Sub-tropical Mpumalanga, meaning “the place where the sun rises”, has many attractions, including game-viewing, scenic drives, and historical sites and monuments. The Kruger National Park, spreading over an area of nearly 2 million hectares, contains a large variety of wildlife including the Big Five. There are many rest campswith accommodation in the Park. Reservations should be made well in advance with SA National Parks Phone: 012 428 9111. There are a number of private game reserves, including the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. These offer day and night guided tours by experienced game-rangers in open Land Rovers. Most of these reserves offer luxury accommodation.

North of Graskop along the Drakensberg escarpment is one of the great scenic wonders of South Africa, the Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes, deep cylindrical holes formed by the action of the sand and rock carried down by the rivers. God’s Window, on the edge of the escarpment, offers magnificent views across the Blyde River Canyon and the Lowveld. Among the exhibits of the Lydenburg Museum are replicas of the seven terracotta Lydenburg Heads found in the valley of the Sterkspruit and dating to the 5th century. Near Hazyview, Shangana Cultural Village is famous for its magnificent evening festival and Hippo Hollow Country Estate also offers a feast of culture at the Shangaan River Club. The newly established Highveld Heritage Route that includes towns like Chrissiesmere, Badplaas, Carolina and Ermelo boasts attractions like well-preserved San paintings, the Goliath footprint, Mushroom Rock, Natural Bridge and the deserted hamlet of Benoffoi.

Pilgrim’s Rest, an historic village which is now a National Monument, was established in 1873 when the first significant gold strike in South Africa was made in the area. The historic attractions of the old goldrush days of the town have been restored. The capital city, Nelspruit, is situated in the fertile Crocodile River Valley, in the heart of the Lowveld. The Lowveld National Botanical Garden features more than 700 naturally occurring plant species and 1,500 introduced species. Also on the R40 is the town of White River, and just outside is Casterbridge, which offers a range of choice designer stores, from art to jewellery and homeware.

The historic mining town of Barberton is older than the city of Johannesburg and was founded in 1884 as a mining camp after the discovery of gold by the Barber brothers, after whom the town is named. South Africa’s first stock exchange was located here. The Barberton Museum houses many photographs and relics of the old gold-rush era. The Makhonjwa mountains in Barberton boast the oldest rock formations in the world dating back 3,5 billion years. At Mbuzini, a momument has been built to commemorate the life and achievements of Samora Machel. The site was upgraded in 2006 and now has an exhibition centre and display.