KwaMhlanga, Cultural Heartland
Mpumalanga Province is one of South Africa's most diverse and beautiful destinations in terms of its natural beauty, history, wildlife and culture. KwaMhlanga is a small town set here, amidst what is known as the Cultural Heartland, and is acclaimed for being the spiritual home of the first Ndebele tribe that settled here in the 1700's.
The Ndebele culture is renowned for the colourful arts and crafts that they produce, their vibrant traditional dress, and the distinctive geometric patterns that infuse many aspects of their lives, creative pieces, and customs. The Ndebele people and their homesteads are fascinating to encounter, and reveal an important aspect of South Africa's multifaceted identity that adds so much flavour and charm to the Rainbow Nation.
KwaMhlanga has been developed over the generations, and is now the administrative centre for the local governments of the North Western part of the province. As such, it has the facilities and amenities necessary for travellers, adventurers and tourists that want to experience the real essence of the culture here, or who choose this as their stop-over en route to other nearby attractions.
There are two kraals nearby, at which visitors can see the creative designs of the Ndebele. These are the Manala Royal Kraal near Klipfontein and the Ndzundza Mabhoko Royal Kraal in Weltevreden. Small groups of visitors can arrange (in advance) to see these kraals.
Pretoria is less than an hour's drive from KwaMhlanga. The bustling hub of Johannesburg and its international airport, OR Tambo, is about 1.5 hours away.
Mpumalanga is the proud home province of a number of exquisite attractions and activities. These include the Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon, Long Tom Pass, Fort Merensky, Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, and the Berlin Falls.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Mthembuskloof Country Lodge
Mthembuskloof Country Lodge is situated one and a half hours drive from Pretoria, at the foot of the Mthembuskloof Hills and 39km from KwaMhlanga...
Kgarebana Boutique Bed and Breakfast
Situated in the cultural heartland of the Ndebele tribe, the stylish Kgarebana Boutique Bed and Breakfast is located in the neighbourhood of Larr...
Things to do in the area
Highveld Mall
As Mpumalanga's biggest mall, the Highveld Mall certainly holds the promise of plenty of shopping, eating, and entertainment for the whole family...
Noteworthy attractions
Loskop Dam Nature Reserve
The well known Loskop Dam Nature Reserve can be found deep in the Cultural Heartland of South Africa's Mpumalanga Province. The Loskop Dam is a 2...
Botshabelo Mission Station
The Botshabelo Mission Station was originally a place of refuge for Christians in South Africa and grew into an important and rather influential ...
Lanatus Cycad
The beautiful Lanatus Cycad can be found in the Cultural Heartland of Mpumalanga, South Africa. Indigenous and unique to the area, there is an ab...
Middelburg Country Club
Middleburg Golf Course is located on the edge of Middleburg in the flat savannah lands of Mpumalanga. The course has a huge history and was origi...
Fort Merensky
Fort Merensky was built to protect Botshabelo (place of refuge), a mission station established just 5 km north west of Middelburg, in the 1860s b...
Groblersdal Golf Club
As the country's second-largest irrigation settlement, Groblersdal is all about agriculture. However, this little farming town is also the proud ...
Witbank Golf Club
The coal mining hub of Witbank is a significant part of South African history, and is situated in Mpumalanga's Highveld. It is frequented by trav...
Mkhombo Nature Reserve
There are few things as dreamy and memorable as the grasslands and rolling hills that rise to meet the high blue of an African sky. And this is t...
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