Day trips

The 14 Best Day Trips from Mpumalanga

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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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.

Day trips from Mpumalanga at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Durban38 km E45 minHalf-day trip
Pietermaritzburg32 km NW35 minHalf-day trip
KwaDukuza83 km NE1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Pinetown24 km E35 minHalf-day trip
Tongaat53 km NE1 hrHalf-day trip
Kokstad142 km SW2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Port Shepstone105 km S1 hr 40 minFull-day trip
Mandeni106 km NE1 hr 40 minFull-day trip
Folweni26 km SE40 minHalf-day trip
Margate120 km S1 hr 55 minFull-day trip
Wembesi119 km NW1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Howick54 km NW1 hrHalf-day trip
Richmond36 km W40 minHalf-day trip
Mpophomeni51 km NW1 hrHalf-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Mpumalanga

  1. 1

    Durban, South Africa

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car38 km east of Mpumalanga1 hr 30 min round trip

    Known for Mitchell Park Zoo.

    Also nearby: Ntuzuma.

  2. 2

    Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car32 km north-west of Mpumalanga1 hr 10 min round trip

    Known for Kwa-Zulu Natal National Botanical Gardens.

  3. 3

    KwaDukuza, South Africa

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car83 km north-east of Mpumalanga2 hr 40 min round trip
  4. 4

    Pinetown, South Africa

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car24 km east of Mpumalanga1 hr 10 min round trip
  5. 5

    Tongaat, South Africa

    Half-day trip
    About 1 hr by car53 km north-east of Mpumalanga2 hr round trip
  6. 6

    Kokstad, South Africa

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car142 km south-west of Mpumalanga4 hr 30 min round trip
  7. 7

    Port Shepstone, South Africa

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car105 km south of Mpumalanga3 hr 20 min round trip
  8. 8

    Mandeni, South Africa

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car106 km north-east of Mpumalanga3 hr 20 min round trip
  9. 9

    Folweni, South Africa

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car26 km south-east of Mpumalanga1 hr 20 min round trip
  10. 10

    Margate, South Africa

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car120 km south of Mpumalanga3 hr 50 min round trip
  11. 11

    Wembesi, South Africa

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car119 km north-west of Mpumalanga3 hr 40 min round trip
  12. 12

    Howick, South Africa

    Half-day trip
    About 1 hr by car54 km north-west of Mpumalanga2 hr round trip
  13. 13

    Richmond, South Africa

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car36 km west of Mpumalanga1 hr 20 min round trip
  14. 14

    Mpophomeni, South Africa

    Half-day trip
    About 1 hr by car51 km north-west of Mpumalanga2 hr round trip

A sample day trip: Mpumalanga to Durban

A realistic pace for Durban, 38 km from Mpumalanga. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 08:30Leave Mpumalanga
  2. 09:15Arrive in Durban (45 min drive)
  3. 09:30Mitchell Park Zoo
  4. 11:30Lunch
  5. 12:45Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Durban
  6. 15:15Head back to Mpumalanga
  7. 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.
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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