Mpumalanga : Highveld
Overview
To the west of the Drakensberg escarpment lies the
Highveld region
of
Mpumalanga. Rising more than 1000 meters from the subtropical
regions to the East, the area forms a stark contrast with the subtropical
Lowveld
region. With it grass and wetlands the
Highveld is a nature lovers
paradise and because of its close proximity to Gauteng, an extremely popular getaway
destination for the city dwellers in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Things to do an see
The
Cosmos country lies in the south western region of
Mpumalanga
and is the centre of
South Africa’s coal to fuel production
and is home to the world’s largest underground coal mining complex. Every year towards
the end of summer, the area explodes into a white and pink wonderland as the cosmos
flower blooms all across the area.
The
Highlands Meander is a diverse region and nature lover’s paradise
where you will be able to anything from fly fishing and horseback riding to bird
watching or rock climbing. The area has a string of quaint little towns, drawing
visitors from Johannesburg and Pretoria, which is less than two hours away. With
its stone lodges set amidst cool trout dams, Dullstroom has become the fly fishing
mecca of
South Africa and is well worth a visit. For bird lovers
a visit to the Verloren Valei Nature Reserve, is a must as it boasts the only habitat
where all three of the world's endangered cranes are found. At Waterval Boven, the
rock climbing enthusiasts can find some of the best rock faces in the country.
Bird lovers are lured to the
Grass and Wetlands region which includes
South Africa’s largest freshwater lake at Chrissiesmeer. A rather
strange attraction that can be found here is a large mysterious footprint that matches
one to be found in Canada. The area also hosts an annual frog watching festival
in summer and stargazing festival in winter.
At the Loskop Dam in the Cultural Heartland region of the
Highveld
you can do game viewing from a boat or a variety of water sports at the biggest
municipal dam at Witbank. The area immerses the traveler in the colourful Ndebele
culture, with their vibrantly painted houses and beadworks.
Climate
The
Mpumalanga Highveld is much cooler than the
Lowveld,
due to its altitude of 2300m to 1700m above sea level. The area is well-watered
by mostly summer thunderstorms and often experiences severe frost during the winter
months. Winter rainfall is rare, except for some drizzle on the escarpment. The
Highveld summer temperatures range from 25°C to 12°C), while temperatures
in the Winter months range from 21°C to 1°C.
Accommodation
Accommodation ranges from luxury lodges, especially at the popular tourist destinations
in the
Highveld, like the popular town of Dullstroom, to B&B venues. Throughout the area
you will find guest houses, self catering chalets and also quite a few hotels. There
is indeed accommodation to fit any budget or taste.
Towns and Cities in the area
The Cosmos Country includes the following towns like Balfour, Bethal, Delmas, Greylingstad,
Leandra and Secunda.
Dullstroom is the jewel in the Highlands Meander crown, but other towns worth a
visit include Belfast, Lydenburg, Machadodorp,
Ohrigstad and Waterval Boven.
Towns forming part of the Grass and Wetlands region, include Amsterdam, Breyten,
Carolina, Chrissiesmeer, Ermelo, Hendrina and Morgenzon.
The Cultural Heartland is home to the following towns : Groblersdal, Marble Hall,
Middelburg and Witbank.