Geotrail

Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail introduces visitors to the remarkable geology and scenery of the Makhonjwa Mountains in Mpumalanga, South Africa, near the border with Swaziland. Set within the Barberton Greenstone Belt, the trail explores rocks and geological formations dating back more than three billion years. The area is internationally significant for its exceptionally old, well-preserved sedimentary and volcanic record, and the mountains have been included on South Africa’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage recognition.

Designed for a broad audience, the geotrail uses richly illustrated interpretation panels to explain complex geological ideas in accessible, everyday language. It offers an educational outing for families, leisure visitors and geology students, connecting the landscape to Earth’s distant past. Visitors can also obtain a guidebook written by Tony Ferrar and Professor Christoph Heubeck from the Barberton Museum or Barberton Tourism office. For those seeking more detailed geological information, a 1:25,000 map of the west-central Barberton Greenstone Belt is available through the Geological Society of America Bookstore.