Eastern Transvaal which borders on Gauteng in the west and Swaziland and
Mozambique in the east, is divided into two regions by the north end of the
Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains) range. Eastern Transvaal, which means
'the place where the sun rises', is a province of
extraordinary natural beauty. Typical of it's landscape are forests,
mountains, rivers, waterfalls and panoramic passes offering magnificent scenic
views. West of the mountains lies the Highveld
where there are opportunities for hunting and fishing in places such as
Lydenburg and Dullstroom.
The Drakensberg Escarpment itself is home to scenic drives, waterfalls, caves
and innumerable hikes. To the east of the mountains lies the Lowveld.
Eastern Transvaal is well known for it's wildlife
parks. In particular, the world renowned Kruger National Park, with
several luxurious private nature reserves on it's western boundary, are
literally teeming with wildlife and is one of South Africa's top tourist
attractions. This is big game country where visitors can see the 'Big
Five', namely the elephant, black rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo.
'Big Five' originated from trophy hunters who termed them as being the most
dangerous to hunt.
Some of the popular attractions include the Blyde River
Canyon, one of Africa's true scenic gems, and Bourke's Luck Potholes. The
Bourke's Luck Potholes are a magnificent natural feature where the combination
of water and rock have succeeded over many centuries, in carving huge
cylindrical potholes into the rock-face.
Apart from unsurpassed game viewing opportunities,
visitors to Eastern Transvaal can enjoy bird-watching, fishing, and
hiking. Other activities include canoeing, river rafting, sailing and
windsurfing, not to mention, micro lighting, paragliding, mountain and rock
climbing. There are numerous golf courses, one of which is located within
the borders of the Kruger National Park.
For the climate, the scenic and wildlife diversity, the
sporting opportunities, historical sites and the cultural heritage, a journey to
South Africa would not be complete without a visit to Eastern Transvaal.
Sabie and Graskop provide a large part of the country's total requirement for
forestry products. These forestry plantations are an ideal backdrop for
ecotourism opportunities, with a variety of popular hiking trails, a myriad of
waterfalls, patches of indigenous forest, and a variety of nature reserves.
Lake Chrissie is the largest natural freshwater lake in South Africa, and is
famous for its variety of aquatic birds, especially flamingos.