Mpumalanga

• Highveld - From Gauteng to the Escarpment. The Highveld is of great industrial importance to South Africa with coal mining, steel mills, power stations and the Sasol oil-from-coal plants.
• Escarpment - One of the primary tourist destinations in Mpumalanga, the escarpment of the Drakensberg running from the border with Limpopo in the north to Eswatini (Swaziland) in the south, offers dramatic scenery, trout fishing, history and nature in abundance. The escarpment forms a dramatic boundary between the Highveld at around 1800 m above sea level and the Lowveld at around 800 m above sea level.
• Lowveld - Between the Escarpment and Mozambique includes the Kruger National Park and many private game reserves.

• 🌍 Mbombela — The provincial capital, and a major stopover point for tourists travelling to Kruger National Park and to Mozambique
• 🌍 Barberton — With some of the oldest rock formations in the world at around 3.5 billion years.
• 🌍 Sabie — A popular tourist destination known for its scenery and beautiful waterfalls.
• 🌍 Witbank — A coal-mining city en route from the Gauteng province to the Kruger National Park, with a casino.
• 🌍 Hazyview — 44 km from the Skukuza gate to the Kruger National Park, and renowned for its large banana and macadamia nut industries.
• 🌍 Lydenburg — At the foot of the Long Tom pass, it is the centre of the South African fly-fishing industry.
• 🌍 Belfast — One of the coldest towns in South Africa, it is renowned for its excellent trout fishing conditions.
• 🌍 Dullstroom — One of South Africa's premier flyfishing destinations.
• 🌍 Graskop — On the Paorama Route on edge of the escarpment, close to God's Window viewpoint.
• 🌍 Malalane — Halfway between Mbombela and Komatipoort at the Malalane Gate Entrance to the Kruger National Park.
• 🌍 Komatipoort — On the border of South Africa and Mozambique, near the Crocodile Bridge entrance to the Kruger National Park.
• 🌍 Machadodorp — It has a natural radioactive spring that is reputed to have powerful healing qualities.
• 🌍 Pilgrim's Rest — Historical town with many original buildings from the 1873 gold rush.
• 🌍 Secunda — A town built amidst the coalfields of Mpumalanga.
• 🌍 Waterval Boven — A village popular with rock climbers, mountain bikers, fly fishermen and anybody who just wants to enjoy nature.
• 🌍 White River — A farming town that can be used as a base for exploring Kruger National Park, the Lowveld and the Panorama Route/Blyde River Canyon.

• 🌍 Blyde River Canyon — the third largest canyon in the world, with geological formations.
• 🌍 Kruger National Park — one of the main attractions of South Africa, it is considered the flagship of South African National Parks
• 🌍 Songimvelo Game Reserve — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a landscape of volcanic and sedimentary rock, and home to some of the world's oldest rock art
• 🌍 Perdekop —
• 🌍 Schoemanskloof — the Schoemanskloof pass is one of the most beautiful passes in South Africa
• 🌍 Sabi Sands Game Reserve — a 65,000-ha private game reserve next to the Kruger National Park

Mpumalanga is a Swazi word, meaning "there where the sun rises".

Mpumalanga is important for South Africa's economy, especially tourism. Tourist going to the south of the Kruger National Park enter the park here and the National Road to Mozambique also goes through here. It is also the major gateway for tourist going to/coming from Eswatini.

As with the rest of South Africa, English is commonly used and all you need to travel.

The dominant indigenous language in the region is SiSwati. A few Siswati words you might encounter or would want to use:

• Sawubona - Hello
• Sala kahle - Goodbye
• Angivisisi - I don't understand.
• Ngiyabonga - Thank you.
• Wamukelekile - You're welcome.

• The spectacular views from God's Window on the edge of the escarpment.
• 🌍 The Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Eden (Chimp Eden), Umhloti Nature Reserve (about 16 km from Mbombela along the R40 towards Baberton), ☏ +27 13 745-7406, fax: +27 13 745-7406, info@janegoodall.co.za. A 1,000-ha game reserve and animal sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees. Tour: R240 per adult, R110 per child (6-12), R180 per pensioner (over 65), child under 6 years free. (updated Apr 2021)

• Blyde River Canyon. This canyon is the third largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the USA and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia. A reasonably priced boat trip on the lake is available and well worth doing. 
• Kruger National Park. The Kruger National Park covers over 20,000 km² and is one of the main tourist attractions in South Africa. 
• Pilgrim's Rest, ☏ +27 13 768-1211. Pilgrim's Rest is a small historical town restored to what it would have look like during the gold rush era. 
• Sudwala caves (Follow the R539 to Sabie from the N4), ☏ +27 13 733-4152, info@sudwalacaves.co.za. At 240 million years old, these are the oldest known cave system in the world. The largest cave in this system is the P. R. Owen Hall and is 70 m in diameter and 37 m high. There are daily 1-hour tours and a monthly 5-hour tour that takes one up to 2 km into the cave system. Adjacent to the caves is Dinosaur Park with replicas of all the dino favorites. 

• Rock Climbing

• Biltong made of game, like Kudu, Gemsbok or Elephant.
• Kota(Bunny chows)

Amarula Liquor

Be aware of animals and traffic while driving the passes at night.

Malaria may occur in the Lowveld regions. Consult a travel clinic or your doctor for the latest information and preventative measures. Also see the Mosquitoes travel topic.