Tender information for all 5 opportunities can be downloaded here.  

Here is a summary of the key bid requirements and deadlines for the listed tenders: 

1. Bid Number: MTPA/20252026/COM/04   

Description: Appointment to source an operator to invest, upgrade, operate, and manage the Zithabiseni Holiday Resort.   

• • Closing Date & Time: 06 May 2026 at 11:00 AM. 
  • Briefing Session/Site Visit:
    • Site Visit: 17 March 2026 at 14:00, Siyabuswa Industrial Park.
    • Non-compulsory Briefing Session: 21 April 2026 at 11:00 (Virtual via MS Teams; link available upon request from Priscilla.Gwebu@mtpa.co.za).   
  • Bid Document Collection: Available on the MTPA website or at the MTPA Complex Office for R200 (non-refundable).   
  • Submission Location: Supply Chain Management Unit, Procurement Office, Hall’s Gateway, Mataffin, MTPA Finance Block E, Mbombela.

2. Bid Number: MTPA/20252026/COM/05 

Description: Request for proposal for an operator to invest, operate, and manage a bush camp concession at Songimvelo Nature Reserve for 15 years.

• • Closing Date & Time: 06 May 2026 at 11:00 AM. 
  • Briefing Session/Site Visit:
    • Non-compulsory Briefing Session: 31 March 2026 at 10:00 (Virtual via MS Teams; link available upon request from zanele@mtpa.co.za).   
    • Site Visit: Book through Tekani.shilenge@mtpa.co.za or robertmasango7@gmail.com.
  • Bid Document Collection: Available on the MTPA website or at the MTPA Complex Office for R200 (non-refundable).   
  • Submission Location: Supply Chain Management Unit, Procurement Office, Hall’s Gateway, Mataffin, MTPA Finance Block E, Mbombela.   

3. Bid Number: MTPA/20252026/COM/06   

Description: Request for proposal for an operator to invest, design, upgrade, operate, and manage a 24-bed lodge in Sara Bank at Manyeleti Nature Reserve.

• • Closing Date & Time: 06 May 2026 at 11:00 AM. 
  • Briefing Session/Site Visit: No briefing session.   
  • Bid Document Collection: Available on the MTPA website or at the MTPA Complex Office for R200 (non-refundable).  
  • Submission Location: Supply Chain Management Unit, Procurement Office, Hall’s Gateway, Mataffin, MTPA Finance Block E, Mbombela.   

Mpumalanga has an abundance of wildlife

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4. Bid Number: MTPA/20252026/COM/07   

Description: Appointment of an investor to invest, design, develop, operate, and manage a 24-bed lodge facility at Dixie Koppie.   

• • Closing Date & Time: 18 May 2026 at 11:00 AM. 
  • Briefing Session/Site Visit: No briefing session.
  • Bid Document Collection: Available on the MTPA website or at the MTPA Complex Office for R200 (non-refundable).   
  • Submission Location: Supply Chain Management Unit, Procurement Office, Hall’s Gateway, Mataffin MTPA Finance Block E, Mbombela.   

5. Bid Number: MTPA/20252026/COM/08   

Description: Request for proposal for an operator to invest, design, develop, operate, and manage a 24-bed tented bush camp lodge at S8 Dam in Manyeleti Nature Reserve.

• • Closing Date & Time: 06 May 2026 at 11:00 AM. 
  • Briefing Session/Site Visit: No briefing session.   
  • Bid Document Collection: Available on the MTPA website or at the MTPA Complex Office for R200 (non-refundable).   
  • Submission Location: Supply Chain Management Unit, Procurement Office, Hall’s Gateway, Mataffin MTPA Finance Block E, Mbombela.   

For all bids, proposals must be clearly marked with the respective tender reference number and submitted to the specified location before the closing date and time.    

All Photos Credit: Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency

Contact for more information

Potential investors seeking more information are encouraged to make contact with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA). Also see official tender information in the link above.

