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)
The Rest Zebra Lodge
Lodge in Sonheuwel, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
The Rock Guesthouse
Guest accommodation in West Acres, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
The Roost Guest Lodge
Guest accommodation in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Three Little Donkeys Restaurant & Coffee Shop
Restaurant and coffee shop in Sonheuwel.
Coffee Shops
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Tipperary Game Lodge
Lodge in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
TKS Solar Engineering
Solar engineering company.
Solar & Backup Power
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Tomjachu Bush Retreat
Lodge in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
TOPS Crossing
TOPS at SPAR liquor store linked to Crossing SUPERSPAR.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Torburnlea Luxury B&B
Luxury B&B on a macadamia farm at Mataffin.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Totalsports Riverside Mall
Totalsports fashion store in Riverside Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Town Lodge Mbombela
City Lodge Group mid-range hotel in West Acres.
Hotels
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Toys R Us & Babies R Us i'langa Mall
Toy and baby store in i'langa Mall.
Shopping
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Travelex Riverside Mall
Travelex branch in Riverside Mall.
Financial Services
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Truworths i'langa Mall
Truworths store in i'langa Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Truworths Riverside Mall
Truworths fashion store in Riverside Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Turn n Tender Crossing
Steakhouse restaurant at the Crossing Centre.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
United Furniture Outlet Riverside Mall
Furniture store in Riverside Mall.
Shopping
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
University of Mpumalanga
Public university with campuses in Mbombela and Siyabuswa.
Universities & Colleges
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Urban House Bistro & Bar
Bistro and bar in Faurie Street.
Pubs & Bars
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Valinfo
Vetting and background-screening services.
Consulting
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Valley Hyper Centre
Strip shopping centre on the R104, named Best Strip Mall in the Best of Mbombela awards.
Shopping Centres
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Van Heerden Pharmacy Sonpark
Pharmacy in the Sonmed Building at Sonpark.
Pharmacies
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Victorian Guesthouse
Guest accommodation in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Vince Shuttle & Taxi Services
Shuttle and taxi service.
Shuttles & Taxis
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Property in Mbombela
No property listed in Mbombela yet. List a property.