We've visited a number of cities in South Africa in this worldwide travel series, and today we'll be going to Mpumalanga and Northern Province. Mpumalanga is just a short drive from Johannesburg, but despite the short distance, it is world removed from the craziness of Johannesburg with endless golden grasslands lying peacefully under a blue sky.



The land rises towards the cool, higher areas of the Drakensberg mountain range and is called the Highveld. It makes an splendid escarpment which drops a breathtaking 1000 meters to a steamy subtropical area of extraordinary lushness and fertility which is called the Lowveld.

This area abounds in wild life and scenic magnificence and is therefore a major attraction for tourist from all over the world. It is also home to Kruger National Park and many private satellite reserves.

It has many trout-filled rivers and streams peacefully flowing through rocks that have been ravaged by the waters for thousands of years and drops away into a number of dramatic waterfalls, to form misty pools below which is surrounded by evergreen forests and sheltered valleys flourishing in the mild climate with nuts, fruit and flowers growing abundantly.

Local legends have it that these pools are the resting place of ancestral spirits and being there, it's not all that hard to believe. It just adds to the mystery of the continent that is Africa.

Sabie and Graskop are areas where immense plantations flourish and has a number of beautiful hiking trials if you are prepared to rough it for a few days. Be warned though that the pools beneath the waterfalls are freezing – even in summer!

Another worldwide travel attraction of the area is the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. A 22500 hectare area of awe-inspiring natural wonders like God's Window where the Highveld meets the Lowveld, Bourke's Luck potholes that was formed by the negative effects of water and vistas of indescribable beauty and grandeur.

Further north near Tzaneen, one can find fruits like pawpaws, mangoes, litchis, banana and avocados that absolutely thrive in the subtropical climate and can be bought fresh from the trees at roadside stalls. It is quite an experience to stay on one of the working farms if you can stomach all the creepy-crawlies around!

In the next part of this worldwide travel series on South Africa, we'll take a look at The Kruger National Park in detail. This will give you a taste of the "real" Africa of days gone by.