Zithabiseni Resort and Conference Centre, located in Mpumalanga’s “Cultural Heartland,” is managed by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) as of 2023. The resort has faced financial challenges over the past five years, with expenditures consistently exceeding revenue, leading to infrastructure deterioration and reduced tourist activity. Although 48 chalets were recently renovated with funding, the resort still requires significant refurbishment, with an estimated cost of R101.8-million.   

The resort spans 102 hectares and offers 56 operational chalets, accommodating 196 guests. The resort is fully functional, with the main facilities in daily use. However, the remaining 389 chalets are in need of renovation. This could increase guest capacity to over 1,000.   

The facilities include conference halls and rooms with a combined seating capacity of 160, a 100-seater fully licensed restaurant, swimming pools, a braai lapa for 500 guests, a picnic area, sports bar with a pool and big screen television, an outdoor gym, an educational trail and quad and 4×4 trails. The resort employs 72 staff members, with no recent changes in staffing.   

Zithabiseni Resort and Conference Centre is located within the 13,300 hectares of Mabusa Nature Reserve, along the road between Groblersdal and Bronkhorstspruit.

Zithabiseni hosted 921 guests and 14,100 festival attendees in 2024, with visitors drawn to leisure, business, and cultural activities. The resort plans to expand its accommodation options, introduce new tourism activities, and transform one facility into a museum showcasing Ndebele culture.   

The MTPA is considering two business models for the resort: concession and timeshare. A turnaround strategy is being developed to address infrastructure challenges, improve marketing, and create economic opportunities for the local community. Revitalizing the resort is expected to generate employment, support local businesses, and enhance tourism in the region.

Vision 

The MTPA aims to restore Zithabiseni Resort to its former glory, combining natural wilderness with high-quality service to attract visitors and promote sustainable tourism.

Future plans include the following:

• Expand accommodation (camping, bush camps, student housing, chalet upgrades).
• Transform a facility into a museum showcasing Ndebele culture with Dr. Esther Mahalangu as a tourism ambassador.
• Introduce new activities like ziplining, water slides, quad biking, horse riding, wellness center, cultural village, and sports facilities.  

Private sector collaboration

Revitalizing the resort requires collaboration between the private sector and government.

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) is seeking to source an operator that will invest, upgrade, operate and manage the Zithabiseni Holiday Resort.

BID NUMBER: MTPA/20252026/COM/04

View or download the official tender information on the link below. 

Closing date for submissions: 6 May 2026

Contact for more information

Potential investors seeking more information are encouraged to make contact with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA). Also see official tender information in the link above.

Its proximity to the Maputo Corridor and the connections to the Port of Maputo provides investors with easy access to East African (146 million people), SADC (277 million) and ultimately, global markets.

The SEZ is supported by well-developed world class rail and road infrastructure, logistically providing efficient connectivity to Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo in South Africa, the Kingdom of eSwatini and the Republic of Mozambique.

Position your operation strategically along the Maputo Development Corridor

The Nkomazi SEZ is an attractive investment destination, especially for the agri-industrial and logistics sectors.

Strategically positioned in the border town of Komatipoort, Nkomazi SEZ offers a multi-sector base of operations along the Maputo Development Corridor which provides exporters with good access through Maputo Port to the export markets of South East Africa, the Indian Ocean Rim and Far East Asia.

Focused industrial sectors

The Nkomazi SEZ is designed to be a multi-sectoral industrial zone, focused on:

• Agro-processing – citrus fruits; subtropical fruits; aromatic plants; ground and tree nuts;
• Formulation and production of nutraceuticals;
• Refining of nutritional oils;
• A sugar mill;
• Integrated meat processing and attendant leather beneficiation factories;
• Fertilizer production based on recent South African innovation.
• Also serve as Logistics Hub

Strategic Objectives of the Nkomazi SEZ

• Act as an industrial engine to increase agricultural produce throughout the agricultural value chain
• Contribute to GDP of the province and country;
• Increase cross-border trade and export to Africa and the rest of the world.
• Attract Direct Foreign and Domestic Investment;
• Create more sustainable job opportunities in the agricultural value chains;
• Promote SMME development through incubation of new entrepreneurs

The entire development is designed to follow a green infrastructure theme, through:

• • Deployment of renewable energy technologies;
  • Hydrogen mobility with associated generation, storage and transportation infrastructure;
  • Recycling of the bulk of water used on the site and adjacent

The Maputo Corridor is bound to develop even more as the Maputo harbour improves its handling and scheduling capacity. In the event that a second rail line to Maputo to complement the current rail link is developed, the shipment of mining products and agricultural produce to and from the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces will increase.

