and day trips for the adventure seeker.
Adventure Zone
Mpumalanga province is known for its fantastic adventure-tourism opportunities. Mountain-biking, horse-trails, hiking trails and river rafting are all offer. The Blyde River Canyon is known as one of the best hang gliding and para gliding sites in Southern Africa. For hard-core adventurers this is also 4 x 4 country, or if soft adventure is your thing hot air ballooning is also on offer.
Views of Paradise
One of the most scenic views in South Africa is undoubtedly offered up at the famous Blyde River Canyon – this colossal canyon is famous for its dramatic window on the world.
Along the Panorama Route, camera-touting visitors love to visit the God’s Window ledge, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels – all of which offer breathtaking panoramas. The Mac-Mac Falls and Lisbon Falls are also a keen favourite for visitors to Mpumalanga.
Arts and Culture
Explore the local Shangaan culture at the famous Shangana Cultural Village, a short hop away from the town of Hazyview. This user-friendly cultural village offers visitors the opportunity to interact with the local Shangaan people and to enjoy a taste of traditional cuisine.
In Mpumalanga, the Nyani Shangaan Cultural Village is also an option, as is Matsulu Village – a traditional Ndebele Village.
Self-Drive in Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga offers excellent self-drive routes and opportunities, which means you can make up an individual itinerary and simply go with the flow. These selected routes will lead self-drive visitors to just about every destination in the province. Accommodation throughout the province is plentiful, but advance booking is advisable if you require a specific location such as private game reserve or Mpumalanga Parks Board accommodation.
There are three principal routes dissecting Mpumalanga:
- The N4, running west to east from Pretoria to Witbank and through to Nelspruit and Komatipoort on the Mozambique border.
- The R40, running south to north from Barberton to Hazyview via Nelspruit and White River and through Phalaborwa in the Northern Province.
- The N11 which enters the province in the south at Volksrust, travelling north to Ermelo, Middelburg and through to Groblersdal in the extreme north of the province.
Links:
- For comprehensive information on Mpumalanga province, visit the Mpumalanga Tourism Authority website on www.mpumalanga.com.
Other worthwhile websites include: