Jan 26, 2021 | Nelspruit Accommodation, Things to in and around Nelspruit
How to plan the perfect Nelspruit business trip
At Nelspruit Lodge, we cater to the business community throughout the year. Not only do we have fantastic accommodation as well as various facilities that many travelling business people find incredibly useful, but we are also situated in one of the best areas of Nelspruit, close to busy business hubs and the CBD.
With January well underway and new business year now in full swing, those who live on the road are likely to be planning their trips and deciding on how best to navigate 2021. We don’t need to tell you that 2020 has been one strange year and that none of the plans we set out for the previous year were achieved in the way that we expected them to.
For this reason, even with all that is already happening in this first month of the year, we are all raring to get going and to make up for the time lost and that means planning the perfect business trip.
Planning is key when you are setting out on a business trip. To skip this part can mean forgetting something that could very well change the outcome of your journey.
An effective business trip needs to follow 6 very simple steps:
- Make all of your travel arrangements weeks before you leave
Whether you plan your own trips or leave it to a travel manager, you need to be certain that all of your travel planning is done well in advance. Leaving the lodge bookings too late could result in you not getting a room at all, and as such having to rely on inferior accommodation that is way out of the way of where you need to be. You can book Nelspruit accommodation on our website.
- Choose accommodation based on price and convenience
You don’t want to over extend your budget by booking a really expensive place or by inconveniencing yourself by opting for accommodation that is so far from where you need to be that you end up spending your whole budget on transport. Nelspruit Lodge is both affordable and centrally located so that you are close enough to where you need to be.
- Create a full itinerary, leave nothing out
Having a well-planned itinerary will ensure that you are in control of every moment of your trip and that you end up making the most of every minute.
- Research your destination. When coming to Nelspruit, you will find loads of helpful information on our blog.
Nelspruit, being rather small, is really easy to navigate and you will find that there are plenty of places to enjoy a meal or a night out. When researching the town, be sure to know where you can find great restaurants, medical facilities and shops.
- Pack your electronics including chargers and accessories
Laptops and smartphones are without a doubt the most important electronics you can take with you. Make sure that you pack them along with the chargers so that you stay connected.
- Fully prepare for your meeting
Know why you have come to town for the meeting. Being prepared for your meeting will take the heat off and it will help to guarantee that your time in the town is well spent and as productive as possible. Bring along any information you might need as well as any papers or documents that you you’d like to share with those you are meeting.
Dec 1, 2020 | Nelspruit Accommodation, Things to in and around Nelspruit
From unique lights and other ingenious types of home décor, to funky hair dye and up cycled denim clothing, the Lowveld markets are the perfect places to pick out Christmas gifts that are out of the normal.
Should you be lucky enough to be heading to the Lowveld for your Christmas break (and we recommend that you do, this holiday season is shaping up to be an exciting one with plenty of things to do, check out our last blog!), then these are some of the weekend markets as well as the interesting stalls that you can visit.
I Love Local
The I Love Local market is one that has been around for a while and changed locations a few times. Now hosted in the middle of Nelspruit, on the lawns outside of the popular Crossings Shopping Centre, the I Love Local Market has almost 100 stalls, offering all sorts of things.
Under the baking Lowveld sunlight and out in the fresh air, shoppers can mingle with one another while browsing through the many things to buy. You can enjoy freshly squeezed juice and homemade fruit smoothies, grab a gin while you enjoy your walk around the stalls, and you can pick up all sorts of snacks and meals along the way.
As for Christmas shopping, you’ll find pot plant holders, pickles and jams, bath booms, face creams and soaps, fresh honey and nuts, and wooden toys.
Stand Out Stalls
- Bean Textiles and Hunny Rabid – Looking for something truly different, look no further. Bean Textiles and Hunny Rabid are a sister team who manufacture one of a kind printed materials and with that material they make bags and clothing. On the other side of the stall, under the Hunny Rabid banner, they sell fun, colourful washout hair dye.
- Art by Murray – Local artist Michelle James creates the most beautiful prints, cutting boards, and dining wear featuring local trees. They are the ideal gifts for anyone looking to give something unique.
Steiltes Night Market
A bit of Christmas shopping done under dazzling Christmas lights and that luminous Lowveld moon is something you can experience when you visit the Steiltes Night Market. With a range of exhibitors selling the most beautiful things, you can complete all of your 2020 Christmas shopping with one visit to this market.
Stand Out Stalls
- Wurstchenbude – The German Shack – Traditional, and mouthwatering we might add, German food is something everyone should try at least once (or twice or more!). The German Shack prepares authentic German foods at ridiculously good prices and you can find their stall at this market.
BFM at Casterbridge
About 20 minutes from Nelspruit, in the cool mountain air of White River, you’ll find one of the oldest and best supported markets: BFM at Casterbridge. Originally hosted across the road at Baghdad Shopping Centre, the market grew so fast that it need a bigger home, which it found at Casterbridge.
With a nod to the original farmers markets, at Casterbridge you can find all sorts of fresh produce, as well as artisanal Macadamia oils, pickles, jams and preserves, and naturally infused Kombucha juices. You can also find various knick knacks, toys, jewellery, handmade creams, fresh flowers and more.
