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Your love is an adventure at the best places to visit in Mpumalanga for couples!
- Explore African wildlife at the National Kruger Park
- Experience history at the Sudwala Caves
- Take in scenic views on the Panorama Route
- Relax in riverside bliss at the Sabie River Bush Lodge
- Feel the beauty of the forest with the Graskop Gorge Lift Company
- Discover unique South African art at the White River Gallery
Known as “The Place Where the Sun Rises,” Mpumalanga shines as one of the most unique tourist destinations in South Africa. Here, my partner and I got to experience the adventure of a lifetime through its many attractions.
Whether you’re a couple looking for new thrills or an escape from your everyday life, this sun-kissed paradise will be a great place to fall in love all over again. Here are some of the best places to visit in Mpumalanga for couples.
Explore African wildlife at the National Kruger Park
Website: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger
Address: Skukuza 1350
Phone: +27 13 735 4000
A renowned national park and wildlife reserve, the National Kruger Park is one of the best ways to experience a classic South African safari trip.
My partner and I visited Kruger Park during our Mpumalanga trip, and we were stunned by the area’s biodiversity. Not only does the park house the Big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, elephants, and Cape buffalo), but it also has other rare animals like cheetahs, gazelles, and impalas.
As someone passionate about the environment, it was a real treat to watch all the animals coexisting in their natural habitat. The best part was that we got to observe them from the comfort of our campsite!
With guided tours, night drives, and even bird watching spots, the park offered so many options for experiencing the wildlife that it left our heads spinning. We opted for a guided tour and were impressed by the park rangers’ knowledge and awareness of the area.
Seeing the South African wildlife with someone I cared about made the experience that much more special, since we learned and saw so much together!
Experience history at the Sudwala Caves
Website: https://www.sudwalaexperience.com/
Address: R539, Nelspruit
Phone: +27 83 446 0228
The Sudwala Caves are some of the oldest caves in the world, with experts estimating them to be around 240 million years old. Mostly untouched by modern hands, they’re a mesmerising snapshot of life before we were even a flicker in the universe.
My partner and I went through the 1-hour tour of the caves, which covered 600 meters. While it was a little scary for both of us, the tour guide was helpful and made sure that we never got lost.
What we found really cool were the beautiful rock formations and stalactites found throughout the cave, such as the “Screaming Monster” and the “Lowveld Rocket” that you can’t find anywhere else.
There was also the incredible Sudwala Caves Amphitheatre, a theatre built inside the cave to take advantage of acoustics formed over millennia.
For couples who want a unique, enchanting trip throughout history, the Sudwala Caves offer an incredible experience.
Take in scenic views on the Panorama Route
Website: https://www.mpumalanga.com/routes/panorama-route-rt102618
If you want to take your lover on a scenic trip throughout some of South Africa’s most beautiful landmarks, consider taking the legendary Panorama Route! It takes you through Mpumalanga’s most distinctive locales and offers a unique, compact experience of the Rising Sun’s golden beauty.
While you can customise this trip to your liking, the standard version of the Panorama Route starts at the city of Mbombela, formerly known as Nelspruit. The city hosts the Lowveld Botanical Gardens, the largest man-made African rainforest in the world and home to over 2,000 kinds of local and foreign plant life.
The next stop on the Panorama Route is the White River, home to the beautiful Sabie Falls as well as resorts that host thrilling activities like abseiling and 4×4 rides. The real showstopper here, though, is the trip through Graskop.
Graskop is home to some of Mpumalanga’s, if not South Africa’s, greatest attractions. These include the Blyde River Canyon, Lisbon Falls, and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.
Our personal favourite was God’s Window, a truly gorgeous viewing spot atop the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, which offered a vast, mesmerising view of the Lowveld, Kruger National Park, and even parts of Mozambique.
While all of these attractions can be visited by themselves, witnessing them all one after the other really gives an impression of the beauty within South Africa. For couples who love road trips, this is one you can’t miss out on.
Relax in riverside bliss at the Sabie River Bush Lodge
Website: https://sabieriverbushlodge.co.za/
Address: R536 Portia Shabangu Dr, Hazyview
Phone: +27 82 467 5771
Located next to the Sabie River, the Sabie River Bush Lodge offers a tranquil, relaxing, but also fun riverside stay. Couples who prefer staycations will love this lodge’s proximity to the National Kruger Park and its gorgeous view of the river.
The Sabie River Bush Lodge also offers many activities and amenities to its guests. These include a free breakfast buffet, a lounge, a bar, and a restaurant, all within the lodge premises.
The activities they offer range from a bird park, knitting, and rock sculpting as less strenuous options, to more involved activities like large game fishing and a safari through the Kruger National Park.
We found ourselves barely wanting to leave because of how comfortable the rooms were. With that and the fun activities offered, we had quite a relaxing time!
Feel the beauty of the forest with the Graskop Gorge Lift Company
Website: https://www.graskopgorgeliftcompany.co.za/
Address: R533 Graskop Gorge, Graskop
Phone: +27 66 305 1572
The Graskop Gorge Lift Company offers a gorgeous view of the Graskop cliffs overlooking forests and waterfalls. Sometimes visited as part of the Panorama Route, the Graskop Gorge Company offers some high-octane, heart-pumping activities for adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers!
Climbing atop The Lift was worth conquering my fear of heights. The views of the Afromontane forest below me were simply breathtaking!
We also got to experience ziplining through the forest, which was an exhilarating experience.
They also offered an activity called the Big Swing, which is exactly what it sounds like: a fast, free-falling experience that has you falling into the forest at nearly 140 kph.
When we wanted to cool down, we enjoyed delicious meals at the Lift Cafe and the Swing Cafe.
Finally, the walkway tour through the forest capped off a really fun experience.
For couples who love experiences and views that get their heart racing, and want to chill out right after, the Graskop Gorge Lift Company is a must.
Discover unique South African art at the White River Gallery
Website: https://whiterivergallery.co.za/
Address: Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, White River
Phone: +27 82 784 6695
The White River Gallery is a haven for art lovers who want a cerebral, educational trip through the arts and culture of Mpumalanga. This art gallery is home to Mpumalanga’s indigenous art, offering a look into the realities of the province’s people.
When my partner and I visited the gallery, we were stunned by the different collections on display. The collections we saw were rustic, striking, and tonally rough, speaking truth to experiences that were integral to the artists’ way of life.
The curated Zakkie Eloff collection on display, titled “A Life of Work,” was a vibrant painting of South African wildlife inspired by a love for the African savannas and a distaste for an urban way of life.
The Michael Zelekane painting “Murmurs of Migration,” meanwhile, was a drastically sparse yet claustrophobic piece that was inspired by the struggles of needing to migrate and seek greener pastures.
For couples who love art and want a more enriching, raw look into Mpumalangan culture, White River Gallery is a must.