Mpumalanga is known for its spectacular landscapes and its teeming game reserves. It also has an extraordinarily rich and vivid history which has not been previously recognized. The South African province’s valued heritage and its contribution to tourism, education, and economic development remain undeveloped.
Mpumalanga (/əmˌpuːməˈlɑːŋɡə/) is a province of South Africa. The name means “East“, or literally “The Place Where the Sun Rises” in the Nguni languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. It shares borders with the South African provinces of Limpopo to the north, Gauteng to the west, the Free State to the southwest, and KwaZulu-Natal to the south. The capital is Mbombela.
Mpumalanga was formed in 1994, when the area that was the Eastern Transvaal was merged with the former bantustans KaNgwane, KwaNdebele and parts of Lebowa and Gazankulu. Although the contemporary borders of the province were only formed at the end of apartheid, the region and its surroundings have a history that extends back thousands of years. Much of its history, and current significance is as a region of trade.
The liberation movement turned leading party, the African National Congress (ANC) came into power in Mpumalanga after white minority rule ended. A program of land redistribution, aimed at granting land back to the black communities who were forcibly moved during apartheid, had redistributed tens of thousands of hectares to these communities and their descendants. However, the process has been marked by corruption, controversy and has been seen as inadequate to address the extent of apartheid spatial planning.
In 2001, 1,270 hectares of the Boomplaats farm near Mashishing was the first farm in South Africa to be expropriated.
Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest conservation area
The diverse and special flora and fauna of the province enjoys protection in a range of nature reserves.
• Barberton Nature Reserve
• Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
• Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, previously known as Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park. This international game park brings together some of the best and most established wildlife areas in southern Africa. The park is managed as an integrated unit across an unprecedented three international boundaries which includes the Kruger National Park (South Africa), Limpopo National Park (Mozambique) and Gonarezhou National Park (Zimbabwe).
• Lowveld National Botanical Garden in Mbombela
• Sabi Sand Game Reserve, which is built up of numerous private reserves: Nottens Bush Camp,[30] Idube Safari Lodge, Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge, Djuma Game Reserve, Exeter Game Lodge, Inyati Private Game Reserve, Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, Londolozi Game Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve, Savanna Private Game Reserve and Ulusaba Game Lodge.
• Verloren Vallei near Dullstroom
Many species of plants are unique to the different geological formations within Mpumalanga. Some examples of these formations include serpentines of Barberton Mountains, norites of Sekhukhuneland, quartzites of Blyde River Canyon, and the dolomites in the northern plateaus.
68% of land area in the province is used by agriculture. The climatic contrasts between the drier Highveld region, with its cold winters, and the hot, humid Lowveld allow for a variety of agricultural activities. Mpumalanga has been an important supplier of fruit and vegetables for local and international markets for decades. A history of dispossession mean that farming land is largely white owned, although policies of land redistribution era aim to address this.
Crops include maize, wheat, sorghum, barley, sunflower seed, soybeans, macadamias, groundnuts, sugar cane, vegetables, coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, citrus, subtropical and deciduous fruit.[35] Natural grazing covers approximately 14% of Mpumalanga. The main products are beef, mutton, wool, poultry and dairy.
Farming in the province is driven by both a combination of seasonal, permanent and temporary labourers. Conditions on farms vary widely but seasonal and temporary workers, many of whom are migrant workers from nearby Mozambique, face intense insecurity.
Forestry is extensive around Sabie and Graskop. Located near the forests, Ngodwana is the site of one of South Africa’s largest paper mills (Sappi).
Extensive mining is done and the minerals found include gold, platinum group metals, silica, chromite, vanadiferous magnetite, argentiferous zinc, antimony, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, tin, coal, andalusite, chrysotile asbestos, kieselguhr, limestone, magnesite, talc and shale.
Gold was first discovered in Mpumalanga province in 1883 by Auguste Roberts in the mountains surrounding what is now Barberton. Gold is still mined in the Barberton area today.
Mpumalanga accounts for 83% of South Africa’s coal production. 90% of South Africa’s coal consumption is used for electricity generation and the synthetic fuel industry. Coal power stations are in proximity to the coal deposits. A coal liquefaction plant in Secunda (Secunda CTL) is one of the country’s two petroleum-from-coal extraction plants, which is operated by the synthetic fuel company Sasol.
