You can reach the Mpumalanga Highlands from Gauteng in South Africa and Mozambique, in just two to three hours drive. Notable towns in the area are Dullstroom, Lydenburg, Belfast, Ohrigstad, Machadodorp, Waterval Boven, Kaapsche Hoop and Badplaas. These charming towns and the beauty of the area attract people from far and wide, who come here for a relaxing weekend break, to fish in the clear streams or to enjoy the adventure sports available - including hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing.
Dullstroom is in fact noted as South Africa's best trout and fly fishing destination. All the hamlets are very picturesque, with stone cottages, cool trout dams and streams. The bright yellow arum lilies and 120 other indigenous species of wild flowers found here fill the whole region with a rainbow of colour every spring and autumn.
The historical importance of these towns goes back to the Anglo Boer War fought over 100 years ago. These scenic places were then the site of gory battles in which the British came and set ablaze whole towns. All that existed after the War were trenches, artillery placements, and ruined forts - some are still visible today, as are the graves of the Boer fighters and Imperial Troopers. Taking one of our Mpumalanga Highlands tours you will discover the history and the people of the area.
The towns that are replete with Boer War history are Machadodorp and Waterval Boven. Due to their strategic location - being next to the major railway line connecting the Transvaal Republic to Delagoa Bay, which is known today as Maputo - these places were scenes of fierce confrontations between the British and the Boers towards the end of the war when the Boers retreated. To get a sense of this historical place take a walk through the ZASM tunnel, through which trains used to pass, and view the cascading waterfall on the Elands River. The walk will lead you to the small town of Waterval Onder where President Paul Kruger spent a month before going into exile and subsequently dying in Austria in 1900.
Belfast is rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination. It has plenty of beautiful hiking trails, lovely gardens and monuments and also a tulip nursery. Accommodation in Mpumalanga Highlands is not a problem as you will find self-catering services as well as guesthouses, all of which are of excellent quality and very comfortable.
Touring the highlands you will find that it is filled with natural beauty and world class fly fishing areas. You can spot rare birds of the sub-continent here, go rock climbing at the best sites, and see fantastic flower displays. If you are really lucky you might spot a wild black leopard, as this is the only area in Africa where they form a breeding community that roams the valleys and hills.
Another important place to visit here is the Verloren Valei Nature Reserve, where all three species of the world's endangered cranes can be seen - the Blue Crane, South Africa's national bird, the Wattled Crane, and the Crowned Crane. The reserve has been declared a RAMSAR wetlands site.
Outside Drakensberg, the highlands are the ideal place for the avid trekker. The cliffs, rolling grasslands on the mountainside and the ravines make brilliant hiking trails. As you trek on these trails you might spot some wild animals, like leopard, African wildcat, caracal, kudu, mountain reedbuck, bushbuck, otter and duiker, and even hippo. The area is filled with birds and you might get lucky enough to spot the grey and red winged francolin, as this is one of South Africa's last breeding zones for this species.
For those interested in adventure; the cliffs around Machadodorp and Waterval Boven beckon. Here, a range of outdoor activities await you - take to the air on paragliders, hang gliders or hot air balloons, tackle the challenging rock-climbing routes or go abseiling down the cliffs; visit the hot springs amongst the red-walled canyons and set up camp in the scores of isolated campsites in the small indigenous forests and on the ledges. Most of these places can be reached via canoe safaris.
These highlands have many things to offer those who want to get away from the chaotic pace of city life. They offer an opportunity to be at one with nature and participate in many different kinds of outdoor activities. The choice of activities is so diverse and numerous that your first visit might not quench your appetite for adventure.
We have included a map of the Mpumalanga Highlands to help you plan your trip to this beautiful destination. Whether you prefer a Mpumalanga tour or simply want to book your accommodation in one of our Mpumalanga Hotels, this map will help you get to know the area better. For more general information you can visit our South Africa Home Page.
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