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)
Manley Blinds, Shutters & More
Blinds, shutters and curtains supplier in Sonpark Industrial, voted Best Blinds and Curtains two years running.
Shopping
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Markham Riverside Mall
Markham fashion store in Riverside Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Matopos Lodge
Lodge in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Matumi Golf Lodge
Lodge in Matumi Golf Estate, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mbombela Exclusive Guest House
Guest accommodation in Sonheuwel, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mboweni and Partners Attorneys
Law firm that took part in the Law Society's National Wills Week 2025.
Legal & Attorneys
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mediclinic Nelspruit
Private hospital with a 24-hour emergency centre, cardiac and neonatal ICUs, oncology, dialysis and imaging.
Hospitals & Clinics
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mediclinic Nelspruit Day Clinic
Day clinic for same-day procedures on the Mediclinic Nelspruit campus.
Hospitals & Clinics
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mediterranean Seafood and Sushi Bar i'langa Mall
Mediterranean Seafood and Sushi Bar restaurant in i'langa Mall.
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
MICA Nelspruit
Hardware store voted Best DIY Hardware Store in the Best of Mbombela awards.
Hardware & Building Supplies
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mmela Financial Services
Financial services provider.
Financial Services
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mohlala Attorneys
Law firm that took part in the Law Society's National Wills Week 2025.
Legal & Attorneys
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mopani Pharmacy Crossing Centre
Independent pharmacy group voted Best Pharmacy; branches at the Crossing Centre, i'langa Mall, Riverside Mall and Steil…
Pharmacies
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Moses Mkhabela Clinical Psychologist
Clinical psychology practice.
Doctors
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Motswako Mbombela
Office automation supplier.
IT Support & Systems Administration
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mountain Spring Spur
Spur family steakhouse in i'langa Mall (shop UG79-80).
Restaurants
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mountain View Guest House
Guest accommodation in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga Country House
Guest accommodation in Mbombela, Mbombela, listed on a booking platform.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga Dakkappe
Roofing company.
Builders & Renovations
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga PVC
PVC ceilings and interior installations in Riverside Industrial Park.
Builders & Renovations
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mr Price Home i'langa Mall
Homeware store in i'langa Mall, voted Best Home Decor Store in the Best of Mbombela awards.
Shopping
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mr Price Home Riverside Mall
Homeware store in Riverside Mall.
Shopping
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mr Price i'langa Mall
Mr Price store in i'langa Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Mr Price Riverside Mall
Mr Price fashion store in Riverside Mall.
Clothing & Fashion
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Property in Mbombela
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