The capital city of Mpumalanga, Mbombela as it is now known, means “a lot of people in a small place”. The town is the perfect base from which to explore the region. Arguably one of the fastest growing cities Mbombela is home to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) and the highly acclaimed Lowveld national Botanical Garden (LNBG). Just over 30 kilometres away are the Sudwala Caves which are cave formations dating back some 240 million years, regarding them as one of the oldest known caves worldwide. The city has a vibrant nightlife and various fine dining options and events.

BRIEF HISTORY:
MATAFFIN
The station was one of the original stations of the line. First known as Tomango, it had to be changed as this was the brand name of the products manufactured by H L Hall & Sons on their farm. It was then named after Mataffin (Matsafeni Mdluli) the brave Swazi who lived nearby with his ninety six wives. He left this area in 1891, after having a dispute with the Native Commissioner, Abel Erasmus, and was on his way to Mozambique when he was murdered by Nhliziyo Mdlovu near Pretoriuskop in the Kruger National Park. He was buried next to the Imagaroti Creek, south of Ship Mountain (Mhukweni).
Hugh Lanion Hall (1858-1940) established himself at Mataffin in 1890. Today Mataffin is the centre of the estate of H L Hall & Sons Limited and the fruit orchards are a familiar sight to all visitors to the Lowveld. The well groomed hedges have become the ‘Gateway to the Lowveld’.

NELSPRUIT
Named after the three Nel Brothers, Gert, Louis and Andries, who came down to the Lowveld during the winter months, at the end of the previous century, with their sheep and cattle from the Highveld. When the Eastern Railway Line was surveyed, the surveyors found the Nels in the area during April/May 1884 and named the creek and later the station after the three brothers. The first train arrived on 20 June 1892.
Nelspruit was proclaimed on 27 January 1905, administered by a Health Committee from 2 September 1912, by a village council from 20 December 1922 and by a municipality since 12 October 1940. The Nel brothers, and their wives, were re-buried in Nelspruit during the town’s 75th anniversary of proclamation. The anniversary celebration took place on 27 August 1980, and was attended by the surviving members of the Nel family.