PHALABORWA

Gateway to the Kruger National Park and Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park Dubbed the ‘town of two summers’ because it never really gets cold in this subtropical town of mild winters and warm summers, Phalaborwa enjoys average day temperatures of 23°C and is the ideal year-round holiday destination. Tourism and wildlife play a dominant role in the life of this town. Surrounded by game farms and lodges, game sanctuaries and nature reserves, tourists are never more than half an hour’s drive away from unforgettable destinations and memories. Situated within walking distance of the central gate to the Kruger National Park, the town is an ideal base from which to explore the world’s most famous game reserve and the many scenic attractions of the Lowveld. There are various opportunities to view wildlife daily from the Phalaborwa Gate. These include sunrise or sunset wilderness trails, day or night safaris and the extremely popular ‘bush braai/barbeque’. A boat safari down the Olifants River offers a three-hour game-viewing meander. Phalaborwa was established in 1958 after the discovery of huge mineral deposits, and is the central gateway to the Kruger National Park via the Phalaborwa Gate. Today it supports a thriving mining industry, supplying vital minerals to the country, as well as a flourishing export industry. The town also boasts one of the world’s largest open-cast mines, which has become a unique tourist attraction.