Showcasing the picturesque Lowveld

Discover the magic of Mpumalanga’s Lowveld and surrounds – where lush landscapes, iconic wildlife and vibrant cultures meet. From the Kruger National Park to panoramic mountain passes, this region offers unforgettable adventures, warm hospitality and rich heritage.

Trans African Concessions (TRAC) manages the TRAC N4 route – a vital 570km transport corridor linking the Solomon Mahlangu off-ramp in Tshwane, Gauteng, to the Port of Maputo in Mozambique. As part of the Maputo Development Corridor, the route plays a critical role in facilitating trade, tourism and economic integration between South Africa and Mozambique.

The TRAC N4 is a build-operate-transfer project and remains the only international toll road concession in Southern Africa. Operating under a 30-year concession signed in 1997 with Sanral and Mozambique’s Administração Nacional de Estradas, TRAC is responsible for developing, maintaining and operating the route to world-class standards.

As a proudly South African company, TRAC is committed to designing, building, operating and managing world-class infrastructure that delivers long-term value, ensuring that South Africa, Mozambique and the broader Southern African region benefit from safe, efficient and reliable transport links.

TRAC prioritises safety and convenience through high-quality road surfaces, clear signage and ongoing maintenance, ensuring the N4 is returned to government in an essentially new condition when the concession ends in 2028.

TRAC monitors the route, improves high-risk areas and works with law enforcement and emergency services to enhance road safety.

Daily route patrols are carried out by TRACAssist, TRAC’s dedicated road patrol and emergency response service. Together with the 24-hour TRAC Helpdesk, assistance is available 24/7/365 to support road users with incidents, emergencies and enquiries along the entire corridor.

TRAC’s impact extends well beyond the asphalt. Through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, the company actively supports communities, towns and organisations along the 570km route.

CSI initiatives focus on six core areas: socio-economic development, road safety, environment, health and welfare, education, and sport and culture. These efforts have earned TRAC widespread recognition, including the 2022 KLCBT President’s Award from the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism.

“By investing in people and communities, we don’t just make a difference today – we help build a better future,” says Alex van Niekerk, TRAC’s CEO.

Solange Soares-Communications Manager Tel: +27 13 755 3316 (switchboard) Mobile:+27 76 021 2524 (cell) E-mail: sssoares@tracn4.co.za

Mdluli Safari Lodge stands as a pioneering benchmark for luxury ecotourism inside the Kruger National Park (KNP).

Situated in the park’s south-western region, just a five-hour drive from Johannesburg, this four-star luxury tented destination seamlessly merges Big 5 wildlife experiences with a profound commitment to heritage preservation, environmental conservation and local community empowerment.

The lodge’s transformative impact has been celebrated across South Africa’s tourism and conservation sectors. Honoured with the prestigious SANParks Kudu Award for Best Corporate Contribution to Conservation, Community Upliftment and Sustainability, the lodge has recently also earned the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) Large Tourism Enterprise Award alongside submissions for the KLCBT Green Excellence and Community Contributor Awards.

Voted the number one private lodge in the KNP in Getaway readers’ top spots and a multi-year recipient of the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, Mdluli Safari Lodge continues to set the standard for guest satisfaction and purpose-driven hospitality.

At the heart of Mdluli Safari Lodge is a landmark 50-50 equity partnership with the 45 000 members of the local Mdluli community across four villages – Makoko, Bhekiswayo, Salubindza and Nyongane.

Rooted in the 1998 land restitution of 850 hectares inside the KNP following the community’s forced removal in the late 1960s, the lodge operates under a 45-year lease agreement that ensures the community will eventually gain full ownership.

The lodge achieves an AA+ ESG rating – the only lodge in South Africa with this distinction – scoring 87% on core United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Nearly 90% of the lodge’s staff are recruited directly from the surrounding community, with 61% being women and 71% youth.

Furthermore, direct community investments include sponsoring the Makoko Village borehole system, supplying more than

60 000 litres of clean drinking water daily to 4 000 residents, alongside the Bhekiswayo water project serving an additional 1 500 community members.

In alignment with its environmental stewardship, the lodge’s eco-conscious infrastructure minimises carbon emissions while maximising guest comfort.

Constructed using 1 850m² of bamboo composite decking – saving approximately 185 000m² of forest – the lodge upcycled 462 500 HDPE plastic milk bottles and 4.9 tonnes of PVC into durable flooring.

