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Nelspruit

Fruit put Nelspruit on the map in the 1890s, and fruit has always played a vital role in the town's development. The fertile Crocodile River Valley, in which the town lies, is also notable for its tobacco and timber industries. Nelspruit today is the capital of Mpumalanga, 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 flamboyant jacaranda trees and impeccably tended suburban gardens abound, flaunting 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.

Long Tom Pass

En route to the Kruger National Park over the Long Tom Pass show splendid panoramic views to Lone Creek Falls and the charming forestry town of Sabie. Just beyond Sabie, the Mac Mac Falls are worth stopping for; and you can treat yourself to a swim in the crystal-clear pools. A small detour leads to Pilgrim's Rest; a fascinating historic town, well worth exploring.

Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve

Probably one of South Africa’s most famous Nature Reserves. In the reserve, you can feast your eyes on the epic Blyde River Canyon and the rich bird life. At the southern tip of the reserve, the view from God's Window stretches to eternity, across the Lowveld, some 1000meters below, a sight to behold nature’s glory. The 'Pinnacle' is a single quartzite column rising out of the deep wooded canyon and the “Three Rondavels” (also called 'Three Sisters) are three huge spirals of dolomite rock rising out of the far wall of the canyon. Their domed heads are iced in green and their sides are stained with fiery orange lichen. From the 'Three Rondavels' you can see the extensive Swadini Dam in the far distance, which marks the end of the reserve.

At the meeting point of the Blyde River (river of joy) and the Treur River (river of sorrow) water erosion has created one of the most phenomenal geological phenomenon in South Africa. The “Bourke"s Luck Potholes” have taken thousands of years to form strange cylindrical sculptures carved by swirling water. The smooth red and yellow rocks contrast with the dark pools.

The geology and climate of this high rainfall plateau results in many cascading waterfalls, beautiful to look at and many of which you can visit. Others are hidden deep within some of the largest man-made forestry plantations in the world, with row upon row of pine and eucalyptus trees. The rich and varied plant life is influenced by extreme climate, a range of altitudes and various soil conditions. This variety of plant life supports an equally rich and varied fauna. Klipspringer and dassies find food and shelter in rocky areas. Kudu prefer the cover of wooded bushveld, and bushbuck and bush pig move amongst the luxuriant growth on the riverbanks. All five of South Africa's primates can be see in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. The somango monkey, nocturnal bush babies, and vervet monkeys are all present. Hippopotamus and crocodile live in and around the rivers and wetlands of Swadini Dam, as do water birds and otters. Almost every type of habitat that attracts birds is found in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and all three South African species of Loerie can be found here. From there, it's a short and easy drive to some of the finest private game reserves in the country including the Kruger National Park.

The Panorama Route

One of the most beautiful and popular travel destinations in South Africa. It leads through the rugged mountain range of the northern Drakensberg. Here, in the north-eastern part of the Great Escarpment, the inland plateau declines abruptly in steep mountainous cliffs opening fantastic views of the Lowveld plains a thousand meters below. The most spectacular stretch is the Blyde River Canyon which can be reached from Graskop via R532. Just a few kilometers north a small loop road leads to "God's Window", from where you will enjoy the full wonder of this view onto the Lowveld. The Canyon starts at "Bourke's Luck Potholes" and ends at the "Three Rondavels". From many well-positioned vantage points one has a view of the 33 km long gorge. The Potholes in the riverbeds are very impressive rock formations that were shaped millions of years ago by erosion. The bizarre swirl holes developed when the once rapid river carried masses of sand and debris. In the area of the "Greater Panorama Route" between Lydenburg, Ohrigstad and Hazyview provide numerous scenic attractions and pretty historic towns like Pilgrim's Rest and Sabie, which are well worth a visit.

