Phalaborwa
title: "Phalaborwa" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-the-ba-phalaborwa-local-municipality", "mining-communities-in-south-africa"] topic_path: "geography/south-africa" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalaborwa" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Phalaborwa |
| image_skyline | Phalaborwa.jpg |
| image_caption | The entrance sign to Phalaborwa |
| pushpin_map | South Africa Limpopo#South Africa |
| coordinates | |
| 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 | |
| area_total_km2 | 193.33 |
| elevation_m | 437 |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | 13108 |
| population_as_of | 2011 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type1 | |
| demographics1_footnotes | |
| demographics1_title2 | Black African |
| demographics1_info2 | 39.8% |
| demographics1_title3 | Coloured |
| demographics1_info3 | 1.9% |
| demographics1_title4 | Indian/Asian |
| demographics1_info4 | 1.5% |
| demographics1_title1 | White |
| demographics1_info1 | 56.4% |
| demographics1_title5 | Other |
| demographics1_info5 | 0.4% |
| demographics_type2 | |
| demographics2_footnotes | |
| demographics2_title4 | Northern Sotho |
| demographics2_info4 | 10.8% |
| demographics2_title2 | English |
| demographics2_info2 | 15.1% |
| demographics2_title3 | Tsonga |
| demographics2_info3 | 11.1% |
| demographics2_title1 | Afrikaans |
| demographics2_info1 | 51% |
| demographics2_title5 | Other |
| demographics2_info5 | 12% |
| timezone1 | |
| 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 |
| :: |
| name = Phalaborwa | image_skyline = Phalaborwa.jpg | image_caption = The entrance sign to Phalaborwa | pushpin_map = South Africa Limpopo#South Africa | coordinates = | 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 = | area_total_km2 = 193.33 | elevation_m = 437 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 13108 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011) | demographics1_footnotes = | demographics1_title2 = Black African | demographics1_info2 = 39.8% | demographics1_title3 = Coloured | demographics1_info3 = 1.9% | demographics1_title4 = Indian/Asian | demographics1_info4 = 1.5% | demographics1_title1 = White | demographics1_info1 = 56.4% | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 = 0.4% | demographics_type2 = First languages (2011) | demographics2_footnotes = | demographics2_title4 = Northern Sotho | demographics2_info4 = 10.8% | demographics2_title2 = English | demographics2_info2 = 15.1% | demographics2_title3 = Tsonga | demographics2_info3 = 11.1% | demographics2_title1 = Afrikaans | demographics2_info1 = 51% | demographics2_title5 = Other | demographics2_info5 = 12% | 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 | official_name = 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.
Name
The place was called "Phalaborwa" by the Sotho tribes who migrated from the south to the area. The name means "better than the south".
History
Phalaborwa Ga-Malatji the Barwa Sotho tribe mined and smelted copper and iron ore there by 400 AD.
Geography
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.
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.
Economy
Mining
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.
Tourism
Tourism and wildlife play a dominant role in the economy.
Transport
Phalaborwa Airport is a commercial airport serving the town.
Notable people
- Dale Steyn: South African cricketer
- Ryan Coetzee: Swimmer who won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
- Pule Mabe: Politician
- Pule Shayi: Politician
Climate
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 45 °C with occasional heavy rainfall. The highest recorded temperature was 50 °C in December 2018.
References
References
- "Main Place Phalaborwa". Census 2011.
- "Directions - Golf in the Wild". Hans Merensky Hotel & Spa.
- [http://www.showcaves.com/english/za/mines/Palabora.html Mining]
- "Bing Weather", accessed 6 June 2014
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