Popular Attractions
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Barberton The Makhonjwa Mountains around Barberton are renowned for their ancient green rocks with their unique scientific record of the pre-history of the earth and for the human stories in pursuit of hidden gold.Also referred to as the ‘Genesis of Life’, its geology includes the best preserved truly ancient rocks on earth. Despite the rocks being 3.5 billion years old they are so well preserved that their fossils faithfully record the earliest life forms on the planet as well as evidence of the first recorded massive meteorite impact.Come to Barberton for the most spectacular sceneries, over the mountain for picnic, and if the beauty does not hold you back too long, a trip to Songimvelo Nature Reserve."The oldest well preserved sedimentary and volcanic rocks on Earth. ... These rock layers are like the pages of a book that we can read and translate in terms of early Earth's history. Here in Barberton is the Rosetta Stone for this period of time." Prof Don Lowe, Stanford University"The rocks of the Barberton region represent the best-preserved example of the Earth's ancient oceanic and continental crust." Profs Terence McCarthy and Bruce Rubidge, University of the Witwatersrand
Things to do near
Barberton
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Big Event Venues
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Nelspruit (24 km from Barberton) This legendary bushveld concert and party venue is nestled in the hills just 10km south of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga. Blue Moon is a unique, custom-built, multi-purpose function venue with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.As a music venue, Blue Moon is not genre specific. Local and international highlights include Seether, Dana Winner, Freshly Ground, Prime Circle, The Parlotones, Malaika, Mafikizolo and Steve Hofmeyr.As a functions venue, Blue Moon is unique and versatile, suitable for hosting corporate end-of-year functions, launches, award dinners, weddings and birthday parties. Blue Moon's multiple stages, decks, bars, kitchen, amphitheatre, chalets, bunkhouse, trees and creative lighting can be adapted to suit just about every need. The small team of three owner-operators is always keen to accommodate exciting and challenging ideas.
Animal Parks
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Nelspruit (32 km from Barberton) If you have visited Chimpanzee Eden it will be an experience you will always talk about. It started about 2-3 year ago, and named " The Jane Goodall Intitude". Chimps get rescued from all over the world specially from Angola. They actully buy and spends thousands of Rands to get these poor chimps that gets beaten, locked up in very small cages and just neglected back to South Africa where they are kept in safe big/huge forest enclosures in Nelspruit. It takes them sometimes weeks to months to get just one chimpanzee out of the country where they went to rescue the chimp or chimps. They do wonderful work and each any every one that visit Nelspruit should support them by visiting the sanctuary. "COSY" a rescued chimp is my favourite. He was kept in a very small cage for many years and could hardly walk when rescued. Today he is the main attraction at the sanctury. Then we must not forget about Suzie a little female who were scared to death for a long time after she was rescued. Then there is also ABU and AMADUES whom everybody would like. It is an experience to listen to the guides about every chimps history. Cruelty is what each and everyone of them had to face before they got rescued. Please support Chimpanzee Eden.
Four By Four Trails
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Nelspruit (36.2 km from Barberton) Bushlane 4x4 Trail is a guided trail 23 km from Nelspruit. The trail is 14 km long and takes about 2 to 4 hours to complete. This trail can be done as a weekend adventure to reinforce skills learnt. The difficulty grading is 4 and passes around rocky outcrops. A high clearance 4x4 vehicle is required to go on this adventure. The exact coordinates are unknown so please phone to enquire.
Popular Attractions
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Nelspruit (36.2 km from Barberton) Go crawling down in the gold mines where gold is still visible in the walls. Experience the history of the old mine shaft deep in Komatieland Forest, Coetzeestroom. Enjoy the untamed beauty of the surrounding landscape with spectacular views.
Hiking Trail
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Kaapsehoop (38.9 km from Barberton) Hike through a maze of unusual rock formations for 20 minutes from Kaapsehoop and you will find yourself at the edge of the escarpment with jaw dropping views. Here the landscape plunges 1000 metres into the Barberton Valley. At night the twinkling lights of Nelspruit and Barberton are visible. Early birds can watch the sunrise over the Swazi mountains.
Popular Attractions
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Kaapsehoop (38.9 km from Barberton) This hour-long tour takes in the sites and amazing history of the Kaapsehoop, an unassuming little village that was pivotal in making South Africa the African powerhouse it is today. Hear stories from the early wild days of gold prospecting to political intrigue, murder, mayhem, mystery and Kruger’s millions.
Popular Attractions
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Kaapsehoop (38.9 km from Barberton) Kaapsehoop History Tours cover anything from geology to African culture, and the local history of Kaapsehoop, the Adams Calendar or the history of Boer War entrenchments. Tours can be anything from 1 to 5 hours.
Waterfall
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Kaapsehoop (39 km from Barberton) Battery Creek Falls is a spectacular 30 metre high waterfall, only a 10 minutes walk from Kaapsehoop.
