Mpumalanga: “Where the Sun Rises”

Eeeee… I finally made it to Africa!!  My sixth continent and the one that intrigues me the most.  My parents are traveling with me as we explore South Africa’s highlights over the next sixteen days.  We started our adventure in the Mpumalanga province located in the northeastern corner of the country.

Mpumalanga, meaning “where the sun rises,” is known for Kruger National Park and the neighboring private game reserves, which provide the best and most satisfying game experiences in South Africa.  But the region has more to offer beyond safaris, including an interesting history marked with local wars and international battles over land ownership and a gold rush that defines the now historic little towns.  And then there’s the scenery of the Panorama Route where waterfalls, gorges, canyons and endless views over the rolling green hills beckon.

Blyde River canyon is definitely one of the highlights.  The world’s third largest canyon… and the world’s greenest thanks to the lush vegetation.  The Three Rondawels are also impressive… rock formations resembling the thatch African huts of the same name.

Bourke’s Luck Potholes, cylinder shaped holes that have been carved into unique shapes by whirlpools of the converging rivers, is another popular stop on the route.  The water has a greenish hue and makes for a stunning sight.

We also hit three of the countless waterfalls in the region, each one offering their beauty from a different perspective.  God’s Window, named after the window-like opening in the rock, was our last stop providing a vast view of the lowveld from the edge of the escarpment, which drops off almost vertically.

We hired a driver/guide for our Panorama tour and lucked out with Trevor, a Mpumalanga local who shared a lot of background on his culture, lifestyle and history of the region.  While we enjoyed everything we saw, we all agreed, he was the highlight of our day.  I really appreciate these opportunities to spend time with the locals, because it allows you to connect with your destination on a deeper, more intimate level.

Outside the Panorama Route, the historic towns of Mpumalanga are also popular stops on an itinerary.  Pilgrim’s Rest is a tiny village that looks like it’s been frozen in time… 1870 to be exact, when prospectors hoping to make their fortunes in the gold fields brought this town to life.  Today the entire village is a museum and protected as a provincial heritage site.  The one main street lined with old storefronts, homes and market stalls is very touristy and a popular stop for tour buses.

Sabie, Hazyview, Nelspruit and Graskop are all other popular towns on an itinerary.  We decided to stay one night in Sabie and one night in Hazyview, thinking it would allow us to experience more of the region, but I would recommend making one town your home base because you can easily explore the region from any of the area’s cities.  In Sabie we stayed at the Sabie Town House, which is somewhat secluded from the main business district of the town and without a car, we decided to join the other guests for the house braai, South African’s version of barbecue.  The South African rugby team just so happened to be playing England that night, so we all gathered in the bar area to watch the match and then sat down to a delicious dinner.  We really enjoyed the opportunity to share a home-cooked meal of local specialities with fellow travelers while learning more about them and their itineraries.