Investors to date

At this stage, 14 investors have committed to the Nkomazi SEZ, operating mainly in the energy, logistics and agro-processing sectors and amounting to a total investment of R50-billion.

Amongst others, DP World is committed to create a logistics terminal (Komatipoort Dry Port) that can handle cargo containers and bulk material transport through transshipment of road cargo to rail (intermodal). Another investor, Vutomi Energy, is constructing a 100MW Gas to Energy Powerplant. These developments are already in an advanced stage.

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The Nkomazi SEZ is set to provide One-Stop-Shop services, incentives, an innovative platform, a competitive and transparent market environment and timeous and efficient responses to investors’ market requirements.

Contact

Potential investors are encouraged to contact the Nkomazi SEZ team to discuss all available options and opportunities:

More information about the Nkomazi SEZ:

About Special Economic Zones

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are geographically designated areas set aside for specifically targeted economic activities that are supported through special tax incentives. An SEZ aims to be an economic development tool to promote rapid economic growth by using various support measures to attract targeted foreign and domestic investments and technology. 

The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) stands at the forefront of industrial infrastructure development in Mpumalanga, offering a strategically positioned and diversified property portfolio designed to unlock enterprise growth, stimulate regional economies, and catalyse sustainable investment.

MEGA’s extensive property portfolio spans key economic nodes, including well-established small industrial parks located in:

• City of Mbombela,
• Nkomazi Local Municipality,
• Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipalities,
• Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality, and
• Thembisile Hani Local Municipality’s areas of jurisdiction.

These parks provide accessible, cost-effective operational space for SMMEs, light manufacturers, agro-processors, logistics operators, and emerging industrial enterprises. Positioned within vibrant local economies and transport corridors, they serve as incubation platforms for scalable growth and regional trade.

Complementing these are MEGA’s large-scale industrial parks located in:

• Kabokweni,
• Ekandustria, and
• Siyabuswa.

These flagship industrial zones are purpose-built to accommodate medium to heavy industrial operations, advanced manufacturing, warehousing, and large-scale agro-processing facilities, with expansive footprints and growth-ready infrastructure, they provide investors with space, stability, and strategic advantage.

Infrastructure that enables investment

MEGA’s industrial portfolio is anchored in:

• Serviced industrial stands and factory units
• Established utilities infrastructure (electricity, water, sanitation)
• Proximity to national road networks and cross-border trade routes
• Scalable facilities for expansion and sector clustering
• Secure environments conducive to operational continuity

This integrated infrastructure offering reduces entry barriers for investors while accelerating time-to-operation for new and expanding businesses.

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Catalysing inclusive economic development

Through our property and infrastructure portfolio, MEGA advances:

• Industrialisation and localisation
• Township and rural economic participation
• Job creation and enterprise development
• Agro-processing and beneficiation value chains
• Public-private investment partnerships

By activating underutilised industrial assets and aligning infrastructure to provincial economic growth priorities, MEGA ensures that economic opportunity extends beyond urban centres into district and community economies.

A strategic investment partner

As a provincial development-finance agency, Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) combines infrastructure provision with investment facilitation, financial support mechanisms, and sector-focused growth strategies.

This integrated approach positions the agency not merely as a landlord, but as a long-term development partner committed to investor success.

From small industrial enterprises in City of Mbombela, Chief Albert Luthuli and Nkomazi to large-scale operations in Ekandustria, Kabokweni and Siyabuswa, MEGA’s industrial parks are more than physical spaces, they are platforms for productivity, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.

