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Mpumalanga, meaning 'place of the rising sun', cascades
from Highveld grasslands and the greater Drakensberg
escarpment down to the tropical Lowveld around Nelspruit
in the east, and the grass and wetlands around Chrissiesmeer
and Wakkerstroom in the south. Most visitors to Mpumalanga
spend a day or more in the Kruger National Park, one
of the world's biggest and finest game reserves. Nelspruit,
the provincial capital, is an important stop en route
to the Park and the many private game reserves on its
fringes, and to Maputo in Mozambique.
77,490
sq kms
3.1 million
- - this grassland area is one of the
nation's power-generating centres as well as an agricultural,
maize-growing region. Middelburg, Witbank and Stnaderton
are three of its most important towns
-
- this spectacular region contains some of country's
most beautiful scenery including the Blyde River Canyon,
God's Window, Bourke's Potholes, the restored mining
town of Pilgrims Rest and the winding road down to
the Lowveld.
-
- the Kruger Park and more than two dozen private
reserves on its border are the major feature of this
otherwise important tropical fruit and vegetable growing
region. Its major town is Nelspruit, the provincial
capital
- - this marshy grassland region between
the high- and lowveld has become an important eco-tourist
mecca. Bird watching is especially good in the Wakkerstroom
area
- - covering one-fifth of the park.
The area between Satara and Crocodile Bridge is the
most scenic and best for game viewing. Three of the
five biggest camps, including Skukuza, are found here
- - the 20 km canyon is the third
largest green canyon in the world, and among the most
beautiful.
- - a beautifully restored, gold mining
village, now a national monument.
- via Sabie and
the Long Tom Pass.
-
- surrounded by wetlands, a haven for bird lovers
and wild flower enthusiasts.
to and from KM International Airport
SA Airlink, Nationwide and SA Express between them
run regular
flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town
There are also flights to Malelane and Skukuza
to Nelspruit The Komati Train runs daily between
Johannesburg and Komatipoort on the Mozambique border
and from
Komati to Maputo ( 752 9257)
from Nelspruit Greyhound (013753 2100) and Translux
013 752 5134) run to Johannesburg daily
CityBug (013 744 0128) operates a shuttle to Pretoria/
Johannesburg
Three principal routes - the N4, N11 and R40 -
link every destination in the Province. Travellers
from Gauteng should
use the N4. Roads in the province are tarred and -
with one or two
exceptions - of a high standard.
(Caution: Malaria is prevalent in the low-lying areas
of the province. Visitors should take precautions
or consult a chemist or doctor)
Mpumalanga Tourism Authority 013 752 7001
Lowveld Information, Nelspruit 013 755 1350
Nelspruit Publicity Association 0 13 755 1988
Pilgrim's Rest Information Centre 013 768 1060
Badplaas Tourism Association 017 844 1157
National Parks (for Kruger Park reservations0 012
343 1991 (Pretoria)
021 422 2810 (Cape Town)
Opening times Closing times
Summer 05 30 18 30
Winter 06 00 18 00
Camp times vary, so check in advance (call 013 752
4547)
For a selection of three-, four- five- and six-day
tours of the Kruger and private game parks in Mpumalanga,
call the following
Comsaf Tours and Safaris 011 933 1062
Game Encounters 011 462 7536
Thompsons Indaba Safaris 013 737 7115
Honeysuckle Holidays 011 662 1492
Indabushe Tours & Safaris 011 478 2483
Mpumalanga Parks Board (for bookings 012 343 1991
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
Malelane Airport 013 790 0584
Police (Nelspruit) 013 759 1000
Hospital (Nelspruit) 013 759 0500
Pharmacy (Nelspruit 013 741 1719
Mediclinic (Nelspruit) 013 744 7150
Mpumalanga has three modern casinos, at
- Nelspruit - Emnotweni Casino on the R40
- Secunda - Graceland Hotel Casino & Country
Club on the R546
- Witbank - Champions Casino on the N4 east.
Links to Useful
Sites
www.mpumalanga.com
Eastern
Cape | Free
State | Gauteng
| KwaZulu
Natal | Limpopo
Northern
Cape | North
West | Mpumalanga
| Western
Cape
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