Mpumalanga is endowed with natural attractions and experiences bound to astound any traveller.
Dubbed South Africa’s adventure capital, Mpumalanga offers an array of activities ranging from abseiling, white-water river rafting and fly-fishing to paragliding, mountain biking, bungee jumping, hiking and 4x4 trails, to name a few.
The province is renowned for its exceptional wildlife encounters. The Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve and other parks throughout Mpumalanga bring visitors close to nature’s spectacular beauty. The Kruger National Park alone spans two million hectares and teems with diverse flora and fauna.
The Lowveld Escarpment’s Panorama Route offers spectacular landscapes with attractions like the Blyde River Canyon (the third-largest in the world), as well as majestic waterfalls and high-altitude scenic drives to iconic sites such as God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels.
Mpumalanga also holds a rich yet largely undiscovered heritage. The myriad heritage sites include the Samora Machel monument near Mbuzini, and Makhonjwa Mountains in Barberton, boasting rock formations dating back more than 3,5 billion years. Other sites not to be missed include the mining village of Pilgrim’s Rest, the Highveld Heritage Route, the stone circles of Mpumalanga and Goliath’s Footprint.
Birdwatchers can spot more than 500 bird species endemic to the Kruger National Park and Chrissiesmeer in the southern part of the province.
The Midveld, offers trout fishing opportunities in pristine rivers and dams, with Dullstroom referred to as South Africa’s trout-fishing mecca. The Ndebele culture in the Highveld region boasts icons like Esther Mahlangu who have helped preserve and share its colourful traditions worldwide.
Mpumalanga is also an ideal golf destination, with a wide selection of world-class estates and courses where golfers can enjoy the game in complete serenity.
Get off the beaten track and explore the many other offerings on offer.
Top 10 things you might not have known about Mpumalanga:
- South Africa’s first stock exchange was built in Barberton in 1884 during the gold rush.
- The world-renowned artist Gerald Sekoto was born at Botshabelo near Middelburg on December 9, 1913.
- Makhonjwa Mountains in Barberton boasts the oldest rock formations in the world dating back 3,5 billion years.
- By far the world’s largest underground coalmining complex is in Secunda, making Mpumalanga South Africa’s powerhouse.
- The Blyde River Canyon is the third-largest in the world and the largest green canyon.
- The Kruger National Park is two million hectares in size.
- Ray Phiri, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Zakes Nkosi, Lucky Dube, Rebecca Malope all hail from Mpumalanga.
- The Sudwala Caves are the oldest known dolomite caves in the world and are approximately 240 million years old.
- Pilgrim’s Rest was the second town in South Africa after Kimberley to be electrified. The electricity was generated from a hydroelectric plant built in 1911 in the Blyde River Canyon.
- The giant footprint, otherwise known as the Goliath’s Footprint, embossed on a rock on a farm near Ermelo is six-feet long.
Visit www.mpumalanga.com for more information.
