Location: Phalaborwa
Top Things to do in Phalaborwa
10 Things to Do in Phalaborwa That You Shouldn't Miss
Phalaborwa is a town in the Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa. It is located near the confluence of the Ga-Selati River and the Olifants, halfway up along the eastern border of the Kruger National Park in the Lowveld.
Restaurants in Phalaborwa
1. Amarula Lapa
Overall Ratings
4 based on 90 reviews
A visit to the Amarula Lapa shows the magic of turning Marula fruit into Amarula Cream. Enjoy a glass of Amarula Cream on crushed ice, whilst listening to the stories and folklore surrounding the Marula tree. In February and March, during the harvesting season, a visit to the production plant is included. Light meals and Amarula cocktails are available from the restaurant.
Reviewed By penny n - Piet Retief, South Africa
An lovely welcoming gesture of amarula on crushed ice was sincerely appreciated. The staff were all friendly and pleased to have us there. Our guide/hostess was charming and knew her product - her presentation was well presented and interesting. Unfortunately time constraints meant we couldn't visit the factory.
2. Khalanga Safaris
Overall Ratings
5 based on 16 reviews
Khalanga Safaris is a licensed provider of tailor made tours in and around Kruger National Park. We create the opportunity for conscious encounters with flora and fauna to guarantee you an authentic experience and ensure sustainability in our contact with nature. Our "special tours” offer new insights and a whole new Kruger Park adventure.
Reviewed By faleixos - Rio de Janeiro, RJ
This is the best tour agency in Kruger! We took a private tour from 6am to 6pm and Shoes was absolutely professional, knowledgeable, respectful with the animals, and such a nice person to have around! We absolutely recommend this agency and would love to come back again soon!!!
3. Olifants River Safaris Day Trips
Overall Ratings
4 based on 75 reviews
Reviewed By on4ajt - Leopoldsburg, Belgium
Already on arrival we noticed a loud company having quit some drinks, turned out they were celebrating some birthday. So after a short visit to the bathroom and ordering our on board dinner and non alcoholic drinks( alcohol was prohibited on board) we boarded the boat. At the first game sighting( Elefant refreshing) the captain moved slowly to the side but due the drunken noise makers the animal took off. This happened several times since they became more drunk, they had their own stash of liquer with them in a cooler. We were more busy trying to avoid the drunk company by shifting decks but turned out like the were following us. Finally it could have been a more enjoyable trip with plenty more nice pictures and sightings if the captain had taken reponsability and removed them drunk folks of the boat following the company rules wich would have been his good right to do
4. Nandzana Safaris
Overall Ratings
5 based on 9 reviews
Nandzana Safaris specializes in crafting exceptional private Safaris to the Kruger Park. We believe that a safari should revolve around wonderful experiences you’ll remember for a lifetime – so we work together closely with you to design a unique safari that will realize your dreams and shape your memories for a lifetime. We love nothing more than inspiring your sense of wonder and discovery through exciting and life-changing safari experiences. A privately guided safari offers authenticity that's hard to come by in a standard group package experience. Your private guide is personally involved in every aspect of your safari, from planning the intricate details with you to guiding your safari, acting as your host, and revealing the wonders and surprises of the Kruger Park that are often out of reach for the typical traveller. Not only will he be your companion and teacher but he will also focus his complete attention on ensuring that you have the trip of a lifetime, tailor making each day to maximize your interests to make sure each day exceeds your wildest dreams. His unbridled enthusiasm, knowledge, and good humour infuse your safari with the elements that make it an experience that will impact you for the rest of your life.
Reviewed By Andy K
This was our first visit to South Africa and experiencing a Game Drive, with the help of Craig who runs Nandzana, it was such a great introduction that we would happily do it again and recommend to anyone else to take the time and look up Nandzana for future trips.
Craig was drafted in at short notice to take half of our party out for a late afternoon / evening game drive and I can honestly say that his attention to detail, presentation, humour and knowledge shown to our group (without much fore warning) was exemplary and I can only imagine that this level of service would be equally forthcoming for those parties who were lucky enough to have pre-arranged a longer trip with his company directly.
Craig's vehicle and equipment (British made on the most part ;) ) made the drive and game spotting fun, exciting and adventurous, picking out the many animals by spotlight and as we learned, watching for the lights reflection's in the animals eyes.
The highlight of the outing was being able to leave the vehicle and walk through the bush, with Craig providing insight in how to identify the animals that had been in the area, through the tracks and spore left behind .. I have remembered how to distinguish cats from dogs and then using the finger and thumb, in an L shape, to identify which of the big cats had been around recently, something I might not need to know now I'm back home, but you never know just in case.
