Formally known as the Eastern Transvaal, Mpumalanga is considered to be one of the most geographically diverse and unbelievably beautiful places in South Africa.
Visit the world’s most famous game reserve, climb the world’s third-highest canyon, explore the world’s oldest cave and spend the night in the world’s best private game lodges - Mpumalanga is the place to go. Mpumalanga is home to exciting towns, including Pilgrim's Rest, Nelspruit, Witbank, Belfast, Dullstroom, Hazyview, Sabie, White River and Waterval-Boven - to name but a few.
This province is home to The Kruger National Park (big five country), exquisite panoramic views, mountains, rivers, caves, trout fishing and birding opportunities, eco-tourism, adventure holidays and the rich offerings of the local Ndebele and Swazi cultures.
From a geological perspective, it was the ripping away of Antactica and Madagascar at the Blyde River Canyon that caused the continent to tilt, upward, ridding it of the great inland sea that is now the Highveld. Mpumalanga has the oldest rock formations known to man, providing proof beyond doubt that this is the cradle of humankind.
But it is not only about the wonderful landscapes and wildlife - it is about the people who witnessed and shaped the development of this great land. The legends of King Solomon's Mines and Queen Sheba, supported by temples and astronomical observatories on mountain tops, point to an ancient civilisation that, to this day, is still not understood.
The ancient communities that lived on floating villages in what is today known as Chrissiesmeer, South Africa's lake district, the pioneering gold diggers and wagon train drivers forging their way to Delagoa Bay in Mozambique, all helped define this pioneering spirit that makes Mpumalanga unique.
Spend a little time browsing through our unique history and heritage - and then come and visit us.
And when you do, take the time to step off the beaten track and see for yourself why Mpumalanga is recognised as one of the most unique tourism destinations on earth.
Mpumalanga - A Pioneering Spirit
Mpumalanga means 'the place where the sun rises', and while it may be among South Africa's smallest provinces, what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in spectacular natural diversity.
Not only is Mpumalanga home to the world's most famous game park, the world's third-deepest canyon and the world's oldest cave system, the region is also dotted with numerous game reserves teeming with flora and fauna.
Mpumalanga is an ancient land, with evidence of human habitation stretching back 100,000 years, and its first major kingdoms and mining empires beginning 46,000 years ago. Its ruined cities, cave paintings, royal tombs, and ancient trade routes are only now being recorded by archaeologists, historians and anthropologists. The popular theories that Mpumalanga was settled by an ancient sea-faring Hindu culture 40,000 years ago is supported by temples and astronomical observatories on mountain tops, local place names, and a reverence for cattle amongst our people.
These have created wonderful mystique about the region, and has also given rise to legends of King Solomon's Mines, which were believed to be near the gold-rush city of Barberton, and the mythical Queen Sheba - after whom the region's oldest operating gold mine is named.
Whilst Mpumalanga is recognised as the iconic wildlife and bush destination, the wonderful climate and spectacular natural attributes of the province have created the perfect ingredients for adventure.