“Industrial infrastructure is a strategic economic instrument and at the MEGA, we deploy it with precision. Our property portfolio is deliberately structured to respond to sector demand, spatial economic priorities, and long-term industrialisation objectives within Mpumalanga.

We do not merely provide space; we engineer investment-ready environments, serviced, strategically located, and scalable which reduces operational risk but accelerate’s time-to-market for manufacturers, agro-processors, logistics operators, and emerging industrial enterprises.

From township-based industrial nodes to large-format parks capable of accommodating advanced manufacturing, our infrastructure strategy is anchored in sustainability, asset optimisation, and catalytic impact. We are repositioning industrial property as a driver of competitiveness, localisation, and inclusive growth. Infrastructure, when properly structured and professionally managed, becomes a decisive enabler of economic transformation.”

— Eric Nyathikazi, General Manager: Infrastructure and Property Management.

Invest in infrastructure that works,
Invest where growth is intentional,
Invest with MEGA.

Contact MEGA

To discuss opportunities or find out more, please contact the Infrastructure and Property Management team at MEGA:

Mpumalanga is one of South Africa’s most productive and important agricultural regions and through strategic investments in the Mpumalanga International Food Market (MIFM) and the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) the province is set to become a major force in food production and distribution.

Mpumalanga’s sophisticated and well-segmented tourism and hospitality sector is ripe for investment and expansion.

Mpumalanga economy

The provincial economy of Mpumalanga is exceptionally diverse. Established industries in the province include Mining, Stainless Steel, Petrochemicals, Pulp and Paper, Ferro-Alloys, Energy Generation, Tourism, Agriculture and Agro-Processing.

Companies in these sectors include global giants in their industries such as Sasol (energy and chemicals), Sappi (paper, packaging, pulp and forests), Samancor Chrome (ferrochrome), Exxaro, ARM and Glencore (mining).

The province’s commercial farmers are among the most efficient in the world, exporting huge quantities of everything from citrus to macadamia nuts. Columbus Stainless is the only stainless-steel manufacturer on the continent.

Governance

The province has three district municipalities and 17 local municipalities. Several agencies which promote the regional economy report to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government. Large parts of the province comprises extensive rural villages that form part of areas run by traditional authorities.

Transport

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Mbombela plus many airfields such as Middelburg. Extensive freight rail network, busiest in South Africa. The N4 highway (Maputo Corridor) is an east-west spine of a highly developed road system.

Mpumalanga’s strategic location makes it a valuable transport and logistics hub:

• Maputo Development Corridor enhances logistics
• Preferential access to lucrative EU market
• Proximity to South Africa’s economic heartland
• Access to regional SADC market: 360-million population
• Access to deepwater Port of Maputo

Maputo Development Corridor

The Maputo Development Corridor is South Africa’s leading Spatial Development Initiative (SDI), linking Mpumalanga Province, Gauteng Province and the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone with the deepwater Port of Maputo in Mozambique.

This efficient corridor provides investors and exporters with good access to the export markets of South East Africa, the Indian Ocean Rim and Far East Asia. The Maputo Development Corridor comprises road, rail, Special Economic Zone, border posts, port and terminal facilities.

Mpumalanga’s diverse and resource-rich economy makes it one of the most attractive trade and investment destinations in South East Africa.

The corridor runs through the most highly industrialised and productive regions of Southern Africa. The Corridor has been extensively upgraded to international standards and links the industrial heartland of South Africa to its nearest port in Maputo, Mozambique, which is one of the fastest-growing countries in South East Africa.

Unique selling proposition

• Abundant resources: minerals and agricultural produce
• Established manufacturing infrastructure: smelters, petrochemicals, food processing, paper, sugar
• Strategic location: access to regional and global markets
• Tourism hotspots: the iconic Kruger National Park, world-class reserves, adventure tourism and new UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Mpumalanga International Food Market (MIFM)
• Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (NSEZ)
• The University of Mpumalanga
• Support for Green Economy research and investment

How to invest in Mpumalanga

The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) is the official Economic Development Agency for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and an entity of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

MEGA’s primary mandate is to foster the sustainable growth and development of Mpumalanga’s economy through its operational activities of Trade and Investment Promotion, Development Funding, Equity Investments, and Property and Infrastructure Development. The Agency remains accountable to the Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT).

