| Phalaborwa | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Limpopo#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -23.9333°N 38°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Limpopo |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Mopani |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Ba-Phalaborwa |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 193.33 |
| Elevation M: | 437 |
| Population Total: | 13108 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 40% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 1.9% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 1.5% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 56% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.4% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 50.98% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | English |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 15.07% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | Tsonga |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 11.11% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | Northern Sotho |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 10.83% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 12.01% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 1389 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 1390 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 015 |
| Website: | Phalaborwa trade and tourism |
Phalaborwa (translated to English as better than the south; phala means better than and borwa means south) is a town in the Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa.
The name "Ba-Phalaborwa" was given to the area by the Sotho tribes who moved there from the south. It means "better than the south".
The Sotho mined and smelted copper and iron ore there by 400 AD.
It is located near the confluence of the Ga-Selati River and the Olifants, halfway up along the western border of the Kruger National Park in the Lowveld.
It is the only town in South Africa that borders Kruger National Park. The border with Mozambique is two hours away. Various private game reserves nearly surround Phalaborwa. Hans Merensky Golf Estate is situated on the outskirts.[2]
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.
Two townships, Namakgale and Lulekani are where the Pedi and Tsonga reside. Rural areas such as Mashishimale, Humulani, Kurhula (Matshama Hi Nkano), Ben Farm (Majeje), Makushane and Ga-Maseke.Ga-selwane.majeje 3 and prieska are there.
Phalaborwa is home to Palabora Mining. The massive open pit mine, nearly 2,000 meters across, is Africa's widest manmade hole. Founded in 1951, Foskor's Mining Division in Phalaborwa mines phosphate rock (foskorite and pyroxenite), from which Foskor's Acid Division in Richards Bay produces phosphoric acid and phosphate-based granular fertilisers for local and international markets. The opencast mine in Phalaborwa, in South Africa's Limpopo Province, has the capacity to yield 2.6 million tons per annum of phosphate rock concentrate from processing 35 million tons of ore per annum. Once crushed, milled, concentrated and dried, most of the phosphate rock concentrate is railed to Foskor's processing plant in Richards Bay, 800 km away on the country's east coast.[3]
Tourism and wildlife play a dominant role in the economy.
Phalaborwa Airport is a commercial airport serving the town.
cricketer
businessman
South African cricketer
South African banker and corporate executive
Swimmer who won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Cricketer
Musician
Politician
This area is also known as the Valley of the Olifants. Rainfall is low. It has the highest winter temperature in South Africa, with an average winter temperature range from 9 °C to 26 °C.During summer the average temperatures vary from 20 °C to 33 °C with occasional heavy rainfall. The highest recorded temperature was 50 °C in December 2018.[4]