The area is a biodiversity hotspot with lush vegetation and an abundance of trees and birds.
The town is surrounded by seven nature reserves with a wide range of rare and red data fauna and flora. The plant species diversity is higher than that of the Kruger National Park and second only to the Cape Fynbos. The best-known plant found here is the Barberton Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii).

The valley was once one of the migratory routes for elephants and the estate borders on the 18 000 hectare Barberton Mountainlands Game Reserve all along its northern and eastern boundaries. The estate already nurtures and abundance of game and is closely situated to the home of the big five, the Kruger National Park, a mere 40 minutes drive from the Malelane gate.

Famous tourist attractions like the potholes at Bourke’s Luck, God’s Window, the Blyde River Canyon, Pilgrims Rest and the Mozambican Coast, are a pleasant drive away.

The area is also famous for its rich gold prospecting history dating back more than a century. Sheba gold mine (1885) is the oldest and in its prime, the richest gold mine in the world. Colourful personalities like “French Bob”, Cockney Liz, Edwin Bray, Paul Kruger, Percy Fitzpatrick and his dog, Jock, feature in many of the stories of the pioneer era.