Why Mpumalanga’s Lesser Known Destinations Offer Rich History Nature And Scenic Beauty

Take the road less travelled and explore the diverse offerings of Mpumalanga.

1. Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site

The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains was inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site on July 2, 2018. The site comprises 40% of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, one of the world’s oldest geological structures. It represents the best-preserved succession of volcanic and sedimentary rock dating back more than three billion years, when the first continents were starting to form on the primitive Earth.

It also features meteor-impact fallback breccias resulting from the impact of meteorites formed just after the Great Bombardment (4,6 to 3,8 billion years ago). Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains is South Africa’s 10^th World Heritage Site, and the first for Mpumalanga.

2. Geotrail

The Geotrail allows you to step back in time and explore what the surface of our planet would have looked like 3,5 billion years ago. Before man, before the dinosaurs, when the first life forms were only beginning to appear and the planet was a far more hostile place. Along the route, you will see evidence of the first life visible to the naked eye, of superhot volcanoes, ancient tsunamis and what could be the first land. It is impossible to overstate the importance of the Geotrail, as these rocks only occur in two places on Earth and the other is totally inaccessible.

The Geotrail starts just outside Barberton at the intersection between the R40 and R38 and continues all the way along the R40 to the Swaziland (Eswatini) border. There are 11 stops along the route, each with information boards. The route takes around five hours to do, so pack a picnic and use the picnic sites along the way. It is free for those doing a self-drive tour, the costs of guided tours vary.

3. Liberation Heritage Route

The Liberation Heritage routes form part of the Mpumalanga chapter of the National Liberation Heritage Route, spearheaded by the Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation, to map out, document and preserve Mpumalanga’s route to independence. It highlights the key freedom fighters who fought against racial segregation as well as the destinations that featured prominently during the liberation struggle.

The Nkangala District Resistance and Liberation Route highlights four key towns and sites that were extensively involved in the anti-apartheid liberation struggle, which resulted in a peaceful transition to democracy in 1994. These include Delmas, Emalahleni, Botshabelo and Mapoch caves. The Gert Sibande District Liberation and Heritage Route highlights six towns – Bethal, Daggakraal, Ermelo, Saul Mkhizeville (formerly Driefontein), Secunda and Volksrust – although these are not the only sites within the province that were home to various freedom fighters involved in the grassroots liberation struggle. As more research continues to be conducted, other towns may be added to the route.

4. Dr Esther Mahlangu

Dr Esther Mahlangu was born in 1935 on a farm outside Middleburg, in what is now the Mpumalanga province. She was the first of nine children: six boys and three girls. Following traditions passed down from her mother and grandmother, she learned traditional Ndebele wall painting and beadwork as a child. She became an expert in executing murals as a teenager, using a widening range of paint colours that emerged in the 1940s.

Between 1980 and 1991 she lived and worked at the Botshabelo Historical Village, an open-air museum of Ndebele culture. She has managed to preserve, package and export the colourful Ndebele culture to international countries.

Mpumalanga interesting facts

Have you ever…

• Hiked the Blyde River Canyon trails through the deepest green canyon in the world?
• Visited the cultural villages at Loopspruit, Matsamo, Ebutsini and Shabalala Culture of Interpretation Centre?
• Visited the Samora Machel monument at Mbuzini in Nkomazi?
• Birdwatched at Wakkerstroom, Chrissiemere and the Southern Grasslands?
• Rock climbed at Waterval Boven now known as Emgwenya?
• Explored the Southern Grasslands archeological sites from Ermelo?
• Photographed the sculptural wonder of the Bourke’s Luck Potholes?
• Taken a historical gold mining tour of Pilgrim’s Rest and Barberton or panned for gold?
• Played golf at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park or many other Mpumalanga golf courses?
• Explored the Sudwala Caves, the oldest dolomite caves in the world?