Travel Guide SA - Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga (formerly known as the Eastern Transvaal) is one of South Africa's top tourist destinations. South African travellers are drawn by the magnificent scenery, the fauna and flora, the saga of the 1870s gold rush era and the wealth of fascinating tribal legends

Aptly know as "Paradise Country", few regions in the world can match the extraordinary beauty of the Lowveld and its escarpment. Although mountains with panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and lush forests characterise the landscape, it is usually the abundance of big game that attracts South African tourists. There are literally dozens of sanctuaries teeming with wildlife and birdlife. Among them, the Kruger National Park is world renowned, as are several of the luxurious private reserves on its western boundary.

This entire area offers the South African traveller exceptional opportunities for game spotting, bird-watching, hiking, horse-riding and fishing. Streams once panned for gold have become the haunts of lazy trout and eager anglers.

Steeped in the history of pioneers, hunters and fortune seekers, fascinating gold rush towns are a major attraction with Barberton and Pilgrim's Rest among the most famous. A special, additional dimension is found in the Middleveld region which is inhabited by Ndebele people, noted for their traditional costumes and attractively decorated homes.

En route to the Kruger National Park, South African travellers are barraged with stunning vistas and charming interludes. Like the Long Tom Pass with its stunning panoramic views, or Lone Creek Falls and the charming forestry town of Sabie.

Just beyond Sabie, the Mac Mac Falls invite you to treat yourself witha swim in its crystal-clear pools. Then, just a small detour leads to Pilgrim's Rest; well worth exploring before continuing to Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve. Here you will be enthralled with Blyde River Canyon and the richness of bird life. And, at the southern tip of the reserve, the view from God's Window stretches to eternity. From there, it's a short and easy drive to some of the finest private game reserves in Africa and the Orpen Gate to Kruger National Park.

Nelspruit, the capital of Mpumalanga, is the commercial and administrative hub of the Lowveld, and the centre of a vast citrus-growing region. The streets of this large, modern town are lined with jacaranda and flamboyant trees, and impeccably tended suburban gardens abound, flaunting a profusion of flowering subtropical plants and shrubs.

From Nelspruit, good roads radiate to many of the most beautiful and interesting parts of the Lowveld, including game sanctuaries, mountains and historic towns. Curio shops and wayside stalls offer excellent hand-woven rugs, carvings, leather goods and fresh farm produce. Convenient stopovers abound, and several days can be profitably spent exploring the countryside and hiking trails that criss-cross this scenic area in every direction.

Mpumalanga covers nearly 80 000 km² of rolling highlands, lofty escarpment and contrasting lush wetlands. In fact, there are seven distinct regions in Mpumalanga with specially marked routes to guide South African travellers through this spectacular province.