MEGA is the foreign investor’s or trader’s first point of contact for doing successful business in Mpumalanga Province. Through the Trade and Investment Promotion Division, the Agency provides a variety of services to potential investors and trading partners.

MEGA services

MEGA staff will go out of their way to make the process of investing in Mpumalanga
or starting a business in the province easy. MEGA is focussed on customer needs
and provides innovative solutions with a high level of service. Services include:

• Trade and Investment Promotion
• Properties and Infrastructure
• Funding

Planning the way forward

National government has articulated a Nine-Point Plan which seeks to prioritise projects that will tackle key economic issues. MEGA is aligned with the plan, which include issues relevant to growing the provincial economy:

• • revitalise agriculture and the agro-processing chain
  • advancing mineral beneficiation
  • implementing the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) effectively
  • unlocking the potential of SMMEs, cooperatives and township and rural enterprises
  • resolving the energy challenge
  • stabilising the labour market
  • upscaling private investment
  • investment in science and technology, water and sanitation, transport and broadband connectivity

Invest in Mpumalanga — Contact MEGA 

Interested companies or individuals seeking to gain access to the vast opportunities available to investors in Mpumalanga, please send a brief message of introduction, indicating your main business or investment objectives:

More investment opportunities in Mpumalanga:

• • PPP opportunity to invest in the Blyde River Canyon Cableway Project
  • Partnership opportunity in development of hydroelectric power station
  • Hotel development opportunity in prime tourism spot
  • Investment opportunities in the Agriculture sector
  • Investment opportunities in Mpumalanga’s tourism sector
  • Invest in the development of a connected urban park in Mbombela, South Africa

Mpumalanga Trade and Investment Profile

Find more details about the economy of Mpumalanga and explore existing opportunities in the region: 

The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world (26 946 ha), after the Grand Canyon in the United States and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, and is the largest ‘green canyon’ due to its lush subtropical foliage, with the deepest precipitous cliffs of any canyon on the planet.

One of the most-visited attractions in South Africa, the Blyde River Canyon is 26 kilometres in length and is, on average, around 800m deep. The Blydepoort/Blyderivierspoort Dam, when full, is at an altitude of 665m (2182 feet).

The canyon offers stunning views of towering cliffs, dramatic rock formations, and cascading waterfalls. Blyde River Canyon tourism attractions include spectacular views such as the magnificent God’s Window, The Three Rondavels and The Pinnacles.

The development of the Cableway Project

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) is a section 21 company, situated in Mpumalanga, Nelspruit. It was established through the Mpumalanga Tourism Act of 2005. The MTPA Act, 2005, provides for the sustainable development and improvement of the tourism industry and conservation management of the natural resources of Mpumalanga.

The proposed Cableway Project is located in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. The cableway is planned to stretch from the Three Rondavels site to the Swadini Dam site.

The land allocated for the site is communal land. Ownership of such land is vested in the respective communities through the Communal Property Associations (CPAs), namely Maorabjang, Moletele, Setlhare and Mahubahuba A Bokone. The land claimed by each respective CPA is stated in the concluded land settlement agreement.

Project description

The proposed cableway development will provide visitors with a unique view of the Blyde River Canyon. Facilities such as improved parking, a restaurant and curio stalls are also envisaged.

The proposed development will enhance all facilities at this unique tourism attraction and complement other proposed developments at the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.

Project status

• The Feasibility Study has been conducted.
• Environmental Impact Assessment Study completed.
• Currently at Pre-implementation, includes the registration of the project with the National Treasury as a PPP project.

Next steps:

Packaging of the project and update of feasibility study, submission to SA National Treasury for approval, in order to commence with the procurement process.

