Mpumalanga
offers the visitor a close and exhilarating encounter with
the wildlife of Africa against the backdrop of the bushveld.
Also known as 'the place of the rising sun' in the local SiSwati
language,the province has a broad spectrum of cultures, landscapes
and attractions to offer. Large areas of the Kruger National
fall within the provinces boundaries as do a host of private
game reserves from rustic bushcamps to the height of luxury
in secluded lodges.
The
climate is warm and sunny weather all-year round, which together
with its landscape of mountain peaks, dense tropical forests
and wide expanses of water, has made it a popular adventure
sport destination. The capital, Nelspruit, can be found in
the heart of the Lowveld in the Crocodile River Valley. Pioneers
founded the area in 1884 in search of gold and today Nelspruit
is the industrial hub of the Lowveld area as well as being
one of the biggest citrus producing areas in South Africa.
One
of the greatest marvels of Mpumalanga is the 60km long Blyde
River Canyon - the third largest in the world. The breathtaking
canyon with soaring cliffs of up to 700m creates a vast 'green'
chasm, at the bottom of which a river winds through sub-tropical
jungle home to variety of wildlife and with some of Southern
Africa's most thrilling rapids.
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