Phalaborwa
A mining town right on the edge of the Kruger National Park.
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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Buffalo Grill & Bistro
Casual pub and grill in central Phalaborwa serving steaks, burgers and pub food, with an outdoor deck; family friendly.
Restaurants
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Crawftwood Steakhouse and Takeaways
Steakhouse and takeaway in Phalaborwa.
Restaurants
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Debonairs Pizza Phalaborwa Tusk Motors
Debonairs Pizza outlet at the TotalEnergies Tusk Motors station.
Takeaways
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
KFC Phalaborwa
KFC fried-chicken outlet at the Shoprite Centre.
Takeaways
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Nandini Bistro Restaurant & Spa
Bistro with spa on a farm in the Grietjie area outside Phalaborwa.
Restaurants
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Old Fashion Fish and Chips
Fish and chips takeaway in Eden Square Mall.
Takeaways
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Philly's Corner Pub
Neighbourhood pub in Phalaborwa.
Pubs & Bars
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Qualito Craft Distillery
Craft distillery making gin, whisky, brandy and flavoured vodka, with tasting tours and an on-site shop.
Breweries & Distilleries
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Raptors Sports Bar & Car Wash
Sports bar combined with a car wash.
Pubs & Bars
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Steers Total Phalaborwa
Steers burger outlet at the TotalEnergies Masorini service station.
Takeaways
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
The Bus Stop Arts & Crafts & Coffee Shop
Coffee shop combined with an arts-and-crafts shop.
Coffee Shops
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
The Coffee Lounge
Coffee shop in the Potgieter Street lifestyle centre.
Coffee Shops
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Wimpy Phalaborwa
Wimpy family restaurant in the Checkers Centre.
Restaurants
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Yurok Spur Steak Ranch
Spur family steakhouse in the Phalaborwa Mall.
Restaurants
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Property in Phalaborwa
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