Kruger National Park (Southern Section) | Mpumalanga Game Reserves

The world-renowned Kruger Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques. The southern portion of Kruger Park (in Mpumalanga) is more lush and wooded that the drier northern Limpopo region. Most of the camps are situated here where the largest concentrations of game occur. This major international tourist draw card offers a wilderness experience which ranks with the best in Africa. Home to an impressive number of species including the "Big Five", Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhinoceros. Mopane trees dominate the northern part of the park, which is famous for its elephants and large herds of buffalo. Predators and antelope abound, and the bird life is prolific. Humanity too has interacted with the Lowveld environment over many centuries - from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela. These treasures represent the cultures that played a role in the history of the Kruger National Park and are conserved along with the park's natural assets. The park hosts many National and Private reserves within its boarders, offering the tourist the full spectrum of safari hospitality, from the best five star international luxury to the local student back packer budget special - This is the best part of Kruger, don’t tell anyone.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve

The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is undoubtedly the most exclusive private game reserve in South Africa. The 65,000-hectare Sabi Sands Game Reserve is located on the south-western corner of the Kruger National Park. There are no restricting fences between the Kruger Park and Sabi Sands and the wildlife roams freely between the two game reserves.

Your Wildlife Safari cannot be complete without exposure to every facet of life in the bush. The most beautiful of Africa´s cats, the shy and elusive Leopard, is a main attraction of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, so plentiful they´re usually a common sighting. Some of the best and most exclusive private game lodges in the country are in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. The chances of seeing the Big 5 animals (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) are excellent.

Mthethomusha Game Reserve

There is a place in Africa where lion, elephant and rhinoceros, walk ancient paths once trodden by the first People of our continent, the ancient San (Bushman) race. Still living today they’re possibly the oldest root race on Earth! Their gallery of more than 200 rock frescoes is a priceless legacy. The 8 000 hectare Mthethomusha Game Reserve is situated on the south western border of the Kruger National Park. It is home to the “Big Five”, and a good variety of birds.

Mthethomusha Game Reserve was one of the very first game reserves to be built on what has become the contemporary approach to community and conservation partnerships. Established through an innovative initiative by which the then Tribal Authority of the Mphakeni tribe, under the leadership of the late Chief Charles Nkosi, gave low potential agricultural land over to the management of the KaNgwane Parks Corporation for optimal and sustainable development. This approach pioneered in South Africa the concept of close community involvement in conservation. This rugged reserve, broken by granite crags and outcrops, is clothed in three distinct woodland vegetation types which are home to a wide variety of large mammals such as , kudu , zebra , sable and nyala as well as Africa´s “Big Five”. The Wildlife at Mthethomusha Game Reserve has concentrations of larger mammals in valley bottoms, with buffalo, white rhino, impala, Burchell´s zebra and common waterbuck occurring in good numbers. Elephant range widely as do lion and leopard. Packs of nomadic African wild dog move in and out of the reserve from the adjacent Kruger National Park. Dainty klipspringer and diminutive rock elephant-shrew dwell among boulder outcrops. Mthethomusha and its privately operated Bongani Lodge is today one of the premier tourist destinations in the province.

Loskop Dam Nature Reserve

The Loskop Nature Reserve is situated 55km North of Middelburg with Groblersdal to the North and Bronkhorstspuit to the South West. At the heart of the reserve is the Loskop Irrigation Dam nestling in the Oliphants River Valley. Originally a small reserve was proclaimed around the then existing dam in the 1950's. As time passed the size of the reserve has been increased with the acquisition of neighbouring farms and now covers 23 000ha of which 2350ha or some 10% is water surface.

The Loskop Dam wall was built in the 1930's across a nearby gorge. In the 1970's the dam wall was raised, flooding more of the valley. The dam is approximately 30km long and supplies water to a vast irrigation scheme in the areas of Loskop, Groblersdal and Marble Hall. There are close to 70 species of mammals on the reserve including 3 of the 'Big Five', namely; White Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard. Because of their dwindling numbers, Oribi, White Rhino, Buffalo and Sable Antelope enjoy special protection. A number of White Rhino were re-introduced from the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal and history was made in 1964 when a calf was born in the reserve, the first to be born outside Kwazulu Natal for many years.