Ten places to visit in the Lowveld

Are you intending to spend the festive season in the Lowveld, but do not know which paces to visit? Do not despair about making last-minute bookings.

The Lowveld is rich with adventurous destinations that can change your unplanned holiday to an experience of a lifetime.

Here are 10 destinations that you can visit without making any bookings:

1. Elephant Whispers

Situated in the Sandford Conservancy on the bank of the Sabie River in Hazyview, Elephant Whispers offers an experience of a lifetime which will leave you with a renewed respect and admiration for these gentle giants of Africa.

Interaction offers you the opportunity to feel their constantly curious trunks, touch their rough skin, exchange trunk greetings and offer tasty treats, while learning about their behaviour and history from their handlers

2. Kruger National Park

Kruger is South Africa’s most exciting African safari destination. Steeped in legend and history, the iconic Kruger National Park is waiting for you to explore its vast landscapes and spectacular African wildlife.

3. Barberton Museum

The town of Barberton is rich in ancient and modern history. Some of the oldest rocks preserved on earth are found here in the Barberton Mountains.

The area was first inhabited by the Stone Age people and later the Swazi, with their rich culture under the leadership of King Sobhuza. In 1884 gold prospectors moved in when the ore was discovered by the Barbers.

4. Blyde River Canyon

While it is difficult to compare canyons worldwide, Blyde is one of the largest canyons on earth, and it may be the largest “green canyon” due to its lush subtropical foliage.

It has some of the deepest precipitous cliffs of any canyon on the planet. It is the second largest one in Africa, after the Fish River Canyon, and is known as one of the Great Wonders of Nature on the continent.

5. Three rondavels

The Three Rondavels on Mpumalanga’s Panorama Route give a spectacular view over the Blyde River Canyon. Shaped like traditional African beehive huts, they form three huge pinnacles of rock rising above the canyon below.

When you stand on the viewpoint, 1 380m above sea level with the Blyde River Canyon below, you’ll still be looking up at those three distinctive peaks which tower 700m above the surrounding countryside.

6. Bourke’s Luck

These potholes are one of the major tourist attractions in South Africa. Situated at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde rivers in the Blyde River Canyon, t meeting point of these rivers has, over hundreds of years, caused swirling eddies that have shaped these magnificent natural wonders.

7. Lowveld National Botanical Garden

The botanical garden, Mpumalanga’s only national botanical garden, is a must-see for its many plant species as well as the largest collection of cycads in Africa.

The yellow bush lilies and the scarlet display of the vivid flame creeper are just some of the garden’s delights.
Did you know?
The entire botanical garden has been designed for wheelchair access.

8. Chimp Eden

Situated within the beautiful 1 000 hectare Umhloti Nature Reserve, 15 kilometres outside Mbombela, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) South Africa Chimpanzee Sanctuary is home to chimps that have been misplaced from their natural habitats in Africa.

If you have visited Chimpanzee Eden it is something you will never forget. It started about two to three year ago named ” The Jane Goodall Intstitute”. Chimps get rescued from all over the world specially from Angola.

They actually buy and spends thousands of rand to get these poor chimps that get beaten, locked up in very small cages and just neglected back to South Africa where they are kept in safe huge forest enclosures in Mbombela.

9. Perry’s Bridge Reptile Centre

Do you ever wonder what the largest serpent in the world is? Or want to find out how and what they eat? Here you will find these answers and a whole lot more intriguing discoveries.

Situated at the corner of the R536 and R40, Hazyview, the park is open from 10:00 to 17:00, seven days a week.

10. Shangaan Cultural Village
Visit the Shangana Cultural Village and discover the traditional world of the fascinating Shangaan people, descended from Shaka Zulu and the Tsonga tribe.

This Mpumalanga cultural village is centred around a busy craft market and includes a recreation of the founding monarch’s royal residence.