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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Accommodation (73)Automotive (17)Business Services (16)Community & Government (15)Education (8)Food & Drink (14)Health & Wellness (16)Home & Building (9)IT & Electronics (5)Shopping (26)Tourism & Leisure (6)Transport & Logistics (2)
Kakuli Vulture Cottage
Budget self-catering cottage for two with pool.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Kambaku II Boat Safaris & Lodge (Olifants River Safaris)
Two-to-three-hour boat safaris on the Olifants River (morning, mid-morning and sunset, plus breakfast and braai options…
Tour Operators
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Kempiana Kruger Family Camp
Self-catering family camp with pool.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
KFC Phalaborwa
KFC fried-chicken outlet at the Shoprite Centre.
Takeaways
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Khanya Tented Camp
Upmarket tented camp in the Phalaborwa bushveld with pool and Wi-Fi.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Kingfisher Private School
Private school in Phalaborwa close to the Kruger Park.
Schools
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Kingly Bush Villa
Accommodation in Phalaborwa listed on SA-Venues.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Kokobela Lodge
Large self-catering lodge sleeping twelve, with pool.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Kudu Kottage
Budget self-catering cottage sleeping three, with Wi-Fi.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
KWIKSPAR Zorba
KwikSpar convenience supermarket with TOPS liquor store.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
La Lechere Guest House
Guest house with pool and Wi-Fi in Phalaborwa.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Laerskool Phalaborwa-Noord
Public primary school.
Schools
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Laerskool Phalaborwa-Suid
Public primary school.
Schools
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Lalamo Guest House
Guest house in Phalaborwa town.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Landrift Villa 310
Large self-catering golf-estate villa sleeping eight, with pool.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Lapologa at Kruger
B&B with pool and conference facilities.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
LE-FEBU Looks Hair and Beauty Salon
Hair salon in Phalaborwa.
Hair Salons
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Lemima Construction
Building contractor.
Builders & Renovations
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Lengau Lodge
Lodge in a Big Five area listed under Phalaborwa.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Lenkay Motors
Used-vehicle dealer.
Car Dealerships
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Leroux Electrical
Electrical contractor.
Electricians
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Letaba Luxury Safari Camp
Wheelchair-friendly tented safari camp listed under Phalaborwa.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Lions Place
Bush accommodation in the Grietjie reserve area outside Phalaborwa.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Liquor City Phalaborwa
Liquor store.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Property in Phalaborwa
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