Northern Kruger Tourism Information

Quick Facts: Northern Kruger

• Phalaborwa
• Hoedspruit
• Kapama Game Reserve
• Karongwe Game Reserve
• Makalali Conservancy
• Thornybush Game Reserve
• Timbavati Game Reserve
• Balule Nature Reserve
• Blyde-Olifants Conservancy
• Hans Merensky Golf Course / Hans Merensky Hotel & Country Estate
• Hans Merensky Nature Reserve
• Tshukudu Private Game Reserve
• Umhlametsi Game Reserve
• Selati Game Reserve
• Letaba Ranch Game Reserve
• Phalaborwa Foskor Mine Museum

Introducing Northern Kruger

The Phalaborwa Municipality in South Africa's Limpopo Province is renowned for its mining activities.  Copper and phosphate ores are the most mined natural resources in this region of South Africa.  One of the largest open pit copper mines in the world is just one of the many sites which can be seen from the lookout point which also provides a panoramic view of the extensive area of industrial, residential and natural bushveld in this region.

The White Lions of the Timbavati Game Reseve, the Wild Dog breeding and preservation sanctuary, and the Cheetah breeding Game Lodge are located in close proximity to Phalaborwa.  The Kruger National Park can be accessed from Phalaborwa which awaits visitors with its magnificent, untamed African wildlife including the 'Big Five': lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard, rhino.

Phalaborwa is the site of the ‘Big Hole’ which is the earth’s largest man-made mining hole.  Mining and smelting of copper and iron ore date back to 400 AD when the Sotho called the area ‘Ba-Phalaborwa’, meaning ‘better than the south’.

Phalaborwa, in South Africa's Limpopo Province, and its surrounding region comprises the following areas and attractions:

• Phalaborwa
• Hoedspruit
• Balule Nature Reserve: adjacent to the Kruger National Park, home to the Big Five
• Kapama Game Reserve: Kapama Lodge, Kapama River Lodge, Kapama Buffalo Camp, Kapama Karula Lodge
• Karongwe Game Reserve
• Makalali Conservancy / Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve
• Thornybush Game Reserve / Thornybush Game Lodge Collection: this 10 000 hectare game reserve is adjacent to and incorporated into the Greater Kruger National Park
• Timbavati Game Reserve: famous for its white lions
• Blyde-Olifants Conservancy: consolidates a group of privately owned game farms in the central Lowveld region into an official nature reserve
• Hans Merensky Golf Course: designed by Robert Grimsdell, the Hans Merensky golf course borders by the Kruger National Park near the Phalaborwa Gate and many of the Park's inhabitants visit this unique golf course
• Hans Merensky Nature Reserve: situated on the banks of the Great Letaba River west of the Kruger National Park in close proximity to Tzaneen
• Tshukudu Private Game Reserve: this 'Big Five' 5 000 ha game reserve is situated in the Central Lowveld near Hoedspruit adjoining the Greater Kruger National Park
• Umhlametsi Game Reserve: bordered by the Kruger National Park is home to an abundance of diverse wildlife
• Selati Game Reserve: this reserve is located on 30 000 hectares west of the Kruger National Park, between the towns of Gravelotte and Mica, north of Nelspruit
• Letaba Ranch Game Reserve
• Phalaborwa Foskor Mine Museum