South Africa | Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga, the land of the rising sun, is home to 3 million South Africans. As the fastest growing province in the country, this area is a bustling zone of entrepreneurship, economic development and tourism. At the centre of Mpumalanga's new found wealth is the R35 billion Maputo Corridor development initiative which includes major infrastructure projects and has opened up active trade with neighbouring Mozambique.

But it is the scale and diversity of natural beauty that draws travellers to explore this land of indigenous forest, river gorges, towering mountain peaks and breathtaking views. The serene grandeur of the Drakensberg, plunging waterfalls, gurgling mountain streams and colourful flowering shrubs will invigorate the heart and mind of any visitor to the region.

Across the eastern reaches of Mpumalanga province stretches South Africa's premiere wildlife conservancy - the Kruger National Park. Covering almost 2 million hectares, the park is home to more species of wildlife than any conservation area on the continent and is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. Kruger is home to an impressive list of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.

It is a haven to thousands of Africa's big cats - lion, leopard and cheatah - which roam freely through the wide range of vegetation. You are also almost certain to see elephant, hippo, rhino and large numbers of impala, zebra and buffalo. The park features an extremely good network of tarred roads for self-drive tours and a wide range of accommodation options, from fully equipped chalets to tented camps. Travellers can enjoy walking safaris, game drives and many other eco-adventure activities including wilderness trails, mountain bike trails and 4x4 excursions.

Along the park's western border is a selection of private reserves and lodges which share land with Kruger's wildlife. Whilst expensive, they offer luxury accommodation, superb cuisine and enhanced opportunities for 'Big Five' sightings during shorter two or three day visits.

Mpumalanga is home to perhaps one of the most spectacular canyons on the African continent - the Blyde River Canyon. Galleries of sandstone cliffs rise up to 800m above the valley floor and are dominated by three large formations - the Three Rondawels. The river flows through the gorge into the Blyderivierspoort Dam conservancy - a 227ha reserve hosting a rich variety of animal and bird life.

Above the canyon lies one of the country's most remarkable geological phenomena, the Bourkes Luck potholes. Surreal rock carvings caused by thousands of years of water erosion surround a series of clear rock pools, many of whose depths have yet to be discovered.

The gateway to this 'Panorama' area of Mpumalanga is the Long Tom Pass - a spectacular highway route that climbs to 2150m before winding through extensive forest down the escarpment to the towns of Sabie, Graskop and Pilgrim's Rest. This area is rich in stories of the discovery of alluvial gold in the 1870s. Some extraordinary nuggets were found in the first few years of the rush including the famous 'Lilley' which weighed in at 119 ounces! The entire town of Pilgrim's Rest is a living museum and has been declared a national monument.

There is plenty to keep the visitor interested in this area. Don't miss the view from God's Window - a cleft in the edge of the escarpment which provides panoramas across the Lowveld. Pinnacle Rock, Mac-Mac Falls, Christmas Pools and Kadisha Valley will appeal to nature lovers. If you overnight in the area, a day trip into the Kruger National Park for game viewing is a just short drive through the Numbi Gate.

Further west and easily accessible by car from Gauteng, is a string of quaint historical towns that form the Highlands Meander. The Dullstroom area is South Africa's premier trout fishing destination with well-stocked rivers and streams and a good selection of guest farms that cater specifically for anglers. In spring, over 100 species of wild flowers carpet the hills and valleys of this area including the beautiful yellow Arum Lilly.

Towns on the Meander are rich in Boer War history and perhaps the best way to experience the area is a trip on the Oosterlyjn Express steam train from Machadodorp to Waterval Boven. You'll stop for a pub lunch in the hotel that served as Boer leader Paul Kruger's command centre.

This corner of Mpumalanga is also a favourite location for modern day adventurers. Paragliders, hangliders, balloonists and abseilers challenge the cliffs and rocky promontories while canooists and rock climbers explore the gorges and secluded waterways that provide a perfect getaway to nature at its best.

Mpumalanga's history is steeped in the culture of traditional Ndebele tribes. The Ndebele people are known the world over for the colourful patterns they paint on their houses. High quality bead work and crafts can also be bought at cultural villages like the one at Botshabelo Nature Reserve near Middelburg.

As the land of the rising sun stretches south, it borders Mozambique and Swaziland. This region, known as the Wild Frontier, can take visitors on a journey of discovery with its heritage trails and hiking or 4x4 trails or pamper the weary at the hot springs and hydro spas of Badplaas. The first people to discover these springs were Swazi tribesmen who called it emanzana (healing waters). Today the sulphurous springs still pump out 30 000 litres of hot water (50 degrees celsius) per hour.

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