Things to do Around Machadodorp
Mpumalanga is often treated like the forgotten province, but for those who have a deep love for nature and who are desperately looking for peace, this is one destination worth visiting.
The air is different here. It’s cleaner. The light falls differently, too, especially in the early morning, when mist sits in the valleys like something right out of a watercolour painting.
Machadodorp, also known today as eNtokozweni, sits right at the edge of all of this beauty, and if you happen to be in the area, hiking or just enjoying an indulgent, laid-back weekend away, you might be surprised to learn that there is plenty to see and enjoy, despite the region being rather quiet.
For those planning a visit to Bermanzi, the surrounding area deserves more than just a passing glance out of the car window as you drive away from your weekend of hiking.
What is Machadodorp known for?
Machadodorp has an unexpectedly deep history for such a small escarpment town.
It grew from a humble sheep farm called Geluk, which means luck or happiness in Dutch, and was renamed in 1894 to honour Major Joachim Machado, a Portuguese engineer who surveyed the land for the Nelspruit to Delagoa Bay railway line.
During the Second Boer War, the town became briefly famous as the seat of the Transvaal government. From June 1900, President Paul Kruger and the Volksraad ran their affairs from railway carriages parked at the station, making Machadodorp one of the most unusual temporary capitals in South African history.
The town is also significant for trout farming and fishing. A station master once saved a consignment of dying trout by releasing them into the Elands River, which flows through the town, and so began the region’s enduring relationship with fly-fishing. The Elands River is also home to a natural spring, long believed to have healing qualities.
Surrounding the town, on the hillsides above the N4, lie the mysterious Bakoni ruins, which are a series of circular stone terraces and enclosed settlements built by the baKoni people. These ruins date back to at least the 16th century, though some researchers believe the structures are significantly older. They remain one of the most quietly fascinating and under-visited heritage sites in Mpumalanga.
What is the new name for Machadodorp?
In 2010, Machadodorp was officially renamed eNtokozweni, a Swazi name meaning Place of Happiness.
Despite the name change, most locals refer to it by both names, interchangeably, and visitors will find both in use on road signs and in conversation.
It is part of the Emakhazeni Local Municipality, which also encompasses Dullstroom, Belfast, and Waterval Boven.
Things to do Near Machadodorp and eNtokozweni
Hiking in Mpumalanga, at Bermanzi, is a great way to see not only some of the best trails but also the fascinating area surrounding Machadodorp. If you are a curious sort of traveller, this is what you can do while in the area:
- Walk, climb, and gaze in wonder at Waterval Boven (Emgwenya)
Just 20 minutes from eNtokozweni, Waterval Boven is one of South Africa’s most exciting outdoor towns, and most visitors completely underestimate it.The name means Above the Waterfall in Afrikaans, and the 70-metre Elands River Falls are reason enough to make the trip.
Visible from the platform of an old 19th-century railway tunnel, the falls split into three dramatic drops before plunging into the valley below.
The area has more than 700 bolted climbing routes across the escarpment cliffs, including The Restaurant, a crag so acclaimed that seasoned climbers travel from across the world to get on its walls.
The hiking is equally good, from easy river trails to multi-day routes. The old NZASM railway tunnel and Five Arch Bridge, both Provincial Heritage Sites, add a layer of history that makes a walk here feel genuinely interesting rather than simply scenic.
- Soak in the mineral springs at Badplaas (eManzana)
About an hour’s drive from Bermanzi, Badplaas is the kind of place that earns a half-day visit with very little effort.The town sits in the foothills of the Hlumuhlumu Mountains, a name that translates to place of much thunder, and is built around sulphur hot springs that have been drawing visitors since the 1870s.
The Swazi people named the water eManzana, meaning healing waters, and the natural thermal springs still release around 30,000 litres of warm water per hour at approximately 50 degrees Celsius.
Today, Forever Resort Badplaas manages the springs across 12 pools. For those who prefer stillness to splashing, the Hydro Spa offers treatments in a genuinely peaceful setting. The surrounding Emanzana Nature Reserve adds game drives and horse trails into the mix, so it is easy to fill a full day here comfortably.
- Stand on some of the oldest rocks on Earth at Barberton
About an hour south of eNtokozweni lies Barberton, and just beyond the town, the Makhonjwa Mountains hold something extraordinary.In 2018, UNESCO inscribed the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains as a World Heritage Site, recognising them as the best-preserved volcanic and sedimentary rock sequence on the planet, dating back between 3.25 and 3.6 billion years. To put that in perspective, these rocks predate complex life on Earth.
The 37-kilometre Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail follows the main road between Barberton and the Eswatini border, with 11 roadside stops that make the geology genuinely accessible and interesting, even to visitors who have never given a second thought to ancient rock formations.
The area also harbours rich biodiversity, including zebra, giraffe, rhinoceros, and hippopotamus within the surrounding nature reserves.
Barberton town itself is also worth the detour.
It was founded after a gold rush in 1884, and the Victorian-era streetscapes, museums, and locally curated heritage trail paint a vivid picture of a time when this small town was one of the most talked-about places in southern Africa.
- Go underground at the Sudwala Caves
Roughly 90 minutes from eNtokozweni, the Sudwala Caves are one of Mpumalanga’s most ancient and quietly spectacular attractions.Cut into the Precambrian dolomite of the Mankelekele Mountain, the caves are believed to be among the oldest known cave systems in the world.
The main show cave features a 37-metre-high chamber called the Concert Hall, notable for its near-perfect acoustics, and a variety of extraordinary stalactite and stalagmite formations that have been growing for millions of years.
The caves maintain a constant temperature of around 17 degrees Celsius, which makes them a genuinely welcome respite during a warm Mpumalanga summer.
There is also a dinosaur park on the property, which is popular with younger visitors, and guided tours leave regularly throughout the day.
Make Bermanzi your Base for Exploring All of it
Positioned perfectly between eNtokozweni and Badplaas, Bermanzi Hiking Trail and Mountain Guesthouse makes an ideal base for exploring this entire region.
Guests stay in comfortable self-catering accommodation in an indigenous mountain setting, with world-class hiking trails right on their doorstep. The hiking trails at Bermanzi range from gentle 4 km walks to the celebrated five-day Num-Num Trail, with options for all fitness levels.
Accommodation includes the romantic In the Rocks for 2, and the Vakashani Guesthouse, which is suitable for families and groups.
Bermanzi is just two hours from Johannesburg and Pretoria, making it reachable for a long weekend away from it all.
Slots fill up, particularly during school holidays and Highveld weekends. To avoid disappointment, make a booking directly on the Bermanzi website and start planning the surrounding area into the itinerary. This part of Mpumalanga rewards the curious traveller, and Bermanzi puts it all within easy reach.
