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Phalaborwa
ℹ️Practical info — Phalaborwa
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Use the Phalaborwa Gate to enter Kruger National Park; it is often much less crowded than the southern entrances.
- Do your errands before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM to avoid the extreme midday heat of the 'Town of Two Summers'.
- At Eden Square Mall, manually check your car doors after locking; car-jamming devices are a known issue in South African parking lots.
- Apply insect repellent in the evenings as Phalaborwa is in a malaria-risk area, especially near the Olifants River.
🍽 Food
Try the traditional Chisa Nyama (braaied meat) in their relaxed garden setting at Sefapane Lodge.
Specializes in Portuguese-Mozambican cuisine; their peri-peri prawns and steaks are highly recommended.
Sample locally crafted gin and whiskey infused with South African botanicals.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
The primary hub for all supplies, from groceries to high-quality safari and outdoor gear.
Look for informal vendors along the R71 leading to the Kruger Gate for hand-carved animals and woven baskets.
Relax on the clubhouse deck where you can watch giraffes and waterbuck roaming the fairways.
A very tranquil way to see hippos and crocodiles compared to the engine noise of safari vehicles.
Water temperature…
Phalaborwa is located in the eastern Limpopo province and holds the distinction of being the only South African town that shares a direct border with the Kruger National Park. The town was officially established in 1957 following the discovery of significant phosphate and copper deposits in the area. Its economy is heavily centered on mining, with the Phalaborwa Copper Mine featuring one of the world's largest open-pit excavations. In addition to copper, the region is a major source of iron ore, vermiculite, and phosphates used in fertilizer production. Geographically, it is often referred to as the 'Town of Two Summers' due to its consistently warm, tropical climate and lack of winter frosts. Tourism is a cornerstone of the local economy, as the Phalaborwa Gate provides a strategic entrance to the central regions of the Kruger Park. The surrounding landscape is dominated by mopane woodlands and a high concentration of indigenous wildlife.
- Location: South Africa
- Nearby: Hoedspruit (44 km)
- Population: ~109.468 (2024)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Rain mm | 108 | 80 | 69 | 39 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 36 | 71 | 103 |
Geography
Facts
- Officially established as a town in 1957
- The only South African town bordering Kruger National Park
- Home to one of the largest man-made open-pit mines
- Key center for phosphate and vermiculite production
- Nicknamed the 'Town of Two Summers' due to its climate
- Major region for the harvesting of marula fruit
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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Sights in the town Phalaborwa (1)
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