Location

In Limpopo Province, just 2 kilometres west of the Kruger National Park.

This prosperous, handsome town was established in the 1950's next to one of the country's richest mineral and metal deposits, a vast volcanic 'pipe' containing copper, phosphates, iron, vermiculite, gold and mica. Indeed its very name reflects the wealth of the area: skilled pre-colonial metal workers arrived, from about AD 400, from the fever-ridden southern plains and called their new home Phalaborwa, which means 'better than the south'. Today it's a modern, busy centre laid-out in a parkland setting, its streets and gardens ablaze with jacaranda, frangipani and flamboyant trees. It has all the visitor amenities, including two hotels and nearly 40 other accommodation establishments. There's good golfing at the Hans Merensky Country Club - a fine course, designed by Bob Grimsdell, whose fairways and rough sometimes play host to game and other animals.

Highlights

Kruger National Park Phalaborwa's principal tourist attraction is of course its closeness to South Africa's best-known wildlife sanctuary. Access to the park's central parts is through the gate that leads east to the Letaba rest-camp. Night-drives from town are on offer.

The World of Mining The Fosk or museum provides an intriguing insight into the skills and life styles of the ancients. One can also tour the phosphate works themselves (on Friday mornings) and visit the huge, 2-kilometre wide open-cast mine.

Craft Centre. This is a training project run by the Foskor development trust, with a sales outlet at the park gate. On offer are wood carvings, rugs, pottery, metalwork, beadwork, and screen-printed fabrics.

Olifants River A fairly major watercourse that nurtures the Kruger Nationals Park's central areas. Sunset cruises make a pleasant change from the standard game-viewing drive.

Nearest towns

There are no large centres close to Phalaborwa; most easily accessible are Nelspruit on the N4 highway to the south; Tzaneen and, beyond, Pietersburg/Polekwane on the N1 to the west.

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PHALABORWA

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Western Cape
Gauteng
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