Things to do in Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga is the place to head for travellers who want a taste of unspoilt wilderness areas, unhindered by crowds and cities. Indeed, the small private game reserves and the incredible Kruger National Park are the main attractions and can easily fill a whole holiday, though the province has many other attractions.
Following the Panorama Route is a great way to explore the region, as it takes in spectacular sights such as the Blyde River Canyon and God's Window, as well as lesser-known vistas such as Bourke's Luck Potholes, Wonder View, and the Three Rondavels.
Those keen on an authentic walking experience should hike the multi-day Blyde River Canyon trail, which is breathtakingly beautiful. The province is a delight for outdoor enthusiasts and offers many adventure activities, including wonderful fishing, particularly near the town of Dullstroom.
Nelspruit is a good travel base and a pleasant city, but it is the charming small towns and great game lodges of Mpumalanga that really attract tourists. The little town of Pilgrim's Rest is a popular attraction for those interested in the history of the 1870s gold rush. The region is also home to the Ndebele people, who are famous for their beadwork and uniquely painted houses.
Mpumalanga is a summer rainfall area and has a subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. The highveld region to the west experiences more extreme temperatures and is hotter in summer, colder in winter, and generally drier than the rest of the province.
Lowveld National Botanical Garden
The Lowveld National Botanical Garden has the largest collection of cycads in the world and the biggest assortment of indigenous trees in South Africa. The garden has 600 plant and…
Lowveld National Botanical Garden
The Lowveld National Botanical Garden has the largest collection of cycads in the world and the biggest assortment of indigenous trees in South Africa. The garden has 600 plant and 245 bird species occurring naturally within its borders, but about 2,000 more plant species have been added to this collection. The gardens are traversed by two big rivers, the Crocodile and the Nels, which converge in the garden and form some spectacular waterfalls that can be viewed from observation platforms. Highlights of the gardens include the aerial boardwalk and suspension bridge through the African Rain Forest section, and a lovely two-hour walking trail that meanders along the Crocodile River banks and passes three waterfalls.
Website www.sanbi.org/gardens/lowveld
Pilgrim's Rest
Had it not been for its picturesque setting, Pilgrim's Rest would probably be a ghost town. It is, however, a popular tourist destination, existing today for little other purpose t…
Pilgrim's Rest
Had it not been for its picturesque setting, Pilgrim's Rest would probably be a ghost town. It is, however, a popular tourist destination, existing today for little other purpose than to entertain and inform visitors about its colourful heyday. It all began in 1873, when a Scottish miner, Alex 'Wheelbarrow' Patterson, discovered gold at Pilgrim's Creek. Before long, fortune seekers had flocked to the little valley, and the town of Pilgrim's Rest was born. Mining continued for decades, but started to dry up in the 1940s, with the final mine closing in 1972. The entire town has now been declared a national monument and many of its corrugated iron buildings have been restored. These now exist as living museums, and some as souvenir shops.
Website www.pilgrims-rest.co.za
Blyde River Canyon
The spectacular vista of the Blyde River Canyon is part of the scenically breath-taking Panorama Route, where sheer cliffs drop into a bush-covered valley. It's worth covering the …
Blyde River Canyon
The spectacular vista of the Blyde River Canyon is part of the scenically breath-taking Panorama Route, where sheer cliffs drop into a bush-covered valley. It's worth covering the route as a self-drive trip from Nelspruit, or on a bus tour. Other sights on the route include a trio of green-clad peaks set in the canyon called the Three Rondavels, and the Bourke's Luck Potholes. The latter are huge holes in the mountainside formed by grinding sand. The Blyde River Canyon is the biggest green canyon in the world, and the third largest canyon on earth. Only the USA's Grand Canyon and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia are bigger.