1 2 3 4 5 Limpopo & Panorama Route

The province of Mpumalanga, which means ‘place where the sun rises’, is one of South Africa's top tourist destinations, bordered by Mozambique and Swaziland in the east and Gauteng in the west. People are drawn by the scenery, the fauna and the flora.

The Panorama Route

The Panorama Route has an abundance of impressive views from the natural sites along the eastern slopes of the escarpment, where the Highveld drops down to the Lowveld, Long Tom Pass being notable. There is the viewing point of God's Window and the world's third largest canyon and biggest green canyon - the Blyde River Canyon. Other natural attractions are the Bourke's Luck Potholes and three rondavels. The towns of Lydenburg and White River are gateways to the route, which takes visitors through the town of Pilgrim's Rest, a living museum dating back to the heydays of the gold rush, as well as Sabie, Graskop, Ohrigstad and Hazyview.Nature enthusiasts can also discover cascading waterfalls while adrenaline junkies can get their next rush by bungee jumping, white water rafting or going on rigorous 4x4 trails. Gentler pursuits include hot air ballooning and walking trails.

The Highlands Meander

Mpumalanga's Highlands Meander is a nature lover's paradise, boasting South Africa's premier trout and fly-fishing area (Dullstroom), some of the sub-continent's rarest birds, some great rock climbing and most spectacular wild flower displays - all just two-hours drive from the metropolitan centre of Gauteng. It is also home to Africa's only breeding community of wild Black Leopard, who haunt the wild mountain ravines and streams that characterise the Highland Meander.

Nearby Machadodorp and Waterval Boven are rich with Boer War history. Both towns are built along the Transvaal Republic's major railway line to Delagoa Bay (modern-day Maputo), and were fiercely contested by the British as the Boers retreated towards the end of the war. Visitors can take a walk through the historic ZASM tunnel through which the trains used to pass and see a beautiful waterfall that cascades along the Elands River course. The route drops to the little town of Waterval Onder, where President Paul Kruger lived for a month before finally fleeing into exile and a lonely death in Austria in 1900.

Mpumalanga is a summer rainfall area with hot summers (October - April), especially in the lowveld regions. Mild in winter (May - September), it can become very cold in the highveld areas, although this is the very best time for game viewing in the area due to the lower density of the bush foliage and less casual water.

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Selection of Places to Stay