TOURISM ATTRACTIONS

Offering some of the most scenic vistas in South Africa, the N4 route also offers travellers a veritable feast of historical, scenic and geological features that make stopping along the road a must for the inquisitive-minded; in addition, there are a multitude of leisure options to explore, including sports and nature activities, as well as sumptuous eateries. Listed below are some of the favourite places among local and international tourists and travellers, but for more detailed information on the myriad attractions TRAC recommends reading Peter Delmar’s excellent The N4 Book: The Road to Maputo. It is an invaluable companion for travelling along this beautiful road, as well as slightly off the beaten track.

Pretoria to Machadodorp
Sammy Marx Museum, east of Pretoria just off Hans Strijdom Drive   This splendid 48-room homestead of entrepreneur Sammy Marx is set on 74ha of manicured gardens and offers a glimpse of just how well the rich – and politically connected – lived around the turn of the 20th century.	Bergendal Anglo-Boer War monument, Belfast   The stand-off between the Boers and the British at Bergendal marked not only the last pitched battle of the Anglo-Boer (South African) War, but also one of the most severe. On 27 August 1900 the heaviest artillery bombardment of the war rained down on the Boers, helping the British to penetrate the “last line of defence”. This monument, a few kilometres past Belfast, was erected in 1935, with a second memorial unveiled in 1970.	Dullstroom and WatervalBoven trout fishing   Whereas the first batch of trout arrived by train in WatervalBoven in 1903, Dullstroom’s fly-fishing legacy began when, in the 1920s, a German watchmaker based in Lydenburg, FC Braun, released both rainbow and brown trout fingerlings in every river and stream he could find in the area. These days, both towns are synonymous with trout fishing, which has become an economic mainstay in the area and attracts anglers from far and wide. Other popular towns associated with this sport are Machadodorp and Belfast.
Nan Hua Temple, Bronkhorstspruit   A spectacular temple complex and seminary for training African Buddhist monks, this centre was established by the FoGuang Shan Buddhist Order in 1992 and officially opened in 2005. Visitors can undertake temple tours and join meditation retreats.   Botshabelo fort and mission station, Middelburg   Situated slightly off the beaten track, north of Middelburg, Botshabelo was established in 1865 by missionaries Alexander Merensky and Heinrich Grützner, who built a church, houses, school, workshops and a large fort. It was extensively renovated a century later and, in the 1970s, a Southern Ndebele village was added to showcase their colourful styles of building and dressing. Botshabelo is also the birthplace of one of South Africa’s most acclaimed contemporary fine artists, Gerald Sekoto.   Hadeco bulb farm, Belfast   Just a few kilometres before the turn-off to Belfast, Hadeco bulb farm grows lilies, daffodils and tulips on 260ha. A festival featuring more than two million tulips is held in September and attracts as many as 50 000 people over two-and-a-half days. The festival only takes place in years when crops are not being rotated and is advertised well in advance.
Nelspruit via WatervalBoven
WatervalBoven rock climbing   Rock climbers converge on WatervalBoven throughout the year, having consistently voted the area’s cliffs among the top ten in the world. There are literally hundreds of routes to climb, and experienced local operators who specialise in this sport and facilitate accommodation and equipment needs.	Ngodwana lime kilns   As you drive through Ngodwana, keep an eye out on your right for three stonework lime kilns dating back to the 1880s. These kilns, which were built to supply the nearby gold mines, have been declared a national monument.	Sudwala Caves   The caves are believed to be the world’s oldest limestone caves, dating back to roughly 240 million years. Some of the spaces inside are so large that the caves have two amphitheatres in which concerts and plays are held, but the principal attractions are bizarrely shaped stalagmites and stalactites which continue to grow at the rate of 2.5cm every one hundred years.