Location

The project is located in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, within the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

• Investment value: R294-million
• Partnerships: Public-Private Partnership (PPP)

Contact

For more information or to engage in discussions, potential investment partners are encouraged to send a brief introduction to the project team:

Vision

To create a safe, future-fit green asset founded on strong partnerships, promoting conservation, social cohesion and cultural vibrancy that drives progress through integration, entrepreneurship and dialogue. The GRBI will create safe corridors that separate human and vehicular traffic, establishing a more human-friendly and healthier urban environment.

Progress

A Non-Profit Corporation (NPC) has been registered. A board of directors with advisory professional experts has been established. Funding has been made available by Halls Properties and Riverside CID.

Clearing and cleaning of alien vegetation has been undertaken and walkways and rest spots are planned. Sustainable options for water supply and treatment, energy and green waste are being developed. A professional team has been appointed.

The development concept

Conserving the existing natural flora by:

• Eradicating alien invasive species
• Maintaining and cleaning green areas
• Building awareness and understanding
• Creating a business case for green spaces

Connecting the green areas to each other and the urban offerings of Riverside by:

• Creating walk-ways, cycling and running paths
• Establishing “pearls” at intervals along the network for rest and relaxation

Activating the “heart” to encourage outdoor activities through:

• Mountain biking, running and walking trails
• Rock climbing, canopy exploration and adventure racing
• Education and environmental centres and entertainment facilities

Riverside Reserve

Within the GRBI lies the Riverside Reserve. The plan states that the GRBI and the Riverside Reserve must be sustainable in their own right and cross-subsidise non-revenue generating activities.

Riverside Reserve comprises the following thematic offerings: an arts and culture centre; gallery and outdoor art; exhibition space; performing-arts theatre; craft production and retail outlet; environmental education centre; open-air classroom; reptile centre and lab; wildlife/bird rehabilitation facilities; Roots for Shoots (Jane Goodall Foundation); meditation garden, yoga/exercise facilities; wedding/party/event venue; multi-use sports facilities, outdoor gym and other exercise/play facilities; picnic and braai facilities.

Environmental Education Art and Culture (EEAC)

It is proposed that facilities be established to support the creative industries.

Suggestions include a visual arts gallery, an artist-in-residency programme, a sculpture garden, a craft-retail market, a craft-training venue and a performing arts theatre.

The total estimated budget for the development of the concept of Environmental Education Art and Culture is R112-million, including professional fees.

Contact

Interested investors are encouraged to contact the project team here:

* Lowveld National Botanical Garden image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowveld_National_Botanical_Garden
via https://www.sanbi.org/gardens/lowveld/

Seven of the provincial nature reserves, by virtue of their natural assets, size and location offer viable opportunities for the development of tourism enterprises. The MTPA is looking for potential investors who may be interested in investing in these nature reserves.

Development of a hydroelectric power station

Among the investment opportunities identified by the MTPA is the proposed development of a hydropower station at the Blydepoort (or Blyderivierspoort) Dam, a lower arch dam in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, with a dam wall height of 71m and depth of 22m. The power station’s anticipated output is 11,8 GWh per year. 

The implementation of a hydroelectric power station at the dam wall of the Blydepoort Dam will be commercially viable, on condition that a successful Power Purchase Agreement can be secured that is based on the renewable energy feed-in tariffs (REFIT) structure. The project takes advantage of the existing dam, which is suitable for such a power station.

Feasibility Study completed.

Generated electricity will enhance local economic development and biodiversity conservation while contributing to climate change mitigation. The project will also benefit land claimants and neighboring communities to the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.

Partnerships sought: Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Joint Venture (JV), Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT).

Project Cost: R63-million

Contact / Enquire

Potential investors seeking more information and/or to engage in a conversation in this regard are encouraged to contact the project team with a brief introduction;

The National Department of Tourism will host a Tourism Investment Conference in Mpumalanga in September 2025 to coincide with the visit of G20 ministers to South Africa.

The venue is no surprise as Mpumalanga has several incomparable tourism jewels: the world-class Kruger National Park is among at least 70 parks and reserves, the remarkable Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains UNESCO World Heritage Site and the awe-inspiring Blyde River Canyon are among others. The Innibos Lowveld National Arts Festival has become a fixture and a very popular festival, with music at its heart.

