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)
Island Boutique Lodge
Lodge in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
iStore i'langa Mall
Apple products retailer in i'langa Mall.
Computer Shops
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
ITCS Ink & Toner Suppliers
Ink and toner cartridge supplier at the Sonpark Centre.
Printing & Signage
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Jaice Terblanche Attorneys
Law firm at Sonpark.
Legal & Attorneys
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Jet i'langa Mall
Jet store in i'langa Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
JJR Inc Attorneys
Law firm that took part in the Law Society's National Wills Week 2025.
Legal & Attorneys
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Jock and Java
Pub with an upmarket restaurant section at the Outpost Centre.
Pubs & Bars
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
John Craig i'langa Mall
Menswear store in i'langa Mall (shop LG67).
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Johnny Fries Riverside Mall
Johnny Fries outlet at Riverside Mall.
Takeaways
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Jorn's Guest House
Guest accommodation in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Just Pink Café and Venue
Café and small function venue at the Sonpark Shopping Centre.
Coffee Shops
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Kekana Hlatshwayo Radebe Inc
Law firm that took part in the Law Society's National Wills Week 2025.
Legal & Attorneys
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
KFC Riverside Mall
KFC outlet at Riverside Mall.
Takeaways
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Khayalami Hotels - Mbombela
Hotel in Sonheuwel Central.
Hotels
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Kiaat Private Hospital
Private hospital at Kiaat Ridge.
Hospitals & Clinics
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Kiara's Guesthouse
Guest accommodation in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Kim Leisure Travel
Shuttle service.
Shuttles & Taxis
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Klipspringer Lodge
Lodge in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
König Coffee Lowveld
Local distributor of König coffee beans and coffee products.
Shopping
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT)
Regional chamber of business and tourism with a member directory of almost 1,000 businesses.
Consulting
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
Airport serving Mbombela and the southern Kruger.
Airports
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Kwanyoni Lodge and Restaurant
Lodge in Alkmaar, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
La Roca Guesthouse
Guest accommodation in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
La Villa Vita Boutique Hotel & Spa
Boutique hotel with restaurant, spa, conference facilities and shuttle service in Sonheuwel.
Hotels
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Property in Mbombela
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