Stand Out Stalls
- Bush Wood Creations – Know someone who is keen on all things eccentric and steampunk? This is the stall to visit. The unique creations that are made by Bush Wood Creations are made to mesmerise.
- Plain Jane – Handmade jewellery for every occasion, Plain Jane creates some gorgeous accessories that make for perfect gifts and spoils.
Nov 27, 2020 | Nelspruit Accommodation, Nelspruit Lodge, Things to in and around Nelspruit
The holidays are only a few weeks away and if there was ever a time to treat yourself to a holiday in Mpumalanga, it is now.
2020 has taken been one for the history books. To recharge from this most intense year, we invite you to bring yourself and your family to our beautiful province where you can embark on exciting day trips that will take you to the most unforgettable places. From weekend getaways to full week holidays, our province is that perfect, refreshing escape.
Hiking, historical tours, trips to waterfalls and nature reserves, and simply walking through nature and enjoying the clear skies and warm air, are all on the cards. And since our province is but a short drive from the cities, there is no need to worry about travelling too far from home.
A world of adventure is right on your doorstep and when you choose to stay at Nelspruit Lodge, you can look forward to the best accommodation in Mpumalanga, as well as our assistance when it comes to booking your days’ adventure!
What to do on your holiday?
If you are not yet sure where you can go and what the best things to do are, in this blog we are going to share some of the must see places and experiences.
The Barberton area, with its rich history and exemplary geological wonders, is the perfect starting point. The town is just a 30 minute scenic drive from nearby Nelspruit, and there is plenty to do here. Ideally, you should start at the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountainland. This is a World Heritage Site and it has various rock structures which date back some 3.5 billion years. The best way to see the area is to visit the geotrail. On this easy to navigate route, which can be travelled in any kind of vehicle, you will have a real view of what the world looked like before the time of the dinosaurs. And the spectacular rocks found here are only found in one other place in the world!
Pilgrim’s Rest is another off the beaten track place worth visiting. This ancient town still has the homes and buildings that were built during the gold rush era, although most have now been transformed into shops and restaurants.
Close to Pilgrim’s Rest is another must-visit place, Graskop. During the lockdown, this small town, which relies heavily on tourism, was severely rocked and now that we can travel again, making a turn here won’t only be a fantastic holiday experience, it will be directly helping the local economy get back on its feet. While here, make sure you visit The Graskop Gorge Lift. The only one of its kind in Mpumalanga, the lift is designed to take tourists to the bottom of the gorge and into the natural forest below. Visitors walk the wooden walkways and the suspension bridge as they make their way through the woods.
Other Notable Attractions
- The Kruger National Park. Since it is a mere 45 or so minutes away, a day trip into the world’s oldest conservation effort, especially if you haven’t been there before is a must.
- Adam’s Calendar. Up above Nelspruit lies the village of Kaapsehoop. Home to the wild horses, this place is also where you will see what is considered to be one of the oldest man-made structures on earth, known as Adam’s Calendar.
- Okay, it’s not all that close to Nelspruit, but it is well-worth the visit. Chrissiesmeer is South Africa’s version of the Lake District and its beautiful attractions make it the perfect getaway.
May 21, 2020 | Nelspruit Accommodation
There is one aspect of running a lodge that cannot ever be skimped over or not taken seriously, and that is hygiene.
We have an immaculately clean lodge with a wide selection of rooms that are thoroughly and regularly given the complete once over.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have become even more dedicated to ensuring that our hygiene practices remain as thorough as possible, and by introducing new measures.
And there are quite a few things that you can do to, in order to make sure that you stay safe and healthy during these strange and uncertain times.
Healthy Hygiene Habits to Adopt
According to one of the world’s leading travel brains, Fodors, these are some of the most useful things you can do to improve your hygiene habits while you are travelling.
- Use alcohol based wet wipes. These can be used for all sorts of things, like wiping down light switches, remote controls, door handles, phones, and anything else that you think has perhaps not recently been given a clean.
- Have a look at the bathroom. Although most reputable hotels and lodges (those that have been given a great number of excellent reviews) will have scrubbed their bathrooms, it doesn’t hurt to give the bathroom a closer look when you enter your room.
- Check your duvet. If it looks like it has been used, or if you think that it is not clean, you can always request a new one. Don’t be shy to ask.
- Bring along your own slippers. Regardless of what type of flooring the room has, you should always have your own slippers which you can wrap up in a bag when you are headed home, so that they don’t spread any germs that they might have picked up along the way.
- Wash the glasses. Any glasses in your room, and let’s be honest, most accommodation, whether it is in Nelspruit or Paris, will have a drinking glass or two, should be rinsed with soapy water before you use them.
Nelspruit Lodge is taking COVID-19 seriously and as such we have implemented a whole lot of new safety measures to make sure that our guests stay healthy while with us.
We are open to the public as we are recognised by the appropriate authorities as an essential service. And in line with the rules and regulations laid out for companies to operate in the current climate, we have the following measures in place:
- Screening upon check in
- A COVID-19 Combatter Sanitizer which you can walk through and become thoroughly sanitised.
