The province of Mpumalanga is located in the north eastern part of South Africa, and is bordered by Mozambique to the east and the Kingdom of Swaziland to the south and east. Mpumalanga also shares common borders with the Northern Province to the north, Gauteng to the west, the Free State to the south west and KwaZulu-Natal to the south east. Throughout the Mpumalanga hills and mountains exist hundreds of examples of San (bushman) art. This art

serves as a window looking into the lives of the San hunters and gatherers who inhabited the area centuries before the arrival of the Nguni people from the north.

In the mountains above Barberton scientists have also found traces of "Stromatolites", the remnants of blue-green algae formed 3500 million years ago when oxygen was added to the earth's atmosphere in significant quantities to create the first evolutionary step towards life forms.

The region abounded with all types of game, plants, birds and insects. The rivers ran full, providing for the needs of these early inhabitants. Later came the first of the Nguni people who arrived with herds of cattle, and mined red ochre in the hills south of Malelane. Early smelters, which pre-date the main Nguni influx, have been excavated, indicating that the use of iron and copper was well advanced during these years.

Similarly, early pottery fragments and sculptural artefacts unearthed in the hills on the Long Tom Pass, notably the "Lydenburg heads" have been described as a major art find.

Around 1400 AD the second Nguni migration arrived from the north with their vast herds of cattle. These people had advanced the art of iron smelting, and built stone-walled houses for their settlements.

The creation of the Swazi nation as we know it today commenced at the time of King Ngwane. The area, which was then demarcated by tribal boundaries, was referred to as KaNgwane, a name that still stands. Clans forged friendships with other clans through marriage and for safety of numbers, while frequent raids against neighbouring clans served to replenish cattle herds and to extend tribal lands.

The movements of tribal chiefs through the region had a profound effect on the formation and bonding of nations. Most notable was the influence of Zulu king Shaka, whose empire stretched southwards from the Swaziland border to the Tugela River.

Shoshangane, who escaped from Zululand and settled in the Gaza Province of Mozambique, was the founder of the Shangane people, while Mzilikazi, after being forced to flee Zululand to escape the wrath of Shaka, travelled through the region on his way north to establish an empire in southern Zimbabwe. His passage was marked by death and destruction as he sought to subjugate the Ndebele people.

For centuries, Mpumalanga was populated by warrior clans who roamed the hills and plains in search of grazing for their cattle and safety for their people. Theirs was a life of war and survival as the centres of power moved from one clan to another.

The oral tradition passed down in the folklore of the people is today an important record of the lives and tribal history of the inhabitants.

Its serenity and natural ambiance, enthralling landscapes, majestic waterfalls, kaleidoscope of cultures, imposing mountains, unequalled scenic beauty and enchanting flora and fauna, make Mpumalanga the most sought after tourist destination.

Mpumalanga offers attractions and activities ranging from game viewing, bird watching, trout fishing, white water river rafting, hiking, paragliding, abseiling, 4x4 trails, hot air ballooning, riveting cultural villages, historical sites and monuments as testimony to events of yesteryear.

Mpumalanga is an all year round destination, with the climate and topography varying from cool highland grasslands at 1 600 metres above sea level, through to the middleveldt and escarpment and the sub-tropical Lowveld.

The province has recently been demarcated into seven tourism regions, each with its own unique features and an array of attractions to ensure a rewarding holiday for all. The regions are Panorama, Highlands Meander, Lowveld Legogote, Cultural Heartland, Wild Frontier, Cosmos Country and Grass & Wetlands.

The Panorama region, renowned for its natural beauty, boasts well known attractions like the Blyde River Canyon – the third largest and only green canyon in the world - the living museum town of Pilgrim’s Rest and the mesmerising waterfalls at Sabie and Graskop and the areas around and between the towns.

The Highlands Meander is a Mecca for fly-fisherman. It is in the placid and pristine waters of this region that one can find various types of fish, with trout as the major draw card. The Meander offers a myriad of activities and an abundance of historical sites.

In the Cultural Heartland, you can immerse yourself in the true cultural heritage of Mpumalanga, learning about the proud and welcoming amaNdebele nation, revered for their striking geometric patterns on their houses and clothing.

Cosmos Country – named after the carpet of Cosmos flowers that bloom every autumn, covers parts of what is known as the energy belt of Mpumalanga and is home to a number of power stations that supply most of the energy to South African and other African countries. This region also boasts the world’s largest underground coal mining complex. Cosmos Country also boasts the world renowned SASOL refinery known for its technology of extracting oil from coal, a process unique to SASOL and South Africa.

The Wild Frontier country is deemed the cradle of life, due to the astonishing archaeological discoveries made in the mountainous regions in the area, some dating back to almost 3 billion years. It also holds rich historical sentiments centred around the monument erected for Samora Machel – a previous Mozambican president – which has been erected at Mbuzini.  Due to the central location of this region, visitors can have the rare opportunity of visiting 3 countries (South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique) in a short space of time.

The Grass and Wetland area is a birders paradise. This region stretches from the deep valleys and mountains of the east where thermal springs bubble to the surface.

The Lowveld Legogote offers visitors countless attractions, from the historical Sudwala Caves, game viewing in the Kruger National Park, the natural ambience of the Lowveld Botanical Gardens near Nelspruit, the nostalgic horse rides in the village of Kaapsehoop to the craftsmen and artist’s haven of White River or have a glimpse of a collection of reptiles at the Crocriver Enviro Park which is Africa’s largest reptile park.