Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

04 October 2025

4-minute read

The escarpment of the Northern Drakensberg Mountains splits the highveld from the lowveld sections of Mpumalanga, along which the spectacular Panorama Route runs, a must visit destination for both locals and tourists alike.

Louis Clark is a tour organiser, certified South African travel expert, and registered tourist guide at Abundant Adventures, a company that offers unique and intimate all-inclusive tours across South Africa. With extensive travel experience across our beautiful continent of Africa, Louis is a history, culture, and wildlife aficionado who says that Mpumalanga is land of sheer beauty.

A suggested itinerary to the region should consist of around a week. Start off with 2-3 days along the Panorama Route, followed by the iconic Kruger National Park for 3-4 days.

Unmissable attractions and sites that should be on everyone’s list along the Panorama Route include the beautiful Graskop that makes an ideal base from which to operate. Places to see include God’s Window, a breathtaking lookout point, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels and Blyde River Canyon. From the seven waterfalls that can be viewed in that area, Louis suggests going to see the fantastic Lisbon Falls and the Berlin Falls.

With the southern section of the Kruger National Park falling within Mpumalanga province, there are excellent rest camps within the park to visit or stay at like Bergville, Skukuza, Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge. There are also a host of private game reserves and lodges on the borders of the Kruger National Park for visitors seeking the “big five experience.”

Places to stay in the province range from budget options to luxury 5-star accommodation. On average, per person per night: camping that would cost between R250-R350, self-catering chalets or bed-and-breakfasts approximately R600 to R1000, more expensive hotels anything upwards of R1000, and lodges that cater more for overseas visitors can range from R1500 up to a whopping R10 000. Within the Kruger National Park, the bungalows at the rest camps would work out to about R1000 per person per day.

While the roads are relatively well-maintained and a normal sedan vehicle is fine if you “go low and slow,” Louis says that an SUV is a better option to maximise viewing pleasure when spotting animals in the park as it is higher off the ground.

Citing the famous writer Mark Twain, “one must travel to learn,” Louis says that “it’s always a good time” to visit Mpumalanga. The weather is good year-round, but the region is more enjoyable during the dry season from May to September when the weather is milder and outdoor activities like hiking can be undertaken. This period is also good for clear viewing of animals. The wet season from October to April is much hotter and is great for things like birding.

Halal-friendly services are available all over Mpumalanga. There are mosques in the bigger cities, and jamaat khanas in the smaller villages, and halal foods are available throughout the province.

Louis’ essential advice when travelling locally is to keep safe, lock your room and lock up valuables in the place you’re staying at, plan your route beforehand, keep your windows and doors locked when you’re in your vehicle and keep your valuables in the car boot, don’t display your phone when walking out on the street, use your front pockets instead of your back ones, and stay in a group. If you’re staying in the Kruger National Park, get a Wild Card to save on conservation fees. Louis advises staying in your vehicle while in the park as “it is not a zoo,” and there are animals moving around freely that could harm you. Also, keep windows closed and don’t stray off the path in areas where you are allowed to be out of your vehicle, so that you maximise and enjoy a trip to this scenic region of South Africa.

Listen to the full discussion with Ml Ibrahim Daya, Ml Muhammad Kara and Louis Clark here.