- Sanitizer at every door and entrance, for guests to use.
- Self-catering units for those guests who are not keen on sharing a dining space.
- Sanitized taxi services for those guests who require transport.
All of our staff lookout for guests as well as one another and are screened on a daily basis for the symptoms of COVID-19. Rooms are also sanitized on a daily basis to ensure that they are free of potential pathogens.
We are committed to providing you with a safe stay. Book your self-catering room today.
May 20, 2020 | Nelspruit Accommodation
Over the years, self-catering accommodation has soared in popularity as more and more people look for affordable, comfortable accommodation that suits their specific holidaying or business get away requirements.
Nelspruit Lodge offers some of the most spacious and stylish self-catered accommodation in Nelspruit and we are centrally located which makes us the ideal option for anyone visiting town. Our lodge is close to shops, hospitals and countless exciting attractions, which you can find out more about when you view our blog.
Each of our rooms has all of the basic amenities as well as loads of space in which to make yourself comfortable. But our self-catering rooms are particularly suitable for travellers on the move.
Our self-catering units recently underwent a renovation and the new look rooms are ultra-modern and include things like a spa bath, a walk in shower, Wi-Fi, double beds, and a full kitchenette for guests to prepare their own meals.
Our self-catered rooms are not the only types of accommodation that we have available. We also have a variety of luxury rooms which are perfect for guests who are looking for a little more comfort and who don’t want to cater for themselves but want to instead dine in our restaurant, where our chef is in charge of a flavourful menu.
The Benefits of Self-Catering Accommodation in Nelspruit
Self-catering comes with quite a few amazing benefits and when compared to other styles, is preferred by most. Here are just a few of the benefits to enjoy when you stay at our self-catering in Nelspruit.
- Cook your own meals
And eat them on your own time. When you stay in other types of accommodation, you are generally constrained to certain times when the restaurant prepares meals. This won’t happen when you can cook your own meals and eat when you are hungry, rather than when the lodge restaurant is open.
- Affordable
Sometimes the deciding factor when it comes to the type of accommodation you select, is the price. And this is even truer when your travels are being planned according to a tight budget. Self-catered accommodation is generally far more affordable than other styles of accommodation, so you will most certainly be saving money while not compromising on your comfort.
- Flexibility
With a lot of self-catered accommodation out there, you will be able to come and leave as you please without always having to inform the lodge. This means you will have more freedom during your stay, and if you also avoid a pre-packaged trip, you can choose to fill your day as you please.
Nelspruit Lodge is committed to your health
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nelspruit Lodge is committed to ensuring the health of our guests is never compromised due to a lack of sanitisation. We have always been dedicated to making sure that our lodge is clean and hygienic, and with the pandemic, we have upped our game by making use of the latest and best products.
You can enjoy a memorable stay in our self-catering in Nelspruit when you book one of our units. Contact us for more information.
Feb 16, 2020 | Nelspruit Accommodation
Living in the moment, being content with life, mediating daily, being aware of how you feel and what you are doing with your time, being fully attentive. This is what it means to be mindful and while it might seem like just another passing internet trend, it is capturing the attention of many South Africans looking for a more meaningful life experience.
Being fully attentive and aware is one way to not only consciously live life to the fullest but it also helps to control stress, emotions and how we react to certain situations. It also helps to completely focus when we need to. The moment the mind starts to drift, the practice of mindfulness can bring us right back again.
What does this have to do with Nelspruit Lodge?
As Nelspruit’s foremost lodge, we try to create an oasis of peace and calm for all of our guests. From taking a walk around the gardens to enjoying the bliss of staying in one of our stylish and fully kitted out rooms, there are ways that you can be mindful when staying in Nelspruit.
We are also situated close to a few places where the people of Nelspruit are embracing this popular practice, so if you are from out of town and wish to recharge, you can quickly find your tribe.
- Yoga in the Gardens
The second Saturday of every month sees yoga enthusiasts come together for a free session in the Lowveld Botanical Gardens. Yoga and mindfulness go hand in hand, as both practices focus a lot on being aware of the body and mind.The session in the garden incorporates basic yoga and ancient breathing techniques known to sooth the mind and calm the body. If you are in town during this time of the month, or if you are a local looking for something new, this is the perfect excuse to get outdoors and stretch your soul.
- Secret Sunrise
Another fantastic way to come back to yourself is to dance it out as the sun rises. Secret Sunrise is by no means a South African thing, but we have sure fallen in love with the concept and become huge fans. Secret Sunrise is all about wellness and the group is on a global mission to connect people through music and movement.Participants each wear headphones and are guided through the session by a facilitator. The songs played are perfect for practicing and enhancing mindfulness, medication, and breath work, while these is also an element of insatiable playfulness that well leave you enlivened for days afterwards.
Secret Sunrise Lowveld takes place once a month and to find the exact dates follow this link.
Mindfulness is an evidence-based activity and it has been proven to have positive effects on health, happiness, relationships and careers. It is also the one practice that can spark creativity and unleash your inner self.
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Take full advantage of our comfortable Nelspruit accommodation by booking your stay at our lodge today. You can look forward to the best hospitality and the most comfortable rooms.
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