An on-site solar PV and battery backup system is projected to prevent 3 400 tonnes of CO2 emissions over its lifetime, while an eco-sensitive Calcamite reed bed filtration system safely treats wastewater before returning it to nature. On the conservation front, the Mdluli Conservation and Anti-Poaching NPC actively patrols 1 800 hectares inside the KNP, supported by a dedicated K9 unit camp, launched on Earth Day 2025, that has helped remove thousands of illegal snares.

Guests at Mdluli Safari Lodge enjoy 50 custom-designed, 70m² luxury tents featuring oversized private patios, private indoor and outdoor showers, minibar fridges and Wi-Fi, including four fully disability-friendly tents. Lodge amenities encompass Big 5 guided or self-drive game drives inside the park, a signature infinity pool, boma dinners, gin tasting, bush braais and Amani spa treatments, alongside a 360-degree granite rock viewpoint offering sweeping wilderness vistas.

Authentic SiSwati cultural elements are woven throughout the property, centred around an iconic marula tree, a statue honouring the late Inkhosi MZ Mdluli and custom hand-beaded artwork crafted by 14 community women. Travellers can choose between flexible options, including the Self-Drive Package, Game Drive Package and Game Drive Plus Package.

With the festive season just around the corner, travellers are warmly invited to visit this uniquely wonderful venue inside the KNP to experience world-class luxury while making a direct, positive contribution to wildlife conservation and community upliftment.

For those looking ahead to the new year, visitors are encouraged to follow Mdluli Safari Lodge on social media (@MdluliLodge) and check mdlulisafarilodge.co.za for exclusive January specials.

Mpumalanga is a South African province blessed with natural attractions and experiences bound to enthrall any traveller.

Dubbed South Africa’s adventure capital, Mpumalanga offers an wide variety of activities, including abseiling, white-water rafting, fly-fishing, paragliding, mountain biking, bungee jumping, hiking and 4×4 trails.

The province is also an exceptional wildlife destination.

The Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve and numerous other game reserves across the province offer exhilarating experiences that connect visitors to nature. The Kruger National Park covers an area of approximately two million hectares rich in flora and fauna.

The Lowveld escarpment, with its famous Panorama Route, boasts spectacular landscapes and attractions such as the Blyde River Canyon, the world’s third-largest canyon, majestic waterfalls and scenic high-altitude drives. Highlights include God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels.

Mpumalanga also has a rich, often unexplored heritage. Sites of interest include the Samora Machel Monument near Mbuzini and the Makhonjwa Mountains near Barberton, where rock formations date back more than 3.5 billion years. Other attractions include the historic mining village of Pilgrim’s Rest, the Highveld Heritage Route, the stone circles of Mpumalanga and Goliath’s footprint.

Birdwatchers can spot more than 500 species in areas such as the Kruger National Park and Chrissiesmeer in the southern part of the province.

The province’s midveld offers trout-fishing in pristine rivers and dams, with Dullstroom widely regarded as South Africa’s trout-fishing mecca. In the Highveld, the Ndebele culture is celebrated through the work of icons such as Dr Esther Mahlangu, who has helped preserve and showcase this colourful cultural heritage to international audiences.

Mpumalanga is also an ideal golf destination, with a variety of world-class golf estates and courses offering an enjoyable game in tranquil surroundings.

Get off the beaten track and discover the many experiences Mpumalanga has to offer.

Visit mpumalanga.com for more information.

Discover an unforgettable outdoor adventure at Skyway Trails, located at Perry’s Bridge Lifestyle Centre in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, near the Kruger National Park.

Perfect for families, friends and thrill-seekers, Skyway Trails offers four exciting experiences: Mpumalanga’s longest Aerial Cable Trail, a Rope Adventure Park, Perry’s Zipline and the Tower Jump.

Soar through the forest canopy on the 1.2km Aerial Cable Trail, featuring eight ziplines and 10 platforms, with spectacular views of the Sabie River valley.

Test your balance and agility on the Rope Adventure Park’s exciting obstacles, enjoy the Perry’s Zipline or experience the rush of the freefall Tower Jump.

Whether you are looking for family fun, a group outing, a birthday celebration or a team-building activity, Skyway Trails has an adventure to suit your appetite for excitement.

Make your visit to the Lowveld memorable with an exhilarating outdoor experience.

Visit skywaytrails.com to book your experience.

For advertising, please contact Lowvelder sales department: roche@lowvelder.co.za or phone us during office hours on 013 591 4682