"EASTERN TRANSVAAL=MPUMALANGA." South Africa Travelogue by dutch_anna

Map of Mpumalanga, from the website: http://www.guestnet.co.za/

Elandsriver waterfall.

We made some trips in the surroundings of Lydenburg. Nelspruit is a nice small town. Along the roads flowering trees and bougainvillea.We spoke to a Dutch owner of a coffeebar, who was homesick. Imagine, in that wonderful climate! In the town center was a beautiful bookshop and some souvenirshops with real nice things.
We had a look at the old railway tunnel near the Elandsriver waterfall. And saw the waterfall itself, of course.

The Voortrekkersmuseum has old carriages, like ox-wagons ( ossewâ ) outside and inside an interesting exhibition of pictures, clothes and objects from the time of the Voortrekkers. As I am a history freak with nostalgia, and Dutch too, I found it interesting, but I'm not someone who likes all the things the Boers did in South-Africa, nor the English. But back to our holiday.
We take the long Tom Pass to Sabie. Because of the fog on the Pass we see nothing of the famous view. But Sabie is nice, surrounded by wooded hills. It is the center of paper industry.
That evening is our last at the farm. We say goodbye to our family and next day there are new adventures ahead.

Our next stay was in the holidayresort of Blyderivierspoort (F.H.Odendaal). Marvellous landscape with a view on the mountains called the three Rondavels.

Blyde River Canyon

The Blyde River made a real canyon here, the only true canyon in South Africa.

the three rondavels

The three Rondavels.

This part of the Blyde River is also very spectacular. The rotating movement of the water made cylindrical holes in the rocks. You can walk around on bridges and along the rocks and from every point the view is great.

the museum

The House Museum

After the Pot Holes we saw the Berlin Waterfall, that had not much water at that time.At God's Window, north of Graskop, you can enjoy a beautiful view over the Lowveld.

The small village Pilgrim's Rest has old and rebuild houses of the 19th century. A living museum.

living room in the museum

In the museum.

old shop

And the shop.
There are hotels in Pelgrims Rest with the entourage and character of "the old times".
More about Pilgrims Rest on their website:

http://www.africanleisure.co.za/static/static_pilgsrest.html

We leave the Blyderivierpoort Nature Reserve with the very good holidayresort and we go north.
The Abel Erasmuspass with the Jan Strijdomtunnel.
Women sell souvenirs on the parking lots near the tunnel.
Every tourist stops there to watch the view.

View to the Lowveld from the Abel Erasmuspass.

At holiday resort Swadini, near Hoedspruit, we stay again in a nice bungalow.
We have to keep the windows closed: the monkeys in the garden are so hungry because of the long drought, that they try to come in.

Very nearby Holiday Resort Swadini is, across the street, the Swadini Reptile Park. Although I usually not like to see animals in cages this was the opportunity to see living snakes, spiders and other interesting critters from behind a strong glass window ;)

The park is open daily from 8am to 5pm.
Address: PO Box 175 Hoedspruit 1380.
Tel.: 01528-35203.

Map of the Northern Province, from the website: www.sa-venues.com/maps/

Teaplantation "Sapekoe".

From Swadini our red VW-bus brings us to Tzaneen and then to the Magoebaskloofhotel. Very
beautiful situated with a view over the Magoebaskloof.
The next day we visit a tea plantation, "Sapekoe".The climate is here just fine for growing tea. At 9.00 AM the 4 of us are the only visitors and a nice man tells us all about tea, outside in the fields and inside in the factory. From the green leaves to the brown ones we know. He shows us how to make tea the proper way. He does'nt like teabags! The plantation is very beautiful, green and quiet in the morningsun.
Website Magoebaskloof Hotel: http://www.magoebaskloof.co.za/

After the teaplantation we go to the Debegeni waterfall. An unpaved road through the wood to a parking lot. And then a short walk to the waterfall. Picnic tables for the lunch and a marvelous view on the clear water.

postcard.

Just one day in Johannesburg, before we fly to Durban.
We park our VW and take a taxi to the centre to see the Carlton building. It has a hotel, shops and offices, is 220 m high and has a topfloor with the most exciting view! Top of Africa! I'm happy that we see this all from behind big windows.
From the Carlton Centre we walk through the busy streets of the town. To the Greyhound Station, where we take the bus to the airport, where our own bus is waiting for us. Back to our Formula1 hotel.

The next day we say goodbye to our red VWbus and to Johannesburg.


Let us fly to Durban to visit beautiful Kwazulu-Natal.