Maruleng Local Municipality lies in the Mopani District of Limpopo province, on the edge of the Lowveld bordering Kruger National Park. It had 128,137 people at the 2022 census, up from 95,328 in 2011, over 3,562.6 km². The seat is Hoedspruit.
Towns and Villages in Maruleng
| Place | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hoedspruit | Town | seat, air force base, tourism hub |
| Trichardtsdal | Village | farming settlement |
| Naphuno | Village | rural ward |
| Metz | Village | farming settlement |
| Mica | Village | farming settlement |
Maruleng’s GeoNames pack lists 29 named places:
- Amanda
- Angledale
- Botswana
- Dingapong
- Diphuti
- Finale
- Fochabers
- Ga-Mamatlhola
- Ga-Mametsa
- Ga-Mohlabe
- Ga-Sekororo
- Hoedspruit
- Kubjaname
- Lepelle
- London
- Lorraine
- Makgaung
- Mametjaslokasie
- Mbabat
- Mdlazi
- Meetse-a-Bophelo
- Metz
- Mica
- Moetladimo
- Mokwena
- Naphuno
- Sekororoslokasie
- Trichardtsdal
- Worcester
Geography
Maruleng sits where the Drakensberg escarpment drops into the Lowveld, sharing its eastern boundary with Kruger National Park and the Blyde River Canyon nature reserve to the north. The Klaserie and Olifants rivers cross the municipality, and much of its eastern half falls within private game reserves adjoining Kruger. Within Mopani District it borders Greater Tzaneen and Ba-Phalaborwa, and Mpumalanga province to the south and east.
Demographics
The population grew from 95,328 at the 2011 census to 128,137 in 2022, a rise of about 34%, among the strongest growth rates in Mopani District. Northern Sotho is the predominant home language, spoken by close to 90% of residents, with a smaller Shangaan-speaking minority in the eastern wards near Kruger.
Economy and Local Life
Tourism and game farming drive the local economy, built on Hoedspruit’s position as the gateway to Kruger National Park’s Orpen and Phalaborwa gates and to private reserves such as Timbavati and Kapama. Lodges, safari operators and wildlife veterinary services around Hoedspruit employ a large share of the formal workforce. Citrus and other subtropical fruit farming supports the Trichardtsdal and Metz areas, where large commercial farms grow oranges and mangoes for export. Hoedspruit Air Force Base, home to the South African Air Force’s helicopter training wing, is a major local employer alongside tourism.
Getting There
The R527 and R40 connect Hoedspruit to Tzaneen and the N4 corridor. Eastgate Airport at Hoedspruit runs scheduled flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town, making it the region’s main air link for safari visitors.
History
Maruleng was established as a local municipality in the 2000 local government reorganisation, combining former homeland-era administrative areas around Sekororo and Mametja with the commercial farming and conservation land around Hoedspruit. The name Maruleng means “place of the marula tree” in Northern Sotho, a reference to the marula trees common across the municipality’s Lowveld terrain.
FAQ
What is the seat of Maruleng?
Hoedspruit.
How many towns are in Maruleng?
GeoNames records list 29 named places, the largest being Hoedspruit.
What is the population?
128,137 at the 2022 census, up from 95,328 in 2011.
Which district and province is Maruleng in?
Mopani District, Limpopo province.
What is the main industry?
Tourism and game farming around Kruger National Park’s western gateway.
Is there an airport in Maruleng?
Yes, Eastgate Airport at Hoedspruit, with scheduled flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
What does the name Maruleng mean?
“Place of the marula tree” in Northern Sotho.
What private reserves border Maruleng?
Timbavati, Kapama and other private game reserves adjoining Kruger National Park’s western boundary.
What crops are grown in Maruleng?
Citrus and other subtropical fruit around Trichardtsdal and Metz, alongside game and cattle farming elsewhere.
What rivers cross Maruleng?
The Klaserie and Olifants rivers, both flowing east toward Kruger National Park.
Which gates give access to Kruger from Maruleng?
The Orpen and Phalaborwa gates, both reachable from Hoedspruit.
How far is Hoedspruit from Polokwane?
Roughly 165 km southeast, via the R71 and R527.