South Africa Travel Tips When Visiting Mpumalanga Province

The province of Mpumalanga in South Africa is known as the “Place of the Rising Sun”, Mpumalanga attracts its visitors through its magnificent landscapes, great game reserves and captivating tribal legends. In addition to investigating the stories behind the 1870’s gold rush era, there are ample opportunities to view wildlife, bird watch, hike, horseback ride and trout fish.

Don’t miss the spectacular Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window to truly appreciate the immense natural beauty of this province.

CLIMATIZED:

Lowveld areas experience a very hot and humid summer, with winters having pleasantly warm days and cool nights. Highveld areas experience hot summers and cold to very cold winters, sometimes with snowfall. The province enjoys a summer shower, which typically sees thunderstorms in the late afternoon. In the summer months violent hailstorms occur with some frequency.

SHOPPING:

Shopping malls, antique shops, craft markets and art galleries abound, as well as street vendors and stalls. Good buys include fruit, Lowveld coffee and tea, local crafts, hand-woven rugs, carvings, and leather crafts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS:

highland oxbow

This is a nature lover’s paradise, with many different activities to do, such as excellent rock climbing, spectacular displays of wildflowers, and some of the subcontinent’s rare birds. In this region there are also walks through the valley and the Loskop dam.

Cosmos:

The area features farms and a backdrop of open grasslands, valleys, and low hills. In late summer, the meadows burst with cosmos flowers of different colors. Ideal as a great scenic route to destinations further east, it is also home to the Graceland Casino complex.

Wetlands:

A prime birding site in southern Africa, Wakkerstroom offers birders 29 species of birds that are endemic or near endemic to the region. The exceptional beauty of the region in its rolling hills and deep valleys and its mild climate also make it an ideal center for hikers, hang gliders, mountain bikers and fishermen.

Pilgrim’s Rest:

The entire town has been declared a national monument, a true open-air museum and a perfect replica of a mining town during the gold rush at the end of the 19th century. The original architecture of the city remains largely unchanged and is geared towards tourism, with most of the historic buildings housing shops, restaurants, craft centers, accommodation, etc.

Sabie Falls:

The Sabie area has been smitten with many waterfalls. Some of the most popular and famous waterfalls include Sabie, Horseshoe, Bridal Veil, Loan Creek, Maria Shires, Mac Mac Pools, and Mac Mac Falls.

The Lowveld:

The Lowveld offers tourists a unique African experience with its many wildlife reserves, whether privately owned or nationally owned. All Lowveld game species, in particular the larger animals, as well as numerous bird species can be seen and photographed in a natural setting.

Kruger National Park:

This famous park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in South Africa, covering a huge area, featuring 16 different ecosystems and boasting an almost pristine natural environment. Visitors can join many of the daily game drives to see the “Big Five” (elephant, leopard, lion, rhino, buffalo) in their natural habitat. Accommodations to suit all requirements are available both inside and outside the park boundaries. You can also access the park through the eight gates open to the public. A must have for game viewing lovers.

The Panoramic Scenic Route:

This region has some of the most beautiful scenery in South Africa, starting from the town of Graskop leading north along the edge of the escarpment to the Blyde River Canyon which is the third largest canyon in the world and the canyon larger green. The immense 26km gorge is spectacular and visitors can also take a fascinating walk through the indigenous rainforest near the town.

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve:

This reserve covers more than 22,000 ha and is home to plants, birds and animals, including leopards, baboons, lynxes, wild boars and antelopes. Visitors can walk on the dam wall, which is 72m high, or take a dam cruise. There are also numerous walking trails.

God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Potholes:

Another beautiful place to go and see the Panorama is God’s Window – this vantage point is perched on the edge of the escarpment and offers great views of the Lowveld 1000m below, as well as rainforest covered mountains, which you can explore walking. path. Bourke’s Luck Potholes are deep cylindrical cavities formed by the swirling action of pebble-laden floodwaters. Numerous hiking trails suitable for all types of visitors abound.