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A world of wood
Komatiland Forestry Museum, Sabie
Sunrise in the plantations around Sabie, Mpumalanga.
© Chris Marais
Did you know?
Sabie’s forestry museum contains a ‘painting’ made from matches tracing humans’ efforts to harness fire and light.
An American traveller passing through the town of Sabie in Mpumalanga province on a rainy day might easily think he or she was back in his home country, in the state of Oregon.
Huge trucks laden with fresh-cut timber share the streets with local bakkies (pick-up trucks) and visitors in SUVs heading for the nearby Kruger National Park.
Sabie retains a small town specialness, the people are tourist-friendly and the town itself is placed in a marvellous setting of forests and plantations.
From Sabie, you can get to the towns of Pilgrim's Rest and White River, or attractions such as the Mac Mac Falls, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels. These are famous names from the late 1880s, the era of big gold discoveries in these parts.
But today it’s all about the ‘brown gold’, and the fact that the area around Sabie is the largest human-made forest in South Africa.
More than half of the country’s timber comes from the Sabie area.
The industry was initially started to provide wood supports for all the underground mines around the area, and now supplies wood for furniture, paper and general consumer products.
The Komatiland Forestry Museum in Sabie takes visitors back to the start of the local timber industry, through the generations and up to the present day.
It explores the role of trees in nature, harvesting procedures, what timber is used for, and steps the industry is taking to make it all environmentally friendly.
There is also information on our relationship with indigenous forests and their contribution to quality of life.
There are some very interesting displays at the Komatiland Forestry Museum.
Highlights of South African history are recorded on the concentric rings of a 250-year-old yellowwood disc, while the history of match production is displayed, along with a small replica of a Pretoria Dutch Reformed Church, made entirely out of glued-together matches.
An old frame saw, miniature wooden shoes carved by a South African (Anglo-Boer) War prisoner on St Helena, and a handmade Irish Gypsy clothes peg that dates back more than a century are displayed along with historical timelines recording the growth of the timber industry in South Africa.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Komatiland Forestry Museum
Tel: +27 (0)13 764 1058
Email: csieling@klf.co.za
Sabie Information Office
Tel: +27 (0)13 764 3599
Email: info@sabie.co.za
How to get here
Sabie lies approx. 370km east of Johannesburg and approx. 55km north of Nelspruit, on the R537 or the R37.
Around the area
Pilgrim’s Rest, Graskop, Dullstroom, Lydenburg and White River are all excellent day-drive destinations.
Tours to do
The most popular tour is to the Kruger National Park, to the west of Sabie. Also, the classic Panorama Route, which takes in many local small towns and natural settings.
Get around
Sabie is part of Mpumalanga's Panorama Route, a very good self-drive experience that exposes you to most of the highlights of the province of Mpumalanga.
What will it cost
Adults R5; children R2; pensioners R2.
Length of stay
The museum is worth a 2-hour visit.
What to pack
When visiting Sabie in summer, make sure to pack a raincoat in case of sudden showers.
Where to stay
Sabie has lots of accommodation. Check the Sabie Tourism website for choices.
What to eat
Sabie has a good selection of pubs, pizzerias, family restaurants and more formal dining spots. Visit the Sabie website for details.
What's happening
Rallies, forest fairs, mountain-bike races and marathons – Sabie is a busy little town. Check the calendar of events on the Sabie website for details.
Best buys
Arts and crafts from the many specialist shops listed on the Sabie website.