South Africa - Mpumalanga
Prices quoted are correct as of June 2026
Mpumalanga is the name now given to the area formerly known as the Eastern Transvaal and is one of the most scenically diverse and beautiful areas of the country.
On the one hand there is the mountainous Highveld overlooking the lush plains of the sub-tropical Lowveld or Bushveld. The province is also home to the southern portion of the Kruger National Park. The Highveld is the northern end of the Drakensburg (Dragons) Escarpment a 1,000 km (620 mile) mountain range stretching from the Eastern Cape.
At the top end of Drakensburg Escarpment is the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, home to three “must see” natural wonders.
At the southern end of the reserve is God’s Window, a breath-taking viewpoint set on top of a 700m (2,300 feet) sheer cliff offering stunning views of the Lowveld and on a clear day it’s possible to see the Mozambique border.
The Three Rondavels are three mountain peaks with slightly pointed tops, very similar to the traditional African homesteads called rondavels, they are sometimes known locally as the Three Sisters. There is a spectacular viewpoint where the Three Rondavels can be seen overlooking the Blyde River Canyon.At the top end of the canyon, at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde Rivers, are Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Some stunning erosion carvings are to be found here with wooden bridges crossing many of the chasms – although these are probably not best suited for those without a head for heights or suffering from vertigo. This point is also home to the Reserves headquarters and there are a number of exhibitions and facilities here.
I don’t usually like to single out a particular hotel but a special mention must be made for the Misty Mountain Resort along the Long Tom Pass. Set at an altitude of 1,700 m (5,600 feet) the resort offers some stunning views. There are no televisions in the rooms so you are “forced” to relax, unwind and recharge the batteries (if you really must have a TV fix there is a single set in the communal lounge). There are 15km (9 miles) of marked walking trails, quad bike trails, trout fishing and mountain bike trails.
The food in the restaurant is sublime and breakfasts are cooked to order.
Many of the towns in the area have a frontier feeling to them and a few worth visiting are Dullstroom, Lydenburg and Sabie.
Hazyview makes a good base for visiting the Kruger National Park.The Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and to put in into perspective for those who know the UK, it is almost the size of Wales. It is possible to take your own car into the reserve but it’s better if you can go on a safari tour with a guide as they know the best places to find the wildlife.
If going individually there is a mandatory conservation charge. For International visitors it is 264 rand (around £13) per adult and 132 rand (£6.50) for under 12’s plus a 1% community levy. For South African citizens and residents the charges are 66 rand (£3.30) and 33 rand (£1.65) respectively.
If you want a guided tour you are looking at paying around 4,770 rand (£235) per vehicle for a full day private tour. A full day shared tour, up to about 10 in a safari jeep, is from around 1,400 rand (£70) a head for a full day tour or 1,100 rand (£55) a head for a shared half day tour. A three hour evening tour is available from around 970 rand (£43.50) a head.One of the joys of a safari is you never know what to expect and no two trips are the same.
The “big five” Lion, Buffalo, Rhino, Leopard and Elephant are all to be found in the park along with many types of antelope, cheetahs, giraffe, zebra, warthogs and a myriad variety of glorious birds.
The park is open from 06:00 in the winter (April – September) or 05:30 in summer (October – March). If you arrive that early it can be very cold so wrap up well, conversely in the summer it can be blisteringly hot during the day. Also in the heat the animals tend to go for shelter at the height of the day so the best opportunities for sighting animals will be early morning or late afternoon / early evening.
A word of warning, the park is in a Malaria area in summer, so ensure proper precautions are taken.
Outside of the park and located in Hazyview is Elephant Whisperers which is a conservation and rescue centre for elephants. It is an enlightening experience and visitors have the chance to interact with these highly intelligent creatures.You can have your photograph taken standing between the front legs of the massive 6 ton Tembo. Staff will use your camera to take the picture so there are no hidden charges for the photographs. The one hour sessions are held daily at 09:00, 12:00 and 16:00 and cost 630 rand (£31.50) for adults and 315 rand (£15.75) for children under 12.
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