Among the plans to further enhance the province’s tourism sector are a three-country promotion campaign, TRILAND, a public-private partnership to build an International Conference Centre and the improvement of tourism infrastructure across the province. The Provincial Government of Mpumalanga aims to increase the tourism industry’s contribution to GDP from 5.8% to 8% and declared that the sector is among those that it counts as a priority sector.

Sports and adventure tourism play a key role in the province’s offering.

The 43 000-seater Mbombela Stadium, built to be one of the venues when South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, has become a firm favourite with soccer fans and Springbok rugby supporters love the place. The atmosphere for each of the South African team’s wins against Scotland, Wales, Argentina (twice) and New Zealand has been electric.

Outdoor pursuits

For many years, Mpumalanga has been synonymous with motor rallying. The transition from Highveld to Lowveld no doubt has something to do with the popularity of the province for rally riders, with steep inclines and tough gradients to test competitors.

One of the province’s public roads even has a reputation for excitement. Among motorcyclists, there is a 22km stretch of the R536 between Salie and Kierpersol that is known as the “Infamous 22”. This part of the Bergvliet Pass, which passes through the Bergvliet plantation, has curves that motorcycling enthusiasts love.

Moving on to motor cars, the multi-event South African National Rally Championship (SANRC) often holds more than one event in Mpumalanga with venues such as Dullstroom, Ermelo and Secunda. Not all rallies are part of the Championship. The 2024 NRC season comprised five events which culminated in Dullstroom. The final event was held over two days with 22 teams in various classes competing across 14 challenging stages.

The South African Rally-Raid Championship is part of the World Rally-Raid Championship (officially abbreviated as W2RC). Round 1 of the 2024 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) began with the Nkomazi 400 in Malalane, yet another Mpumalanga town given over to rallying.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing SA entered four crews, all driving the latest version of the GR Toyota Hilux EVO, pictured above, which was used during the Dakar Rally. An 11km race determines the starting positions for Loop 1, the first of two loops of 169km that pass through farmlands and the mountainous terrain surrounding the town of Malalane in the far-eastern part of the province.

Leg power

Tourists can hire quad bikes or go on cycle tours organised by tour operators. For example, one can experience the banks of the Sabie River on a quad bike or explore a macadamia plantation from a similar vantage point. Tripadvisor lists Mankele Adventures and Kaapsehoop Scootours as options for bicycle tourism.

Alternatively, serious cyclists can saddle up and sign up for any one of several events held in the province. These include the Sabie Classic, described as “an experience you won’t forget” in the “stunning forests of Sabie”, which has four options ranging from 10km to 65km routes and was held in April in 2025.

The rather more challenging Sabie Cycle will happen in October 2025. Held over three days and 364km, the route rises more than 7 000 metres as it passes over Spitzkop and the Long Tom Pass and through Graskop, Pilgrims Rest and Lydenberg before returning to Sabie via the “Infamous 22”.

Hikers and walkers are also spoilt for choice in Mpumalanga.

This description of the Beestekraalspruit Hiking Trail at Sudwala appears on the Forestry in South Africa website: “This route gently climbs through pine plantation, indigenous scrub forest and grassland to the cliff edge of the Beestekraalspruit, after which it descends gradually into the gorge with its riverine forest. The route follows the Beestekraalspruit for about 4km and crosses the stream 20 times by means of wooden bridges.”

This trail is on SAFCOL land and is available for hiking. Another major land owner, Sappi, decided some years ago to formalise its relationship with the people who use its land. With about one-third of its landholdings unplanted, the company wanted to promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging non-motorised sports such as running, walking and mountain biking.

The Sappi Trails Programme was initiated in 2011 to minimise risk while maximising the benefits for both trail users and for Sappi. Partnerships have been developed with so-called trail custodians. In Mpumalanga that includes Mankele Mountain Biking (near Sudwala Caves, north-west of Mbombela) and Tranquilitas Adventure Farm (Slaaihoek Road, Emgwenya).

