The 14 Best Day Trips from Mpumalanga
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 14 good day trips from Mpumalanga, South Africa, led by Durban, Pietermaritzburg, KwaDukuza. The closest is Pinetown, about 35 min by car, and 8 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 14 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Mpumalanga
- 1
Durban, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car38 km east of MpumalangaKnown for Mitchell Park Zoo.
- 2
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car32 km north-west of MpumalangaKnown for Kwa-Zulu Natal National Botanical Gardens.
- 3
KwaDukuza, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car83 km north-east of Mpumalanga - 4
Pinetown, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car24 km east of Mpumalanga - 5
Tongaat, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car53 km north-east of Mpumalanga - 6
Kokstad, South Africa
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car142 km south-west of Mpumalanga - 7
Port Shepstone, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car105 km south of Mpumalanga - 8
Mandeni, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car106 km north-east of Mpumalanga - 9
Folweni, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car26 km south-east of Mpumalanga - 10
Margate, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car120 km south of Mpumalanga - 11
Wembesi, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car119 km north-west of Mpumalanga - 12
Howick, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car54 km north-west of Mpumalanga - 13
Richmond, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car36 km west of Mpumalanga - 14
Mpophomeni, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car51 km north-west of Mpumalanga
A sample day: Mpumalanga to Durban
- 08:30Leave Mpumalanga
- 09:15Arrive in Durban (45 min drive)
- 09:30Mitchell Park Zoo
- 11:30Lunch
- 12:45Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Durban
- 15:15Head back to Mpumalanga
- 16:00Home in Mpumalanga
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Mpumalanga?
- The best day trips from Mpumalanga are Durban, Pietermaritzburg, KwaDukuza, Pinetown, Tongaat. The closest is Pinetown, about 35 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Mpumalanga?
- Pinetown is the closest, 24 km east of Mpumalanga, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Mpumalanga?
- 8 places are within about an hour's drive of Mpumalanga: Pinetown (35 min), Folweni (40 min), Pietermaritzburg (35 min), Richmond (40 min), Durban (45 min), Mpophomeni (1 hr).
- What is the biggest city near Mpumalanga for a day out?
- Durban is the largest city in day-trip range, 38 km east of Mpumalanga and about 45 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Mpumalanga?
- For a weekend away from Mpumalanga, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Kokstad (142 km, 2 hr 15 min), Margate (120 km, 1 hr 55 min), Wembesi (119 km, 1 hr 50 min), Mandeni (106 km, 1 hr 40 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Mpumalanga?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Kokstad at 142 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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