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)
Little 5 Camp
Small tented camp with pool and braai facilities, sleeping four.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Little Miracles Daycare
Day care centre.
Pre-schools & Crèches
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Loerie Lodge
Guest house in Phalaborwa.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Lulu Safaris on Kruger
Self-catering house sleeping nine, with pool.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Luso Country Lodge
Lodge-style accommodation in Phalaborwa.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Luxury Safari Homes
Self-catering bush homes with pool, sleeping five.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
M & S Gardening Services
Garden service.
Garden Services & Nurseries
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Mad Safari Bush Camp
Self-catering bush camp with pool.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Mahudzi Guest House
Guest house in Phalaborwa.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Marcon Service Centre
Vehicle service centre.
Mechanics & Services
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Markham
Menswear store in Eden Square Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Marulani Pharmacy
Independent pharmacy on Palm Avenue.
Pharmacies
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Masorini Bush Lodge
Graded bush lodge with pool on the Hans Merensky golf estate side of town.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Matimba Bush Lodge
Bush lodge on the Hans Merensky Golf Estate.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Mazuri Shamba Safari Lodge
Game lodge with pool listed under Phalaborwa.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Mba Security Systems
Security systems supplier and installer.
CCTV & Security Systems
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Meridian College Phalaborwa
Independent school (Meridian group).
Schools
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Middel & Partners
Accounting practice.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Milady's
Women's fashion store in the Checkers Centre.
Clothing & Fashion
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Molenaar & Olivier Attorneys
Law firm in Phalaborwa.
Legal & Attorneys
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Mongwe JT Attorneys
Law firm in Phalaborwa.
Legal & Attorneys
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
MTN Store Phalaborwa
MTN mobile network store.
Internet & Fibre
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Muweti Bush Lodge
Bush lodge in the Grietjie reserve area.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Nafasi ya Tembu Safaris
Safari tour operator.
Tour Operators
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Property in Phalaborwa
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