Known with reverence by many as "The Place of the Rising Sun" as well as SA's gateway into the Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga epitomises the heart and soul of Africa.
This geographically diverse province in Eastern South Africa is where the wild reside It's an area that beckons, embracing visitors with a warm welcome as a gateway to some of the most magnificent places in South Africa!
When traveling to Mpumalanga with SA Airlines, you can book cheap flights to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), Nelspruit Airport (NLP), or even the Skukuza Airport inside Kruger Park (SZK).
Owing to a hot subtropical climate, Mpumalanga is a great place to spend time outdoors at any time of the year exploring the beautiful scenery waterfalls, gorges and home of the Big Five. Temperatures can range from 8°C in winter to 40°C in the heat of summer
Summer is the time for hot days and warm showers, with the summer rains usually falling between October and February. If you are looking for mild days and dry plains for easier game spotting, then the cooler months of autumn and winter (June to August) are great times to pay the province a visit. The popular Innibos Festival held in Nelspruit in the last week of June, draws music lovers from far and wide annually. It's certainly something worth checking out.
If you plan to travel the vastly different areas of the province during your visit be prepared for the differences in temperatures from the Highveld to the Lowveld.
Getting to Mpumalanga on SA Airlines can be a direct flight or a flight with one stop, depending on where you are traveling from. These are some of the popular Mpumalanga flight routes, but if you want a custom route, please user friendly flight search feature.
The Kruger National Park is a huge drawcard for tourists but it's certainly not the only attraction. When you book flights from Cape Town, Durban, or Johannesburg to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, you should make some time to see some of the other attractions in the area.
These include a selection of alternative game reserves, Horseshoe Falls, Lone Creek Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Mac Mac Falls, Lisbon Falls, Berlin Falls, Lowveld Botanical Garden, Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Sudwala Caves, Chimpanzee Eden, Elephant Whispers Sanctuary, Graskop Gorge Lift, Dullstroom Birds of Prey Rehab Centre, and Care for the Wild Rhino Sanctuary. Some of the areas scenic Panorama Route towns are also worth a visit.
If you can, spend some time exploring some of these areas of natural beauty and culture:
Meet the Other Popular Game Reserves in MpumalangaMpumalanga is a province that's encircled with game reserves, nature reserves and wildlife parks. The province offers the ultimate safari experience and when you book flights to Mpumalanga, there are a few game reserves and nature reserves you should consider visiting. These include:
The Kruger National Park is undoubtedly the most popular reserve in the area. Visitors can overnight inside Kruger Park, or choose to stay at one of the many neighbouring game reserves, or even nearby town.
If you prefer to stay close to the Kruger Park, some of the game reserves that border it include:
Getting into Kruger National Park | Entry GatesAccess to the Kruger National Park is via any of the Mpumalanga entry gates. These include Phabeni, Malelane, Numbi, Paul Kruger, Orpen, Crocodile Bridge, and Punda Maria gates.
Discover Mpumalanga's History, Art, & Culture SceneWhen you book cheap flights to Mpumalanga, you will discover that the province plays a vital role in the country's historical and natural heritage. Mpumalanga boasts curious caves, scenic views across the escarpment, old mining towns, cultural and arty towns, San rock paintings, Ndebele wall paintings, historic and cultural settlements, and so much more.
The discovery of alluvial gold in 1873 first put Mpumalanga on the map. In fact, gold was discovered in the tiny, artistic town of Pilgrim's Rest. This discovery lead to the country's biggest gold rush.
Wander Around in MpumalangaMpumalanga provides its visitors with a glimpse into history and the culture of the first inhabitants. The easy part of visiting Mpumalanga is in booking your flights. Once there, it's a little harder to decide on which attractions and towns you won't have time to explore. In Mpumulanga you are quite literally spoilt for choice with:
Shangana Cultural VillageWant to know more about the life and culture of the local Shangaan people? Here is the place to do it! The cultural village also has a Botshabela Museum available.
White River History & Motor MuseumThis museum features a fascinating variety of vehicles with historic value.
Jock of the Bushveld MemorialThe heartbreakingly beautiful story of Jock of the Bushveld much loved by South Africans, is a true story of a dog from Mpumalanga. The book was published in 1907 and you can see memorials for Jock in various places around the province.
Check out this statue erected in honour of Jock of the Bushveld. It's found just 18 km from Sabie.
Eureka CityThis village is intriguing to many as it seems to have been abruptly abandoned - and no one really knows the story behind the desertion. The village has a Victorian Hotel and a horse racing track. You can do fun trips to the ruins on quadbikes.
Pilgrims RestThe heart of SA's gold rush. Since then, Pilgrim's Rest has been declared a National Monument. Visitors to the area can stroll through the quaint town streets, pop into the historic and cultural shops and even go on a night ghost tour, if they're feeling brave.
BarbertonIf you have ever wanted to know more about historic mining in SA, now is your chance. Barberton is a historical mining town geared towards showing off how things were done "back then".
DullstroomThis quaint village is the epitome of arty. Known for its many fly-fishing competitions and music festivals, the town also hosts a variety of interesting art galleries and draws in birdwatchers from all over the country due to its thriving bird life.
KaapsehoopThis small hamlet town is one that tourists love to spend their time visiting. Rumour has it, some of the bars are haunted! The town also features some unusual sightings of free roaming wild horses and rare blue swallows.
< SabieIf scenery and serenity are your thing, this small forestry town is the place for you. Sabie is quiet, beautiful and boasts a variety of waterfalls and scenic viewpoints.
ChrissiesmeerWhile this picturesque town is popular for its 20 000 resident flamingos (seen September to February) it also features art stores, book shops, galleries and other touristy spots.
Waterval BovenMany people visit Waterval Boven just to see the unusual stone circles there. It's also an area that's popular for outdoor enthusiasts. While here, indulge in some rock climbing, mountain biking and various other adventure activities.
Book flights to Mpumalanga and explore this interesting province today!To search and compare flights on SA Airlines to Mpumalanga, use our easy flight search feature to browse for the most affordable flights online. Book flights from OR Tambo to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, or search for an alternative departure point to find a flight that best suits your pocket and your preference.
A flying visit to Mpumalanga is more affordable than you think and worth every cent that you spend!