Mpumulanga

Mpumalanga - 'the place where the sun rises' - epitomizes every traveller's dream of the true African experience. Located in the north-eastern part of South Africa, the province is bordered by Mozambique to the east and the Kingdom of Swaziland to the south and east.

The climate and topography vary from cool highland grasslands at 1 600 m above sea level, through the middleveld and escarpment, to the subtropical lowveld towards the Kruger National Park and many private game reserves. Scenic beauty, climate and wildlife, voted the most attractive features of South Africa, are found in abundance in the province.

Attractions range from game-viewing and bird-watching to scenic drives across the valleys and peaks of the vast Drakensberg escarpment, and include agri and industrial tourism, adventure tourism and the cultural experience. Historical sites and villages, old wagon routes and monuments mark events and characters who passed this way before in search of adventure and wealth.

The cultural heritage of the province is both varied and exciting. The Ndebele beadwork and house-painting in the north-west, the arts and crafts of the Lowveld and the different traditional villages all over the province offer a unique insight into the history of the people.

The Maputo Development Corridor, currently under construction, will link Gauteng with Maputo Harbour in Mozambique and will open new tourism opportunities for Mpumalanga.

Nelspruit

Nelspruit is the capital of Mpumalanga and the commercial and administrative hub of the Lowveld. The Nelspruit Historical Trail is an hour-long route stretching from the Promenade Centre to the Civic Centre.

The Blue Train runs between Pretoria and Nelspruit from May to September on a trip called the Lowveld Experience. Rovos Rails' trains also visit Nelspruit.

The Green Heritage Hiking Trail in the Nelspruit Nature Reserve is one of several walks in the Reserve and one of many in the Nelspruit region.

Not to be missed when in Nelspruit is the world-famous Lowveld Botanical Garden, as well as the Reptile Park, both situated near the Emnothweni Casino. The Lowveld National Botanical Garden features many rare Lowveld species which include the country's best collection of indigenous ferns, 500 tree species and the famous rare cycads.

Lowveld

Barberton features many reminders of the early gold-rush era. Museums include Belhaven, Fernlea House and Stopforth House. The only known verdite deposits in the world are found in the rocks of the Barberton district. Verdite has been used by sangomas for promoting fertility. An annual Diggers Festival is held in September.

 

The Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve near Graskop is characterized by striking rock formations and a rich diversity of plants. Within the Reserve, the Bourke's Luck Potholes were formed by river erosion.

The spectacular Blyde River Canyon is a 26-km long gorge carved out of the face of the escarpment and is one of the natural wonders of Africa. The Canyon is the third largest in the world and hosts three rivers which feed the Blydepoort Dam at Swadini. God's Window provides a magnificent view of miles of thickly forested mountains, the green Lowveld and the Canyon. The Blyderivierspoort Hiking Trail is one of the most popular in the country. A number of other hiking trails are also available.

The Kruger National Park houses 24 camps, 12 filling-stations, ten restaurants, some 2 800 employees, a post office and a road network of 2 400 km. About 15 researchers work full-time on topics ranging from HIV-positive lions to contraception for elephants. The Park boasts about 9 000 elephants, 1 500 lions, 21 000 buffalo, 2 220 rhinos and a variey of other wildlife. During 1999, almost 950 000 people visited the Park.

A living monument to the Shangaan culture was officially opened on 23 February 1999 near Hazyview, Mpumalanga. The R3-million cultural village aims to enhance tourism and contibute to job creation, foreign currency earnings and economic development.

The southern section of the Kruger National Park falls in this region. The Park is a major tourist attraction, locally and internationally. The main camps have an excellent range of facilities. Game-viewing is easier in winter, and guided wilderness trails are available.

Kaapsehoop is a quaint historical village known for the wild horses that frequent the district. Blue swallows are regular visitors from September to April.

The Lydenburg Museum is situated in the Gustav Klingbiel Reserve, which is the site of archaeological ruins from the Later Iron Age. The Mac Mac Pools and Falls outside Sabie are worth a visit. The 69-km Prospector's TraiI starts at the Mac Mac Forest Station and leads to the Bourke's Luck Potholes.

At the Montrose Falls in Schoemanskloof, the Crocodile River cascades 12 m into a series of rock pools. It is also the starting point of the annual Lowveld Crocodile Canoe Marathon, held annualy in February.

Pilgrim's Rest is a living museum and a replica of the early gold-mining town. The Alanglade House Museum offers guided tours of the former mine manager's house, while the Diggings Museum just outside the town arranges guided tours of gold-panning activities. The Dredzen Shop Museum consists of a store stocked with a range of items in use nearly a century ago. The Pilgrim's Rest Festival is held annually in December.

Mount Sheba Nature Reserve, south of Pilgrim's Rest, is best known for its indigenous forest - one of the few left in the region. Sabie is the centre of the largest man-made forest in South Africa.

The Cultural-historical Forestry Museum depicts various aspects of the country's forestry industry. The Bridal Veil, Horseshoe and Lone Creek Falls just outside Sabie are worth a visit. Guided tours of the Sudwala Caves are offered seven days a week. The six-hour Crystal Cave Tour takes place daily.

At the adjacent PR Owen Dinosaur Park full-scale replicas of dinosaurs are on display.

The Botshabelo Mission Station and Traditional Village provides a look into the traditional lifestyle of the South Ndebele people and the daily routine of a 19th-century mission station. Ndebele women do beadwork and other handicrafts and paint the attractive murals which are prominent features of their culture.

Dullstroom is famous for its trout-fishing opportunities. Bird-watching, walking trails and horse trails are also popular. The Steenkampsberg Nature Reserve, outside the town, provides sanctuary for the rare wattled crane. The annual Trout Festival is held in October.

The Loskop Dam Nature Reserve is one of the country's largest reserves and offers game-watching, boating and fishing.

Horse-riding and trout-fishing are popular in the Waterval-Boven area. A large number of hiking trails are available, such as the Elandskrans Trail, which includes a 30-minute train ride between Waterval-Boven and Waterval-Onder.

Highveld

The mineral spa at Badplaas is a popular holiday destination. There are many walking, horse-riding and 4x4 trails in the area, as well as a 1 000-ha nature reserve.

The lake district of Mpumalanga, hosting small villages such as Wakkerstroom, Amsterdam and Lake Chrissie, is a bird-watcher's paradise where many rare and endangered species are found.