The Cultural Heartland of Mpumalanga is a place to immerse oneself in the time-honoured cultural traditions of the Ndebele people in a setting of game reserves, dams and unique vegetation. There is superb big game viewing from the water and world-class fishing opportunities which combine to make up an exceptional Mpumalanga attraction.

It is the home of the Ndebele people and a way of life that has remained unchanged for centuries, one of South Africa's most exciting cultural experiences awaits you. Colourful geometric Ndebele art is sold from Cape Town to Cairo, in New York, Paris, London, Milan and all over the world.

For total immersion head for Siyabuswa, a small town where Ndebele traditions have been completely maintained and then take your pick of the cultural tours on offer. By the time you've visited all the must-see places − Kghodwana Traditional Ndebele Village, Kgoshi Mathebe Royal Kraal, Nzundza Mabhoko Royal Kraal, Mthambothini Royal Residence − you'll have made a deep and lasting cultural connection. Siyabuswa also lies close to Mabusa Nature Reserve, Mdala Nature Reserve, Mkhombo Dam and Nature Reserve and the SS Shoksana Nature Reserve.

Another cultural hotspot is Botshabelo Mission Station in Middelburg. At the Botshabelo Historical Village, you can have a good meal and absorb the sights and sounds of an old-fashioned trading post complete with blacksmiths, wagon makers and horse carts. The Botshabelo Mission Reserve also contains the best stands of Lanatus cycads in Mpumalanga. These protected plants transform the countryside in summer with their silver blooms.

If you head deeper into the heartland of Mpumalanga, you will come across the Loskop Dam situated within the malaria-free Loskop Dam Nature Reserve. Here, over 70 mammal species including buffalo, white rhino and leopard roam free through 23 000 hectares of pristine bushveld while raptors circle overhead.

But what really makes Loskop a fantastic Mpumalanga attraction is seeing the game up close and personal by boat. You can also enjoy some of the best fishing anywhere. Every year, in September/October, around 1 500 anglers converge on Loskop for the Light Tackle Boat competition, in the hope of landing a prize-winning carp, bream, catfish, eel, yellow fish or mudfish.

It is in the Cultural Heartland that both locals and foreigners get to enjoy the warm spirit of Mpumalanga through the Ndebele people’s inherent creativity, which has made the Cultural Heartland area legendary with their bright geometric artworks.

The Cultural Heartland has a typical subtropical climate and is an all year round type of area offering much to see in any season. Winter (May-September) is the best time to visit for game-viewing because the grass and vegetation is low and scant and it's easier to spot game. Summer is lovely for watersports and touring the cultural villages, whilst the Cultural Heartland Winter temperatures are moderate, ranging from about 8 to 24 °C and the summer temperatures range between 16 and 35 °C.