Mpumalanga and the Kruger National Park represent the quintessential African safari experience. The southern and central distincts of Kruger are particularly good for spotting lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo. Families can choose between staying in government rest camps (like Skukuza or Satara), which offer chalets and camping, or private lodges on the park's edge. Early morning and late afternoon drives provide the best chances for wildlife viewing, while midday is best spent at the camp swimming pools avoiding the heat.
Beyond the park, the Panorama Route along the Drakensberg escarpment is a scenic drive with frequent, safe stops perfect for children. The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world and offers boat trips on the dam below. Bourke's Luck Potholes—strange cylindrical rock sculptures carved by swirling water—have bridges and walkways that kids love to explore. Nearby, the Graskop Gorge Lift Company drops visitors into an indigenous forest for an educational walk.
Travelers should note that this region is a malaria zone, particularly in the wet summer months, so consulting a travel doctor for prophylaxis is essential. Recent seasons have also seen significant rainfall and flooding, so families should monitor local weather alerts before driving. The gateway towns of Hazyview and White River offer excellent family-friendly hotels and activities like elephant interactions and treetop ziplining.
Click a region to explore
Activities & Best Times
Hiking, wildlife, outdoor exploration, ecotourism
Home to Kruger National Park and the Blyde River Canyon, this region offers world-class wildlife viewing and dramatic natural landscapes. The dry winter months are peak season as thinning vegetation and water scarcity make animals easier to spot while temperatures remain mild.
Sport tourism, fitness activities, active recreation
Boasts premier hiking infrastructure like the Fanie Botha and Blyde River Canyon trails, plus significant adventure centers. The dry season provides cooler temperatures and firm trails, essential for active outdoor pursuits in this subtropical climate.
Urban tourism, museums, historical sites, architecture
Kruger & Mpumalanga is primarily a safari and nature region. Pilgrim's Rest and Graskop are tiny historic villages, not cities with significant cultural institutions. While the heritage is genuinely interesting, rating this at 'very_good' (same level as Johannesburg's Soweto/Apartheid Museum cluster and Durban's Zulu heritage scene) overstates the urban cultural offering. 'good' reflects worthwhile heritage sites that complement the nature experience.
Learning experiences, scientific sites, historical education
Offers destination-level learning at specialized facilities like the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Eden and Letaba Elephant Hall. Optimal visits align with the dry season, facilitating easier travel and more active wildlife engagement at these centers.
Scenic drives, countryside tours, route-based travel
The Panorama Route is an internationally recognized scenic drive offering spectacular views of the Lowveld. Peak months ensure clear visibility at major viewpoints like God's Window and safer driving conditions on mountain passes compared to the wet summer.
Amusement parks, family entertainment venues
Features unique attractions like the Graskop Gorge Lift alongside regional water parks. Conditions are best when rainfall is low and temperatures are within the comfortable 15-28°C range for outdoor activities.
Attractions (46 total)
Water Park / Splash Park / Aquatic Centre
Badplaas, A Forever Resort (Hydro & Water Park)
Badplaas
A major destination famous for its therapeutic natural thermal springs, offering extensive water slides, a speed slide, and multiple indoor and outdoor pools.
Visit website →Mafunyane Water Park
Mbombela
A popular family-oriented water park featuring seven slides, a lazy river, and various splash pools adjacent to the Riverside Mall.
Visit website →Natural Feature / Scenic Site
Blyde River Canyon
Graskop
The world's third-largest canyon offers breathtaking panoramic views of lush green cliffs and winding rivers.
Kruger National Park
Skukuza
One of Africa's largest game reserves, offering families the chance to see the Big Five in their natural habitat.
Visit website →Lisbon Falls
Graskop
The highest waterfall in Mpumalanga, cascading ninety-two meters down a sheer cliff into a beautiful pool.
Hiking & Cycling Routes
Blyde River Canyon Hiking Trail
Graskop
60km moderate to challenging 3-to-5-day trail traversing the world's third-largest canyon. Elevation gain varies by route, typically around 1000m. Highlights include the Three Rondavels and Bourke's Luck Potholes. Guided options: Wild Adventures (wildadventures.co.za).