The waterfall sections are deep enough to swim in, but most people like to stand under the water and get a good massage.
Sports Stadiums Clubs
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Nelspruit (39.2 km from Barberton) The Mbombela Stadium is one of the new stadiums constructed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The elevated stadium can comfortably seat 40,000 people and has excellent views from all positions. Situated eight kilometres north of Nelspruit, it is the closest venue to the hugely popular Kruger National Park.
The bustling boom town of Nelspruit is the gateway to Kruger National Park. This busy commercial centre has excellent facilities, shopping malls and air links with Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Maputo.
Nelspruit is also a major stopover for motorists travelling on the N4 en route to Kruger National Park, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is situated really close to Malelane Gate and Crocodile Bridge Gate, entrances to the Kruger National Park.
Popular Attractions
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Nelspruit (39.5 km from Barberton) The Lowveld National Botanical Garden is divided into eight sections with the Crocodile and Nels rivers surging through the riparian forest. The garden has a tropical African rainforest section, with approximately six hundred indigenous plant species.
The other seven sections are the bulb garden, the South African rainforest, dry bushveld, corkwoods and cabbage trees, cycads, baobabs and wild figs. The 158-hectare escarpment boasts rugged, rocky river scenery with Sour Lowveld Bushveld vegetation on either side of the river banks.
The garden is a floral haven with masses of clivia miniata, snow-white pear blossoms and kigelia africana flowers scattered all around. Visitors can find birds feeding off the nectar of the magnificent flowers that attract birds from dawn to dusk, or enjoy a picnic on the lawn.
Nature Reserves
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Malolotja Nature Reserve (40.7 km from Barberton) Glide through the forest canopy in one of Swaziland’s mountain wildernesses. Close to the famous Malolotja Falls and set within the forested Sihlotswane gorge, the Malolotja Canopy Tour offers a three-hour thrilling adventure.
The tour takes guests zipping across ten slides and a 50m long suspension bridge that crosses the Majolomba River. Eleven elevated forest platforms provide stopping points to enjoy the view and spot birds and forest animals.
The Malolotja Nature Reserve is home to a numerous mammals and birdlife including the rare Forest Canary and Ground Woodpecker. The tour starts with a long drive in an open game vehicle blesbuck, eland, impala and zebra can frequently be seen. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Four By Four Trails
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Nelspruit (43.7 km from Barberton) The Alkmaar 4x4 Trail is a medium challenging course where one can do some birdwatching and game viewing. Participants can partake in the obstacle course before heading out on the 7 km trail. After the obstacle course is completed, drivers receive a certificate – great techniques are learned.
The 7 km trail takes approximately 2 to 3 hours and is graded between 2 and 3. This self-drive trail requires a 4x4, high clearance, low range vehicle. The route is open all year round.
For accommodation and bookings contact Alkmaar Farmstay.
Sports Stadiums Clubs
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Nelspruit (45.8 km from Barberton) Alkmaar Raceway is a world class Motocross venue hosting national and international events. The 2008 World Motocross Grand Prix took place here.
Popular Attractions
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Jeppes Reef (47.2 km from Barberton) Visit Matsamo Cultural Village for the day or spend the night in a traditional Swazi custom-built 'hive'. In this traditional Swazi village the colourful Matsamo people tend their cattle, cultivate their crops and produce beautiful crafts. You'll be entertained to rousing dance and song performances and traditional cuisine, and allowed to wander where you will.
Matsamo is named after Chief Matsamo, a prominent Shongwe chief and contemporary of King Mswati II. He was the first Swazi Chief to reside permanently in the area, and as a reward for his loyalty in defending the territory against invaders from the north, Mswati II allowed Chief Matsamo to remain in charge of the region as an eminent member of Swazi royalty. Today the region is still under the control of the Matsamo Tribal Authority.
Visitors to Matsamo Cultural Village are treated to age-old folk songs, rhythmic dance performances, including the famous ‘Rain Dance', and music using authentic African instruments, as well as traditional Swazi cuisine. They can also wander on a tour through the village with its many huts and seclusions, interacting with the villagers as they go about their daily activities, cultivating their crops, preparing traditional food and fashioning beautiful craft works. Also at Matsamo is a well stocked curio shop with local crafts, and a spacious restaurant with a stunning panoramic view.
Matsamo cultural village near Kruger Park first opened its doors in 2001 and enjoys great support from the broader community. Each staffer has shares in the owning company and it provides an income to more than 100 people, making it an award-winning responsible tourism project (Imvelo Responsible Tourism Award).
Golf Courses
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White River (53.9 km from Barberton) White River Country Estate is a scenic golf course situated on the outskirts of White River and not far from Kruger National Park. The 18-hole course offers a good mental and physical challenge for golfers of all skill levels.
With Gary Player behind the design of the course, White River Country Estate is considered a world-class facility. The estate also offers a swimming pool, tennis courts, squash courts, and plenty of entertainment for the whole family.