Phalaborwa, Limpopo

History

The Ba-Phalaborwa people mined and smelted copper and iron here from about 400 AD; the reconstructed hill village at Masorini shows their furnaces. The name is usually translated as 'better than the south'. The modern town grew from the 1950s around Foskor's phosphate mine (founded 1951) and the Palabora Mining Company's open-pit copper mine, which opened in 1964 and went underground after 2002.

Getting there

About 490 km from Johannesburg via the N1 to Polokwane and the R71 through Tzaneen, or via the R40/R71 from Hoedspruit. Hendrik Van Eck (Phalaborwa) Airport, on the edge of town about 3 km from the Kruger gate, has daily flights from Johannesburg and car hire.

Weather & climate

Hot, low-rainfall subtropical bushveld climate with about 530 mm of rain a year, mostly in summer storms. Summers range from about 20 °C to 45 °C (a 50 °C record was set in December 2018), while winters are the warmest in South Africa at roughly 9-26 °C.

Things to do

Golf with wildlife at Hans MerenskyPlay the 18-hole Hans Merensky course on the Kruger fence where giraffe, zebra and warthog wander the fairways and hippos and crocodiles live in the water hazards.
Kruger day and night safaris from PhalaborwaLocal operators run open-vehicle game drives, night drives and bush walks into Kruger via the Phalaborwa Gate, just minutes from town. nandzana.co.za
Limpopo Marula FestivalAnnual music and cultural festival celebrating the marula harvest with traditional marula beer, top SA artists, parades and stalls, drawing around 30,000 visitors.
Malopeni 4x4 TrailSANParks-run guided 4x4 eco-trail in the Kruger accessed via Phalaborwa.
Olifants River boat safariTwo-to-three-hour boat safaris on the Olifants River to see hippos, crocodiles, elephants and birdlife, including a sunset cruise. kambaku2boatsafarislodge.mypixieset.com
Qualito Craft Distillery tastingTour and tasting at a local distillery making gin, whisky and vodka infusions, paired with food. qualito.co.za

Things to see

Foskor Mine MuseumSmall museum on the area's copper, iron and phosphate mining and ancient smelting history.
Kruger National Park (Phalaborwa Gate)Enter the Kruger straight from town. sanparks.org
Masorini Village MuseumReconstructed Iron Age Ba-Phalaborwa hilltop village with huts, grain stores and iron-smelting furnaces, about 11 km inside Kruger from the Phalaborwa Gate on the Letaba road.
Phalaborwa Copper Mine ViewpointLookout over the Palabora open-pit copper mine, about 1.8 km wide and 450 m deep and billed as Africa's widest man-made hole; reached via Koper Street.

Businesses in Phalaborwa

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AP Avis Phalaborwa Airport Avis car hire desk just past baggage claim at Phalaborwa (Hendrik Van Eck) Airport. Car Hire Phalaborwa, Limpopo BT Benmar Tune Up Engine tune-up and service workshop. Mechanics & Services Phalaborwa, Limpopo CP Chery Phalaborwa Chery dealership run alongside Phalaborwa Ford. Car Dealerships Phalaborwa, Limpopo FA FreshStop at Caltex Phalaborwa Fuel station with FreshStop convenience store. Fuel Stations Phalaborwa, Limpopo G Geardiff Gearbox and differential specialist. Mechanics & Services Phalaborwa, Limpopo HB Hencor Body Shop Vehicle body repair shop. Panel Beaters Phalaborwa, Limpopo HP Hi-Q Phalaborwa Hi-Q tyre and fitment centre. Tyres & Exhausts Phalaborwa, Limpopo LM Lenkay Motors Used-vehicle dealer. Car Dealerships Phalaborwa, Limpopo MS Marcon Service Centre Vehicle service centre. Mechanics & Services Phalaborwa, Limpopo NT NTT Toyota Phalaborwa Toyota dealership selling new and used vehicles with service and parts. Car Dealerships Phalaborwa, Limpopo PF Phalaborwa Ford Ford dealership opened in 2016 by the Simpson family's motor business. Car Dealerships Phalaborwa, Limpopo PP Phalaborwa Panelbeaters Panel beating and spray painting. Panel Beaters Phalaborwa, Limpopo SR Silverton Radiators Phalaborwa Radiator repairs. Mechanics & Services Phalaborwa, Limpopo SQ Supa Quick Tyre Experts Phalaborwa Tyre fitment centre; open during loadshedding. Tyres & Exhausts Phalaborwa, Limpopo SS Super Service Vehicle workshop. Mechanics & Services Phalaborwa, Limpopo TM TotalEnergies Masorini Fuel station with Steers, on Koper Road towards the Kruger gate. Fuel Stations Phalaborwa, Limpopo TT TotalEnergies Tusk Motors Fuel station with Debonairs Pizza. Fuel Stations Phalaborwa, Limpopo

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