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
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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)
Old Mutual Finance Riverside Mall
Old Mutual Finance branch in Riverside Mall.
Financial Services
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Old Vic Traveller's Inn
Budget inn in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Backpackers
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Oluchi Lodge
Self-catering and B&B lodge at Uitkyk on Claremont Road.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Orange Restaurant
Fine-dining restaurant with views over the city.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Pace Car Rental Nelspruit
Car rental company in Riverside.
Car Hire
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Paintsmiths Lowveld
Paint, hardware and décor retailer in Riverside Industrial.
Hardware & Building Supplies
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Panarottis i'langa Mall
Panarottis restaurant in i'langa Mall.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Panarottis Riverside Mall
Panarottis restaurant in Riverside Mall.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Pandora i'langa Mall
Pandora jewellery store in i'langa Mall.
Jewellery
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Patel Hardware
Hardware retailer in the Riverside industrial area.
Hardware & Building Supplies
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
PC Logic Computers
Managed IT service provider (CCTV, VoIP, cybersecurity, hosting, firewalls, Microsoft 365).
IT Support & Systems Administration
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Pensão Guest Lodge
Guest accommodation in Sonheuwel, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
PEP i'langa Mall
PEP store in i'langa Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
PestCo Mpumalanga
Pest control company in West Acres.
Pest Control
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Pick n Pay i'langa Mall
Pick n Pay food store, plus Pick n Pay Liquor and Clothing outlets, in i'langa Mall.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Pick n Pay Riverside Mall
Pick n Pay supermarket, with separate Pick n Pay Liquor and Clothing stores, in Riverside Mall.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Planet Nails Nelspruit
Nail and beauty products supplier at the Sonpark Centre.
Spas & Beauty
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
PNA Crossing Centre
Stationery and books store at the Crossing Centre, voted Best Stationery Shop in the Best of Mbombela awards.
Shopping
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Point R40 Lodge
Lodge with restaurant and bar on the Barberton Road.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Point-S Mbombela
Tyre fitment centre, voted Best Tyre Shop in the Best of Mbombela 2024 awards.
Tyres & Exhausts
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Prime Signs Mbombela
Signage and design company.
Printing & Signage
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Print My Thing Now
3D printing service at the Crossing Centre.
Printing & Signage
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Pro Plastic Signs
Signage and marketing products manufacturer.
Printing & Signage
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Produkta Motor Group
Motor dealership in Riverside Park.
Car Dealerships
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Property in Mbombela
No property listed in Mbombela yet. List a property.