The high density of coal power stations on the Mpumalanga highveld means that the region has the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution in the world.
Mpumalanga is popular with tourists. Kruger National Park, established in 1898 for the protection of Lowveld wildlife, covering 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi), is a popular destination. The other major tourist attractions include the Sudwala Caves and the Blyde River Canyon.
Many activities including the big jump, mountain and quad biking, horse trails, river rafting and big game viewing are endemic to the region. This is “Big Five” territory. Towns in the Lowveld are Barberton, Mbombela, White River, Sabie, Graskop, Hazyview, Malelane, Pilgrim’s Rest, Lydenburg and Nkomazi.
In 2008, a Haute Cuisine route was formed, trickling from Mbombela down to Hazyview. The Lowveld Gourmet Route covers the four top fine dining restaurants the area has to offer. The restaurants include Summerfields Kitchen, Oliver’s Restaurant, Orange and Salt.
Mpumalanga is home to a diverse range of cultures, including Swazi, Ndebele, Afrikaans, Tsonga, Zulu, Mapulana, Portuguese and Pedi communities.
The Ndebele Cultural Village at Botshabelo is a renowned center of cultural heritage, with displays of Ndebele house painting. Ndebele 
artist Esther Mahalangu gained international acclaim for her artwork rooted in Ndebele traditions and geometric patterns. Prominent South African artist Gerard Sekoto was born in Botshabelo.
Many celebrated South African musicians, such as Ray Phiri, Rebecca Malope and Pretty Yende, are from Mpumalanga.
Since 2003, Mpumalanga’s capital city, Mbombela, has hosted the Afrikaans national arts festival Innibos. The festival features music, comedy, arts, crafts and theatre.
Mpumalanga Community Information Centre’s
Community Centers have been established throughout the province for the purpose of providing local information and booking services to incoming visitors. These centers are available to assist in all possible ways and will ensure that your visit to our Province is an enjoyable one.
|
CENTRE
|
REGION / TOWN |
TELEPHONE |
| Badplaas Tourist Information | Badplaas | +27 (0)17 844 1630 |
| Barberton Tourist Information | Barberton | +27 (0)13 712 2880 |
| Big Five Country Tourism | Lowveld | +27 (0)13 737 8191 |
| Belfast Visitors Information Centre | Belfast | +27 (0)13 253 0408 |
| Carolina Tourist Information | Carolina | +27 (0)83 450 1563 |
| Cosmos Country Tourism Centre | Secunda | +27 (0)17 620 6282 |
| Chrissiesmeer Information | Chrissiesmeer | +27 (0)17 843 1631 |
| Dullstroom Accommodation | Dullstroom | +27 (0)13 254 0020 |
| Dullstroom Reservations | Dullstroon | +27 (0)13 254 0254 |
| Ermelo Tourism Office | Ermelo | +27 (0)17 819 4707 |
| Golden Monkey – Big 5 Reservations | Sabie | +27 (0)13 737 7415 |
| Graskop Info & Reservations | Graskop | +27 (0)13 767 1833 |
| Graskop Panorama Reservations | Graskop | +27 (0)13 767 1377 |
| Emalahleni (Witbank) Municipality | Emalahleni (Witbank) | +27 (0)13 690 6911 |
| Komatipoort Information Centre | Komatipoort | +27 (0)13 793 7218 |
| Kruger Park South Information Office | Malelane | +27 (0)13 790 1193 |
| Kruger Safaris Information Office | Hazyview | +27 (0)13 737 6661 |
| Lowveld Tourism (Nelspruit) | Nelspruit | +27 (0)13 755 1988 |
| Lowveld Tourism (White River) | White River | +27 (0)13 750 1073 |
| Mac Mac Panorama Safaris & Info | Graskop | +27 (0)13 764 2376 |
| Middelburg Tourism Information | Middelburg | +27 (0)13 243 2253 |
| Milly’s Farm Stall N4 | Machadodorp | +27 (0)13 256 9286 |
| Piet Retief Tourism Association | Pilgrim’s Rest | +27 (0)13 768 1060 |
| Trips SA – Reservations & Information | Sabie | +27 (0)13 764 1177 |
| Wakkerstroom Tourism Office | Wakkerstroom | +27 (0)17 730 0606 |