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)
Scheepers Attorneys
Law firm.
Legal & Attorneys
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
SEKA Capital
Outsourced CFO and finance services.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
SEZ Foundation
Non-profit focused on teenage-pregnancy advocacy.
NGOs & Charities
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Shandon Regency Lodge
Guesthouse with restaurant in Steiltes.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Sheba Rock Guesthouse
Guest accommodation in West Acres, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Sheet Street i'langa Mall
Bedding and homeware store in i'langa Mall.
Shopping
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Sheppard Boutique Hotel
Boutique hotel in Sonheuwel.
Hotels
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Simplify Vehicle and Truck Rental
Vehicle and truck rental and leasing in Riverside Park.
Car Hire
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Skhunyana Consulting
Consulting firm.
Consulting
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Sleep Haven Self-Catering
Self-catering accommodation in Sonheuwel, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Self-Catering
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Smile Factory
Dental practice, voted Best Dental Practice in the Best of Mbombela 2024 awards.
Dentists
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
SN Bennett Accountants & Auditors
Accounting and auditing practice.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Sonpark Laundromat & Dry Cleaners
Laundromat and dry cleaners at the Sonpark Centre.
Business Services
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Sorbet i'langa Mall
Sorbet beauty salon in i'langa Mall.
Spas & Beauty
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Southern Sun Mbombela
Hotel and conference venue in Riverside Park, bordering the Lowveld National Botanical Garden and next to the Emnotweni…
Hotels
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Sparkling Valley Nelspruit
Car wash.
Mechanics & Services
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Sportscene Riverside Mall
Sportscene fashion store in Riverside Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Sportsmans Warehouse Crossing
Sporting goods and outdoor store at the Crossing Centre, voted Best Sporting Goods Store in the Best of Mbombela awards.
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Spring Acres Guesthouse
Guest accommodation in West Acres, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Staff Unlimited
Recruitment agency.
Recruitment
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Standard Bank Riverside Mall
Standard Bank branch in Riverside Mall.
Financial Services
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Starbucks i'langa Mall
Starbucks coffee shop in i'langa Mall (shop UG77).
Coffee Shops
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
StayEasy Mbombela
Budget hotel with 115 en-suite rooms, pool and a small meeting room, close to Riverside Mall.
Hotels
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Steers Riverside Mall
Steers outlet at Riverside Mall.
Takeaways
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Property in Mbombela
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