Hotels and lodges

The Provincial Government of Mpumalanga intends asking national government for a fourth casino licence for the province.

Radisson Hotels has introduced a Sports Approved programme which is available at its Hoedspruit property. The recently launched Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit represents the group’s first safari hotel on the continent and illustrates the variety of types of accommodation options on offer by Radisson. Altogether the hospitality company offers 10 brands.

The Sports Approved programme targets sports teams with up to 15% in discounts and flexible cancellations among the special offers designed to attract sporting groups. The International Sports Travel Agencies Association (ISTAA) has established a partnership with Radisson in relation to Sports Approved. ISTAA is a partnership of travel agencies working in sport with members in more than 50 countries on six continents.

Tsogo Sun Hotels has again adopted the Southern Sun brand. With the acquisition of the Hazyview Sun, the group has a total of seven properties in the province, ranging from two StayEasys to Southern Sun Emnotweni in Nelspruit.

Tsogo Sun, as distinct from Tsogo Sun Hotels which is no more, has interests in casinos and gaming and runs two hotels in Witbank. Protea Hotels by Marriott has two properties in Mpumalanga. At White River, Premier Hotel The Winkler is 20 minutes’ drive from the Numbi Gate of the Kruger National Park.

Forever Resorts has a big presence in the province, including the four-star Forever Resorts Mount Sheba. The Graceland Hotel Casino and Country Club is a Peermont resort in Secunda.

Four nature reserves under the control of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) now have accommodation facilities, after upgrades to Songimvelo-Kromdraai Camp, Andover, SS Skosana and Manyeleti.

In 2024 MTPA signed a strategic partnership with the Aspinall Foundation to elevate the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve to a Big Five game reserve. A collaboration with Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation to fight poaching in Manyeleti has also been initiated. This collaboration includes establishing new pickets, the maintenance of fences and the training of field rangers. Tourism Safety Monitors have been introduced at key points around the province.

Mpumalanga Business 2025/26 edition

Read on and explore the 2025/26 edition of Mpumalanga Business, the premium business and investment guide to Mpumalanga Province:

Mpumalanga is undoubtedly the ultimate destination in terms of wildlife experiences. The Kruger National Park, Manyeleti, Loskop Dam and numerous private game reserves dotted throughout Mpumalanga offer an exhilarating experience that brings visitors closer to nature. Mpumalanga boasts a conservancy area that is rich with diverse flora and fauna.

The Panorama Route offers spectacular landscapes with attractions like the Blyde River Canyon (third-largest canyon in the world and the largest “green” canyon, as it consists of subtropical vegetation), majestic waterfalls and high-altitude scenic drives leading to attractions like God’s Window, the Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels.

Mpumalanga also has a rich heritage, which is greatly unexplored. The myriad heritage sites include the Samora Machel monument near Mbuzini and the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site boasting rock formations dating back to more than 3.5-billion years. Other sites not to be missed are the mining village of Pilgrims Rest, the Highveld Heritage Route which abounds with adventurous tales into history, the stone circles of Mpumalanga and Goliath’s footprint to name just a few.

Mpumalanga is rich in culture and include the Swazi, Ndebele and Shangaan people with artistic icons like Dr Esther Mahlangu, who has managed to preserve, package and export the vibrant geometric art for which she has become famous, globally.

Bird watchers can have a glimpse of more than 500 different birds endemic to the Kruger National Park or the town of Chrissiesmeer.

The small tourist town of Dullstroom is referred to as South Africa’s trout-fishing Mecca. Mpumalanga is an ideal sporting destination with a myriad of world-class golf courses that provide sheer enjoyment of sports in complete natural serenity. The Mbombela Stadium was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has subsequently hosted many international football and rugby matches, together with large events.

Get off the beaten track and explore the many other tourism offerings of the Mpumalanga Province.

For more information:

• Tel: +27 13 065 0865 | Email: info@mtpa.co.za | reservations@mtpa.co.za
• Website: https://www.mpumalanga.com/