While Craig cannot guarantee that you will see all of the animals you might wish, we were lucky in that he managed to rustle up an elephant down at the river side, spending time with Craig talking about the animals behaviour, the environment and some good banter (ask him about his first trip with the 'Big rocks') will make any trip out with him a pleasurable, educational and entertaining experience.
Again, just wanted to say a very big thank you for making this short adventure, in the two weeks holiday, the most memorable highlight of the holiday, and if/when we come back to South Africa we will definitely make sure we have him booked for a couple of days to do the full day / night trip.
A final piece of advice, when he says keep quite, he means it ;) .. don't talk like naughty children at the back of the bus or he will give you his evil stare !
5. Qualito Craft Distillery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
Established 2005: Qualito is a small batch organic craft distillery producing a range of craft Gin, Whisky, Vodka Infusions and Vodka Crush.
Reviewed By Kristin K - Canberra, Australia
My husband and I went on tour and tasting at Quilito distillery. We were given a tour that was both informative and were given a lovely personal history of the distillery. It was about an hour of the tour itself, and while the premises isn't huge, there is a lot of information and history already here. Everything my husband and I tried during the tasting was excellent, and we couldn't help but buy a few bottles of gin for ourselves and our family. Highly recommended if you're in the area, particularly if you want something that is more personal than the amarula lapa that is nearby!
6. EcoTrek Safaris - Day Tours
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Just north of Phalaborwa and adjacent to the magnificent Kruger National Park, Tingala offers a wonderful combination of luxurious accommodation, wild African bushveld scenery and warm South African hospitality.For those seeking the exciting sights and sounds that only the bushveld offers, Tingala is ideally situated as it is on a private conservancy – no neighbours, no human sounds, nothing but the bush. We pride ourselves on the world-class standards of our accommodation and our unsupassed ambience, hospitality and friendly personal service. Passionate about animals and the bush, avid birders, and all-round nature lovers, we care deeply about our natural environment and we subscribe to a minimum impact, leave-no-trace ecotourism philosophy.
Reviewed By malpam - Melbourne, Australia
We did the overnight Bird Hide tour with this wonderful young couple. They are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and a pleasure to spend time with. Waking up to the roar or lions is like nothing else. Sleeping beside the dam bathed in moonlight is a night to remember. They made the birdlife come alive in our holiday. They provide the food and it is good.
7. Phalaborwa Adventures
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Baardman - Netherlands
Phalaborwa Adventures proved to be more than expected. These tour operators really knows how to entertain their guests. A definite must for those who wish to experience the bush in different ways. We participated in their off road beach buggy trips, followed up by a spectacular bush braai. Most enjoyable with lots of "dirty" fun - riding trough muddy obstacles whilst enjoying the African sunset.
With all this off road driving you will be sure to build an enormous apatite - which is exactly what you need to consume the amount of food provided at their bush braai.
You will be collected and delivered back to your lodge. Bring along your camera, boots, suncream and a definite taste for adventure.
8. Hans Merensky Golf Estate
Overall Ratings
3 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Mark G - Phalaborwa, South Africa
a must play golf course that offers great golf, birding and wildlife. HME is rated one of the top walking courses in South Africa and has plenty of wildlife as it borders the world famous Kruger National Park and offers excellent accommodation and conferencing facilities
9. Hans Merensky Golf Course
Overall Ratings
2.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By RockyAbuDhabi - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
I've stayed, played and enjoyed this unique golf course/hotel twice. Several years ago, this place was a hallmark venue. Staff, rooms, restaurants, and of course the golf course were as good as it gets. Yet, we stayed in Oct, 2014 and found that all has changed with the exception of the golf course, which is still a thrill. The course is well maintained, albeit the wildlife are a bit of a twist in how to approach the green with giraffe, impala, wharthogs, monkeys, etc everywhere. This must present a whole new way of managing greens and fairways for the ground crew. It's sad that the staff and restaurants have lost their edge. Simply, this gem of a location simply has no hotel/restaurant management attractions. Yes, there are OK rooms and OK places to eat, but simply OK. Not great. If you want a golf photo shoot of your life, you should consider at least a one night stay. By staying you will see many critters that come out late in the evening and others that are about early morning. Beware of the hippos and alligators!
10. French African Safari
Francophone star tour around the lodge located in an open reserve on Kruger Park. Small lodge totally immersed in the bush in the middle of the big 5. Lions, elephants, buffaloes regularly come to drink at the water point in front of the lodge. The lodge can be totally privatized from 4 people.
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