Backpacker lodges: rest of South Africa
FREE STATE PROVINCE
The Free State lies in the heart of South Africa, bordering the Kingdom of Lesotho. The region is one of flat, rolling grassland and crop fields, rising to lovely sandstone mountains in the north-east.
In the north-eastern Free State, nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains, is the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, the province's prime tourist attraction. The park gets its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on its spectacular sandstone cliffs.
- Find out more: Free State province
Backpackers' accommodation
LIMPOPO PROVINCE
Limpopo is South Africa's northernmost province, lying within the great curve of the Limpopo River. It is a region of contrasts, from true bushveld country to majestic mountains, primeval indigenous forests, unspoilt wilderness and patchworks of farmland.
The province borders the countries of Botswana to the west, Zimbabwe to the north and Mozambique to the east. In the eastern region lies the northern half of the magnificent Kruger National Park, a world-famous game reserve teeming with African wildlife in a total area roughly the size of Israel.
- Find out more: Limpopo province
Backpackers' accommodation
Phalaborwa
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE
Mpumalanga – "the place where the sun rises" – is a province with spectacular scenic beauty and an abundance of wildlife, lying in the northeast of South Africa.
Bordered by the countries of Mozambique and Swaziland to the east and Gauteng province to the west, Mpumalanga is situated mainly on the high plateau grasslands of the Middleveld, which roll eastwards for hundreds of kilometres.
- Find out more: Mpumalanga province
Backpackers' accommodation
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE
The vast and arid Northern Cape is by far our largest province, slightly bigger than Germany and taking up nearly a third of South Africa's land area. Yet it has the country's smallest population – around 1-million people – and an extremely roomy population density of about three people per square kilometre.
Its landscape is characterised by vast arid plains with outcroppings of haphazard rock piles. The cold Atlantic Ocean forms the western boundary.
- Find out more: Northern Cape province
Backpackers' accommodation
NORTH WEST PROVINCE
North West lies in the north of South Africa on the Botswana border, fringed by the Kalahari desert in the west, Gauteng province to the east and Free State province to the south. It is known as "the Platinum Province" for the wealth of the metal it has underground.
North West has a number of major tourist attractions, including the internationally famous Sun City, Pilanesberg National Park and Madikwe Game Reserve.
- Find out more: North West province
Backpackers' accommodation
Backpacking accommodation
SAinfo reporter
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