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)
5 On Park
Self-catering house for six with pool.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
A Traveller's Palm
Guest house in Phalaborwa town, close to the Kruger Park gate.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Action Travel Phalaborwa
Travel agency.
Travel Agents
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
African Bank Phalaborwa Checkers Centre
African Bank branch.
Financial Services
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Ampath Phalaborwa Laboratory
Ampath pathology collection site.
Hospitals & Clinics
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Antares Bush Camp and Safaris
Graded bush camp with a hide and safari activities, sleeping eight.
Lodges & Game Lodges
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Anton Mare Attorney
Law firm in Phalaborwa.
Legal & Attorneys
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Avis Phalaborwa Airport
Avis car hire desk just past baggage claim at Phalaborwa (Hendrik Van Eck) Airport.
Car Hire
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality
Local municipality seated in Phalaborwa (Mopani District).
Municipalities
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Bakkers Bed & Breakfast
B&B with pool and Wi-Fi.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Balule Bushveld Safari Lodge
Self-catering safari lodge with pool, listed under Phalaborwa.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Benmar Tune Up
Engine tune-up and service workshop.
Mechanics & Services
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Beverly Hills Guest Lodge
Budget guest lodge in town.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Boikhutsong Guesthouse
Guest house in Extension 6, Phalaborwa.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Bothabelo Bed and Breakfast
B&B in Phalaborwa.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Bradlows Phalaborwa
Bradlows furniture and appliance store.
Shopping
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Buffalo Grill & Bistro
Casual pub and grill in central Phalaborwa serving steaks, burgers and pub food, with an outdoor deck; family friendly.
Restaurants
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Bushbaby Adventures
Phalaborwa operator offering Kruger day and overnight safaris, photographic safaris, transfers and excursions such as O…
Tour Operators
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Bushveld Bethel Christian Academy
Christian private school.
Schools
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Bushveld Pest Control Solutions
Pest control service.
Pest Control
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Bushveld Terrace Safari Hotel, Lodge & Spa
Hotel near the Kruger Park's Phalaborwa Gate with an à la carte restaurant, pool, gym and night drives or bush walks bo…
Hotels
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Bushvilla's
Self-catering bush villas with pool near the Kruger gate.
Self-Catering
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
C.U. Guest House
Guest house in Phalaborwa town.
Guest Houses & B&Bs
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Cajori Hotel
Small hotel with restaurant on Palm Avenue.
Hotels
Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Property in Phalaborwa
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