Phalaborwa is a town situated at the intersection of the R40 and R71 Provincial Routes in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality within the Mopani District Municipality of the Limpopo Province of South Africa.
The place was called “Phalaborwa” by the Sotho tribes who migrated from the south to the area. The name means “better than the south”, phala means “better than” and borwa means “south”.
Phalaborwa Ga-Malatji, the Barwa Sotho tribe mined and smelted copper and iron ore there by 400 AD.
Phalaborwa is located near the confluence of the Ga-Selati River and the Olifants, halfway up along the western border of the famous Kruger National Park in the Lowveld.
It is the only town in South Africa that borders the Kruger National Park. The border with Mozambique is a mere two hours away. Various private game reserves nearly surround Phalaborwa. Hans Merensky Golf Estate is situated on the outskirts.
Nearby natural attractions are Blyde River Canyon, the Three Rondavels, God’s Window, and Bourke’s Luck Potholes; the Tzaneen fruit farms and Hoedspruit game farms can all be visited within a day.
Masorini near Phalaborwa gate is a reconstructed Ba-Phalaborwa hill village with huts, grain storage areas, and an iron smelting site.
As far as aviation is concerned, Phalaborwa town is served by Phalaborwa Airport.