WatervalBoven tunnel, Five Arch bridge and Elands River falls   At 333m, the exits of the relatively short tunnel can clearly be seen from both entrances. But still, switch on your headlights and do not get a fright when other motorists hoot while driving through – it is a local tradition, particularly practised by truckers. From its predecessor, the old NederlandscheZuid-AfrikaanscheSpoorwegMaatschappijrailway tunnel, one can see the Elands River falls as it plunges 70 metres down. This waterfall and the nearby Five Arch Bridge, a majestic NZASM architectural relic, have both been declared national monuments.
Nelspruit via Schoemanskloof
This route is preferred by motorists as the WatervalBoven road is often used by truckers, but TRAC recommends you drive both on your journey to and from Pretoria.
	Old Joe,Patatasnek   The first proper road through Schoemanskloof was built in the 1920s under the keen eye of a Hollander, Joe Barbas. When, in 1927, the men working for him discovered a rock they said bore a likeness to him, they hauled it up the road, painted it white and labelled it “Joe”. Old Joe has been moved several times as the road has been widened and upgraded, but since 2001 has stood in his current location, which is easier for motorists to stop at for photographs or a look at the scenery. It is a popular tradition to paint Joe in various guises to commemorate local events.   Old Joe’s Kaia   Old Joe’s Kaia has been a hugely popular stopover since the 1950s and takes its name from the rock. A birders’ paradise, it offers overnight accommodation, a restaurant with scrumptious meals and a comfortable bar, and also has a magnificent labyrinth for those seeking a quiet, contemplative walk.
Nelspruit to Komatipoort
Mbombela Stadium   As you near Nelspruit, the inspiring Mbombela Stadium rises on your right. Its iconic design features eighteen orange giraffes supporting the roof, while the seats were painted to resemble a zebra skin. This is the only stadium built for the 2010 World Cup that was designed by South African architects.	Tizameleni informal trading project and Sisulu Cultural Centre, Matsulu turn-off   At the trading project you can fill up with pawpaws, citrus, avocadoes, bananas and various types of nut. Almost right next to it is the Sisulu Cultural Centre, where you will find one of the world’s largest thatched huts – 33m in diameter and seating up to one thousand people. Here women make an impressive variety of crafts that can bought at the centre’s small, well-appointed shop. There is also a cenotaph commemorating those from the district who died in South Africa’s liberation struggle.	Samora Machel monument, Mbuzini near Malalane   One of South Africa’s most moving monuments, this marks the site of the 1986 aeroplane crash site that killed Mozambican president SamoraMachel. A top-class museum has been built on this remote site right next to the borders of Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa. The monument features thirty-five steel pipes, one each for the victims who were killed, which emit a mournful sound that, depending on the direction the wind is blowing, resemble either the sobs of the bereaved or the sound of a jet aircraft
	Caribou aircraft, just before Komatipoort   The De Havilland Caribou abandoned on the side of the road is a veteran of the Vietnam War that has literally travelled the world. Quite how it came to be at Komatipoort is no longer clear, but its history has been traced to 1962 when it was sent to Vietnam by the US Army. It almost certainly worked in Mozambique for the apartheid government before it was “parked” here in 1992.
Komatipoort to Maputo
Moamba   The thriving little town of Moamba was the scene of the final battle over the chieftaincy of the Shangaan people in 1861. Chief Mawewe defeated his half-brother, Umzila, here after a power struggle of nearly six years. It is also in this area that the grave of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick’s legendary dog, Jock of the Bushveld, is believed to be situated.   Maputo   This vibrant African city was once called Lourenzo Marques after a 16th century trader. Although the beauty of this coastal town declined during years of civil war, it is now restored to its former glory. Maputo offer impressive architecture and delightful vistas.   Be sure to visit:   The railway station designed in 1910 by Gustave Eiffel. With its marble pillars, wrought iron work and a large central dome, this grand old building is one of Maputo's most impressive structures.    The central market is a hub of activity selling all kinds of goods, from handicrafts, basketware and carvings, to fruit and vegetables, a variety of seafood and many household items.   One of the many local restaurants offering superb Mozambican Portuguese cuisine, the best prawns all swallowed down with an excellent local beer.