Mpmumalanga Province in South Africa The Best Parts
Located in the northeast of the country, Mpumalanga is home to close to three million people along with the most famous safari park in the world; the Kruger National Park. However, there is always much more to Mpumalanga than the Kruger National Park.
The province is truly a striking landlocked province that offers magnificent panoramas and a good amount of wildlife. This is the heart of South Africa’s safari territory and forms part of the Lowveld and Highveld.
Lowveld is the region below 1,000 m above sea level. It is basically open forest interspersed with tall grass and abundant game. Both broadleaf and thorny trees are present in this low-lying subtropical environment.
In the far north of Mpumalanga, the legendary Baobab trees reign over the sky line. The long, slow-moving rivers are reduced to secluded ponds in the dry season, which is undoubtedly when wildlife gathers, making it a perfect time for game viewing.
The Highveld is a bit cooler, with rolling grasslands, wild plants and lots of pine plantations. Trout fishing is excellent from the dams and streams near Dullstroom and Lydenberg.
Mpumalanaga’s number one destination is undoubtedly the Kruger. This vast desert is made up of an area as large as Israel and is also legendary for having the largest variety of wildlife varieties in Africa; 140 species of mammals, 500 types of birds and about 300 species of trees. Campsites and game lodges are available.
Along the park boundaries there are quite a few private game reserves offering 5 star game drives. These hostels provide fantastic accommodation and tend to be much less crowded. Their safari trucks can also go off the road something that is not authorized within the national parks.
The province is also home to a section of the mighty UKlahlamba Mountains and right here you can see the Blyde River Canyon. It is the third largest canyon in the world. The landscapes are impressive with the viewpoint of ‘Gods Window’ being the best place to contemplate this spectacular panorama.
Mpumalanga is probably a place for those seeking the tremendous outdoors with fabulous safaris, stunning scenery, not to mention hiking, biking, and fishing.