Visit website →Fanie Botha Hiking Trail
Sabie
75km challenging 5-day trek through the Drakensberg escarpment with approximately 3000m elevation gain. Features pine plantations, indigenous forests, and views of Mac Mac and Lone Creek Falls. Slackpacking available via Eco Trail SA (ecotrail.co.za).
Visit website →Wolhuter Wilderness Trail
Berg-en-Dal
40km moderate 4-day guided walking safari in a remote wilderness area of Kruger National Park. Focuses on tracking big game and wilderness immersion. Participants must be 12-60 years old. Elevation gain is minimal but walking is off-path through bushveld.
Visit website →Leopard Trail
Blyde River Canyon
5km moderate 3-hour day hike offering the most iconic panoramic views of the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels. Elevation gain of approximately 250m. Start at Forever Resorts Blyde Canyon.
Visit website →Mankele MTB Trails
Mbombela
Over 160km network of trails ranging from easy 5km loops to the 55km expert Purple Route with 1200m elevation gain. Includes singletrack, river crossings, and technical boardwalks. Bike rental available on-site at Mankele Adventures (mankele.co.za).
Visit website →Sabie Mountain Bike Trails
Sabie
Extensive network of world-class MTB trails (York Timbers) covering over 100km of moderate to expert terrain. Significant elevation gain through timber plantations and indigenous bush. Bike rental: Sabie Valley Cyclery (sabievalleycyclery.co.za).
Visit website →National Park / Nature Reserve
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
Graskop
One of the world's largest and greenest canyons, featuring dramatic cliffs and spectacular mountain scenery perfect for scenic family drives.
Visit website →Landmark / Monument / Iconic Urban Attraction
Bourke's Luck Potholes
Graskop
A geological landmark where river erosion has carved deep cylindrical potholes into the bedrock at the confluence of the Blyde and Treur Rivers.
Visit website →God's Window
Graskop
A world-famous viewpoint on the Drakensberg escarpment that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Lowveld over 900 meters below.
Visit website →Pilgrim's Rest Historic Town
Pilgrim's Rest
A living museum and national monument, this historic gold-mining town preserves its 19th-century Victorian charm and corrugated iron architecture.
Visit website →Three Rondavels
Graskop
Three massive quartzite and shale peaks that resemble traditional rondavel huts, offering an iconic view over the Blyde River Canyon.
Visit website →Sudwala Caves
Mbombela
Regarded as the oldest known caves in the world, featuring massive chambers and impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations.
Visit website →Farm Park / Petting Zoo / Rural Experience
Elephant Whispers
Hazyview
An elephant sanctuary providing educational and interactive rural experiences where families can walk with and learn about rescued African elephants.
Visit website →Perry's Bridge Reptile Park
Hazyview
A well-known animal park that allows children to touch tortoises and watch feeding sessions of various crocodiles and snakes in a garden setting.
Visit website →Dullstroom Bird of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre
Dullstroom
A high-altitude rural education center featuring spectacular flight demonstrations and close-up encounters with rescued eagles, owls, and falcons.
Visit website →Jane Goodall Institute South Africa - Chimp Eden
Mbombela
The only chimpanzee sanctuary in South Africa, offering a rural forest experience focused on the rescue and rehabilitation of primates.
Visit website →Adventure Park / Outdoor Activity Center
Graskop Gorge Lift Co
Graskop
A glass elevator descends into a lush canyon where families can explore forest trails and cross a scenic suspension bridge.
Visit website →Induna Adventures
Hazyview
This multi-activity hub offers families a wide range of outdoor thrills including white-water tubing, quad biking, and archery in a beautiful valley setting.
Visit website →Long Tom Toboggan
Sabie
Families can enjoy a thrilling 1.7-kilometer downhill ride on Africa's longest alpine toboggan track through scenic mountain landscapes.
Visit website →Skyway Trails
Hazyview
This forest zipline tour offers families an exhilarating bird's-eye view of the Lowveld canopy from several high-altitude platforms.
