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)
Shoprite Phalaborwa
Shoprite supermarket in the Shoprite Centre.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Silverton Radiators Phalaborwa
Radiator repairs.
Mechanics & Services
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
SPAR Kruger Park
SPAR supermarket on Koper Road with an adjoining TOPS liquor store.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Spec-Savers Phalaborwa
Optometry practice and eyewear store.
Doctors
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Steers Total Phalaborwa
Steers burger outlet at the TotalEnergies Masorini service station.
Takeaways
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Studio Hair
Hair salon in Phalaborwa.
Hair Salons
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Su-Lo Guesthome
Self-catering guest home sleeping ten, with pool.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Sunbird Lodge
Guest house in Phalaborwa town, a short drive from the Kruger Park's Phalaborwa Gate.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Supa Quick Tyre Experts Phalaborwa
Tyre fitment centre; open during loadshedding.
Tyres & Exhausts
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Super Service
Vehicle workshop.
Mechanics & Services
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
SuziQ
Clothing boutique in the Potgieter Street lifestyle centre.
Clothing & Fashion
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Tambotie Animal Clinic
Veterinary clinic.
Veterinarians
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Teleradio Phalaborwa
Electronics and communications business.
Electronics Repairs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Thaba Ngala
Game lodge listed under Phalaborwa, with pool and braai.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
The Bed Shop Phalaborwa
Bed and mattress store in Eden Square Mall.
Shopping
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
The Bus Stop Arts & Crafts & Coffee Shop
Coffee shop combined with an arts-and-crafts shop.
Coffee Shops
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
The Coffee Lounge
Coffee shop in the Potgieter Street lifestyle centre.
Coffee Shops
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Thete TT Attorneys
Law firm in Phalaborwa.
Legal & Attorneys
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Thula Moya Luxury Cottage
Luxury self-catering cottage for two.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Thula Private Lodge
Private lodge in Phalaborwa.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Tintshaba Safaris
Self-catering safari accommodation with pool.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
TOPS at SPAR Kruger Park
Liquor store at SPAR Kruger Park.
Supermarkets & Groceries
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Tot Hier Toe - Ikhaya Ndlovu
Tented camp unit with pool and Wi-Fi.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
TotalEnergies Masorini
Fuel station with Steers, on Koper Road towards the Kruger gate.
Fuel Stations
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Property in Phalaborwa
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