Mpumalanga Family-friendly Holidays

This beautiful part of the country lies mainly on a plateau, its mountain peaks, which form part of an immense escarpment, are thick with forested ravines and thundering waterfalls that plunge into the sweeping grasslands of the Lowveld.

Mpumalanga is the land of giant game parks such as the Kruger National Park and Londolozi, the private parks of Sabi Sands and the private lodges in the Malelane area. This is where the world comes to experience the wild of Africa. From the CrocRiver Enviro Park, on the outskirts of Nelspruit, with its terraquarium, riverside trails, picnic areas, children’s playground and animal touch farm, to the Sudwala caves, the oldest known to mankind, there is something for everyone. The key to surviving any holiday is to plan clever routes for your outings beforehand, particularly relevant in Mpumalanga, where one is spoilt for choice, but also might have to drive quite a distance before reaching a place to stretch little legs.

The Bundu Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and Game Reserve is a must for little ones; and en route to Sabie from White River, take a turn at Elmswood furniture tea garden, where farm animals are available to pet in lovely surrounds. Sudwala’s dinosaur Park, next to the Sudwala Caves set in a lush forest garden, has life-size and accurate models to give children an exciting glimpse into the world of these pre-historic creatures. And the little gold mining village of Pilgrim’s Rest, an historical monument, is a great place to explore. And last, but not least, is Kaapschehoop, famous for the wild horses that roam the town freely, situated in the hills above Ngodwana, 32 kilometres from Nelspruit. [hide]