Mpumalanga is one of South
Africa's most visited destinations, thanks to its magnificent scenery,
flora and fauna and the saga of the 1870s gold rush.
The province is in the north-eastern part of South Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to the east and the Kingdom of Swaziland
to the south and east. This is where the foothills of the Drakensberg
lead on to the endless game plains of the Greater Kruger National
Park. The fences between Kruger and the neighbouring luxury private
game reserves on its western borders have now been removed, creating
what could possibly be the most game-rich piece of land in the world.
There are excellent facilities within the park, and for those with
a bit more cash, there are plenty of five-star private lodges to choose
from. You’re just as likely to spot models or rock stars as the Big Five in the world-renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
Also in the province is the wonderfully green Blyde River Canyon. It's
the third largest in the world, after the Grand and Fish River, and has
700 metre cliffs that support dams and waterfalls. This area is frequently referred
to as the Panorama Region and for good reason. It has some
impressive mountains, lofty passes, dramatic valleys, rivers and forests.
There are some fabulous viewpoints at the top of the canyon and a
tremendous view from God's Window to Kruger and beyond to Mozambique,
across the hot lowveld at the bottom of the canyon. Also at the top,
where
the Treur and the Blyde rivers meet, are the Bourke’s Luck potholes which are worth a stop: a natural
feature of rocks hewn over centuries by the movement of water. What
remains is an unusual rock formation that resembles Swiss cheese. Visitors may view the potholes
and rock faces from bridges spanning the rivers.
The entire area offers
great opportunities for adventure, from simple bird-watching, to hiking,
horse-riding and fishing. Rivers once panned for gold can now be enjoyed
on a vibrant white water trip, and the forests where prospectors once
camped can be explored by quad bike. Just outside Graskop, on the lip
of an escarpment, is an exciting gorge swing and flying fox - the sister
operation to the one at Victoria Falls. The quaint Panorama towns at
the top of the canyon are home to tearooms and shops selling homemade
jam and patchwork-quilts. Graskop is a picturesque town surrounded
by waterfalls. It is famous for its excellent pancake cafes. Sabie is
an important forestry centre. The hills are covered in pine
plantations, creating one of the largest man-made forests in the world.
Steeped in the history of pioneers, hunters and fortune seekers, there
are some fascinating gold rush towns such as Barberton and Pilgrim's
Rest. The latter is the only village in South Africa that is a
National Monument. The quaint Victorian cottages have been fully restored.
It’s possible to try your luck at gold panning, and even venture
down a 100-year-old mine at Barberton. Nelspruit is the capital city
of Mpumalanga. It lies in the fertile Crocodile River Valley, and
is the centre of a vast citrus-growing region. There’s not much
to do here, though it has good transport links with the rest of
the country. The best way to enjoy Mpumalanga is to take a tour
combining both Kruger and the Panorama Region. This will allow you to appreciate the green and lush highveld and the hot, dry, game-rich lowveld - the highs and lows of Mpumalanga.
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