Visit website →Theme Park / Amusement Park
Graskop Gorge Lift Company
Graskop
An adventure park featuring a glass elevator that descends into an indigenous forest, alongside suspension bridges and various mountain activities.
Visit website →Science Museum / Natural History Museum / Discovery Centre
Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden
Mbombela
Learn about primate conservation and science at this renowned sanctuary where rescued chimpanzees live in semi-wild forested enclosures.
Visit website →Letaba Elephant Hall
Letaba Rest Camp, Kruger National Park
Discover the impressive skeletons and tusks of Kruger's legendary 'Magnificent Seven' elephants at this fascinating natural history museum.
Visit website →Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library & Museum
Skukuza, Kruger National Park
Explore the rich biological heritage of Kruger National Park through wildlife books, biological specimens, and historical park artifacts.
Visit website →Sudwala Dinosaur Park
Nelspruit
Take a walk through time among life-sized prehistoric models in a beautiful garden setting right next to the famous Sudwala Caves.
Visit website →Botanical Garden / Formal Gardens
Lowveld National Botanical Garden
Mbombela
A magnificent garden featuring the confluence of two rivers, dramatic waterfalls, and one of the largest collections of cycads in the world.
Visit website →Castle / Palace / Historic Site
Pilgrim's Rest
Pilgrim's Rest
A living museum and national monument that preserves the heritage of the 1873 gold rush with its original Victorian architecture.
Visit website →Masorini Archaeological Site
Phalaborwa
A reconstructed Iron Age village featuring traditional Sotho dwellings and smelting furnaces used by ancient metalworkers.
Visit website →Shangana Cultural Village
Hazyview
A family-friendly cultural site offering guided tours through a replica 19th-century Shangaan royal village and craft market.
Visit website →Thulamela Archaeological Site
Punda Maria
The stone-walled ruins of a 16th-century royal palace and fortress belonging to a sophisticated Iron Age civilization.
Visit website →Road Trips & Scenic Drives
The Panorama Route
Graskop
160km paved loop (1-2 days) traversing the Drakensberg escarpment. Features the Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondavels, Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window, and numerous waterfalls including Lisbon and Berlin Falls.
Visit website →Abel Erasmus Pass & Strijdom Tunnel
Ohrigstad
24km paved mountain pass (45 minutes) connecting the Highveld to the Lowveld. Features the J.G. Strijdom Tunnel and dramatic views over the Olifants River Valley and the northern reaches of the Drakensberg.
Visit website →Long Tom Pass (R37)
Lydenburg
56km paved mountain pass (1.5 hours) reaching an altitude of 2,150m. Famous for its steep gradients, hair-raising bends, pine plantations, and the historical Long Tom Cannon site overlooking the Sabie Valley.
Visit website →The Genesis Route
Barberton
220km paved circular route (1 day) through the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Highlights include 3.5-billion-year-old rock formations, diverse flora, and the scenic 'Barberton Odyssey' landscapes.
Visit website →Historic Town / Village / Cultural Area
Matsamo Cultural Village
Jeppe's Reef
An immersive experience near the eSwatini border featuring traditional beehive huts and high-energy Swazi dance and song performances.
Visit website →Barberton Historic Town
Barberton
A historic mining town featuring a heritage walk through colonial-era architecture and proximity to the UNESCO-listed Makhonjwa Mountains.
Visit website →Art Gallery / Fine Art Museum
The Custom Art Gallery
Graskop
A modern gallery located at the Graskop Gorge Lift complex that features a curated selection of contemporary African fine art and sculptures from local artists.
Visit website →The White River Gallery
White River
A premier contemporary art space showcasing a rotating collection of fine art and sculptures by renowned South African and local Lowveld artists.
Visit website →Lydenburg Museum
Lydenburg
A cultural museum housing the famous 6th-century Lydenburg Heads, which are some of the most significant early terracotta artworks found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Zoo / Wildlife Park / Safari Park
Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
Hoedspruit
A leading research and conservation facility specializing in the breeding and rehabilitation of cheetahs and rhinos.
Visit website →Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Hoedspruit
An educational wildlife centre where families can see rescued leopards, eagles, and vultures while learning about conservation.
Visit website →