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 Mpumalanga
Region
Accommodation is this
region, Click Here.
Formerly known as the Eastern Transvaal, is one of
South Africa's
top tourist destinations. People are drawn by the magnificent scenery,
by the fauna and flora and by the saga of the 1870s gold rush era and a
wealth of fascinating tribal legends. Aptly know as "Paradise Country",
few regions in the world can match the extraordinary beauty of the
Lowveld and escarpment. Mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers,
waterfalls and forests characterise the landscape. This is also Big Game
Country, the setting for dozens of sanctuaries teeming with wildlife and
birds. Among them, the Kruger National Park is world renowned, as are
several of the luxurious private reserves on its western boundary. The
entire area offers exceptional opportunities for bird-watching, hiking,
horse-riding and fishing. Streams once panned for gold have become the
haunts of eager anglers and lazy trout.
Steeped in the history of pioneers, hunters and fortune seekers,
fascinating gold rush towns abound. Barberton and Pilgrim's Rest are
among the most famous. A special, additional dimension occurs in the
Middleveld region which is inhabited by Ndebele people, notable for
their traditional costumes and attractively decorated houses.
 En
route to the Kruger National Park through Mpumalanga, you have the
advantage of some stunning scenery. Turn off the N4 to the village of
Dullstroom, travel over the Long Tom Pass and its 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 before continuing to Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve. In the
reserve, you can feast your eyes on the 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. From there, it's a
short and easy drive to some of the finest private game reserves in the
country and Orpen Gate to the Kruger National Park |
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 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 jacaranda and flamboyant 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. Hotels
and caravan parks in town and the vicinity are convenient for stopovers,
and several days can be profitably spent exploring the surrounding
countryside. Hiking trails criss-cross this scenic area in every
direction.
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