The summer rain that poured throughout the festive season has illuminated Mpumalanga with bursting waterfalls and endless fields of lush greenery.
If you love the outdoors, this is the perfect time to dip yourself in nature’s wander, hike up those mountains, take in the pristine views and get a dose of adventure by chasing the province’s abundance of magnificent waterfalls.
I did just that when award-winning singer, philanthropist and Mpumalanga Tourism Ambassador, Ms Pretty Mhlongo, joined me on a long overdue visit to the majestic Lone Creek waterfall in Sabie.
Taking a scroll through Pretty Mhlongo’s social media pages, you’d easily think she’s most comfortable on stage or in glamorous settings, so I wasn’t sure how our adventure would pan out but she insists – as I now believe – that she’s an adventure junkie at heart.
As we begin the short walk, 200m from the parking area, to the waterfall, I’m taken aback by how effortlessly Pretty Mhlongo immerses herself with the outdoors while maintaining an air of youthful radiance and grace. “I love being in nature and discovering the infinite beauty that our land has to offer,” she says as she hops onto a rock with ease and strikes a pose.
We continue walking along the well-worn pathway and before long, the canopy of natural forest opens up to a clearing where a single tower of water takes a powerful 68m dive into the rocky plunge pool below. The Lone Creek waterfall, also recognised as a national monument, is truly a sight to behold!
Pretty Mhlongo has earned many accolades in her illustrious music career. However, she counts being appointed as a Tourism Ambassador by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency as one of her greatest feats. “I never expected this and it’s truly such an honour,” she tells me. “I love exploring and being a Tourism Ambassador gives me the opportunity to travel with the purpose of helping to promote Mpumalanga as the ideal travel destination.”
Pretty Mhlongo left her office job to pursue a career in music many years ago, a decision she says she has never regretted. “I come from a musical family so I was able to begin nurturing my talent very early on. Turning to music full-time became a natural transition which allowed me to invest in myself and grow as an artist and mentor”.
On the future of Mpumalanga’s tourism industry, Mhlongo says one of the keys to truly driving the industry is to develop tourism products that sustain secondary markets which accommodate the diverse skills in local communities. “One of my goals is to help facilitate the further development of Mpumalanga’s tourism industry through promoting structural development of tourism products and their supporting markets” says Mhlongo.
“Our townships provide such a vibrant interpretation of the culture, art and lifestyle of Mpumalanga’s people,” says Pretty Mhlongo as she recounts interactions with different communities through her music career. “I’d love to see rural and township tourism take off in Mpumalanga. This would not only grow rural economies but also instill a deeper sense of community pride”.
Although the pandemic has had a devastating effect on the tourism industry, Pretty Mhlongo says she’s grateful that it brought domestic tourism to the fore. “More and more people are coming to explore Mpumalanga’s attractions such as the Panorama Route and beyond. Therefore, it’s critical to develop these areas and create meaningful inclusion of local communities in the tourism space,” she suggests.
