White River (Witrivier) is a leafy farming and residential town in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, about 20 km north of Mbombel…
- Do Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre
- Do Gin & Co tasting room
- Do Golf at White River Country Club
- Do Klipkoppie Dam
- Do Longmere Dam
Mbombela
Formerly Nelspruit, the capital of Mpumalanga and a gateway to the Kruger National Park.
History
The town was founded in 1895 on land where three Nel brothers grazed cattle in winter. The name Nelspruit joins the family name to 'spruit', a stream that dries up in summer. The town grew along the Pretoria-Delagoa Bay (Maputo) railway, and during the Second Boer War it briefly served as the seat of the South African Republic's government. It became the capital of Mpumalanga in 1994. In 2009 it was renamed Mbombela, and the High Court upheld the change in 2014.
Getting there
The city lies on the N4 Maputo Corridor toll route (about 330 km east of Pretoria), with a northern bypass. The R40 links it to White River and Barberton, and the R37 links it to Lydenburg. Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) is about 27 km north-east and has scheduled flights. The smaller Nelspruit/Mbombela City Airport (about 9 km south-west) handles general aviation. The station is on the Pretoria-Maputo railway line.
Weather & climate
Humid subtropical. Summers (Nov-Mar) are hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, and December-January is the wettest period. Winters are dry with mild sunny days and cool nights. Rainfall is about 767 mm a year, with average daily highs near 27 °C and lows near 13 °C.
Things to do
- Alkmaar 4x4 Trail4x4 trail on a farm about 16 km west of the city. alkmaarfarmstay.co.za
- Central Park Waterpark (Riverside Mall)Outdoor waterpark outside entrance 2 of Riverside Mall.
- Chimp Eden (Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Sanctuary)Sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees in the Umhloti Nature Reserve on the Barberton road, with guided hour-long tours.
- Emnotweni CasinoBelle-époque-styled casino and entertainment complex near the Botanical Garden.
- Innibos National Arts FestivalAnnual Afrikaans-led national arts festival with music, theatre and craft stalls, held in Mbombela each winter. innibos.co.za
- Kruger National Park (via Numbi gate)Mbombela is a main gateway to Kruger, about 50 km away; Numbi gate is the closest south-western entrance.
- Nelspruit Farmers MarketMonthly market under a marquee at the show grounds with produce, baking, crafts and kids' activities.
- Nelspruit Nature ReserveNature reserve within the suburbs near Sonheuwel, good for walks and birding.
- Steiltes Nature ReserveHillside reserve with walking trails above the Steiltes suburb.
Things to see
- Kaapsehoop PassScenic mountain road from Mbombela up to Kaapsehoop, an alternative route west.
- Lowveld National Botanical GardenGardens along the Crocodile River with waterfalls. sanbi.org
- Makhonjwa Mountains (Barberton Makhonjwa World Heritage Site)Part of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, with some of the oldest exposed rocks on Earth, lies inside the City of Mbombela.
- Mbombela StadiumStadium built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with roof supports shaped like giraffes; home of the Pumas rugby team.
- Sudwala CavesAmong the oldest known caves in the world.
Close by Mbombela
More to do and see in towns a short drive awayA historic gold-rush town in the Makhonjwa Mountains, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the oldest rock…
- Do Barberton Heritage Walk
- Do Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail
- Do Barberton-Bulembu-Badplaas scenic route
- Do Gold panning
- Do Old mine tunnel walk
Businesses in Mbombela
Add your business →
All
Accommodation (123)Agriculture (1)Automotive (10)Business Services (59)Community & Government (10)Education (10)Food & Drink (36)Health & Wellness (20)Home & Building (11)IT & Electronics (16)Shopping (67)Tourism & Leisure (11)Transport & Logistics (6)
Adega Restaurant Nelspruit
Casual Portuguese restaurant.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Arkansas Spur Steak Ranch
Spur family steakhouse at West End Shopping Centre.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Burger King Riverside Mall
Burger King outlet at Riverside Mall.
Takeaways
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Cappuccinos i'langa Mall
Cappuccinos café in i'langa Mall.
Coffee Shops
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Carlo's Portuguese Restaurant
Portuguese takeaway at Riverside Junction.
Takeaways
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Debonairs Pizza Express Riverside Mall
Debonairs Pizza Express outlet at Riverside Mall.
Takeaways
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Detroit Spur Riverside Mall
Detroit Spur restaurant in Riverside Mall.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Doppio Zero i'langa Mall
Doppio Zero restaurant in i'langa Mall.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Friends Cafe
Restaurant with a view on the Kaapsehoop Road.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Galaxy Grill i'langa Mall
Galaxy Grill restaurant in i'langa Mall.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Hennie's Nelspruit
Pub and sports bar, voted Best Pub and Sports Bar in the Best of Mbombela 2024 awards.
Pubs & Bars
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Jock and Java
Pub with an upmarket restaurant section at the Outpost Centre.
Pubs & Bars
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Johnny Fries Riverside Mall
Johnny Fries outlet at Riverside Mall.
Takeaways
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Just Pink Café and Venue
Café and small function venue at the Sonpark Shopping Centre.
Coffee Shops
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
KFC Riverside Mall
KFC outlet at Riverside Mall.
Takeaways
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
LekkerWei
Restaurant and pub in West Acres.
Pubs & Bars
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Lupa Osteria Crossing
Italian osteria restaurant at the Crossing Centre.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mediterranean Seafood and Sushi Bar i'langa Mall
Mediterranean Seafood and Sushi Bar restaurant in i'langa Mall.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mountain Spring Spur
Spur family steakhouse in i'langa Mall (shop UG79-80).
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mugg & Bean i'langa Mall
Mugg & Bean café in i'langa Mall.
Coffee Shops
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Nando's i'langa Mall
Nando's restaurant in i'langa Mall.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Nando's Riverside Mall
Nando's restaurant in Riverside Mall.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Orange Restaurant
Fine-dining restaurant with views over the city.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Panarottis i'langa Mall
Panarottis restaurant in i'langa Mall.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Property in Mbombela
No property listed in Mbombela yet. List a property.