Jan 26, 2021 | Nelspruit Accommodation, Things to in and around Nelspruit
January in Nelspruit
2020 saw many changes to the way that we live and navigate our way through life, and yet in many ways life in Nelspruit is much the same as it has always been. Life in the Slowveld goes on and apart from the usual COVID restrictions and hand sanitisers on every corner, it is business as usual.
January in Nelspruit is considered the hottest month of the year. The day temperatures are soaring, and the humidity is high, bringing in the annual rainfall that this region so desperately needs. The days are longer than usual, with the sun rising before 5am and setting well after 7pm, giving Lowvelders and those visiting the opportunity to make the most of the great outdoors.
January is also a fantastic time of year to travel to the Lowveld for a holiday. With the 2020 festive season over and most of the holiday makers having gone back home, the attractions in the area are blissfully quiet. This makes January a great time of year to visit and if you have not yet had a break after the tough previous year, now is a good time to treat yourself.
Things to do in January
We don’t need to tell you that the country is back in a Level 3 lockdown which makes travelling a little more complicated than usual, but if you are able to leave home and travel to the Lowveld for a break, here are some of the things you should do.
Safari
Given the fact that the last year has all but destroyed the South African tourism sector, if you are in a position to travel to the area and embark on a Kruger Park safari or a safari at any one of the smaller, private reserves, now is the time. Not only are the usually busy parks now all but empty again, but now is also a good time to take advantage of the good prices. There are many great discounts currently running and regardless of whether you are going to have a self-drive safari or if you are keen on trying out a guided safari, you should now do it.
Going on safari will also be a great help to the struggling local market.
Historical Tours
The Lowveld is full of numerous historical towns many of which have been empty for most of 2020. If you are a keen historical buff, January is the perfect time to visit these small towns and to learn about what has made them so famous. The weather is also just perfect for a visit, as everything is green and glowing.
Do business
If you are on town on business, now is the best time to make new connections. The clean new start along with the fact that many businesses are getting back on their feet again and possibly looking to make new contacts, makes January a good time for business.
Nelspruit Lodge offers some of the best accommodation in Nelspruit and we are open for guests. Contact us today to make your booking.
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.
Oct 23, 2020 | Things to in and around Nelspruit
With all the time spent in lockdown and constrained to stay in town, limited to their everyday routines, unable to break away and experience nature. With Lockdown lifted and Covid restrictions slowly becoming a thing of the past, many locations and activities have become open to the public.
One of the more relaxing endeavours that lets you break away from life is to go camping and hiking. With all the fresh, unpolluted air coursing through your lungs and away from any interruption or distractions from your busy lives, hiking and camping provide a true escape, allowing you to recover and rest your mind and body.
Uitsoek Hiking Trail
The Uitsoek Hiking Trail is located 80km from Nelspruit near Sudwala Caves. Uitsoek consists of 3 separate Hiking Trails, Houtbosloop, Beestekraalspruit and Brakkrans. Each of the trails provide their own unique experience.
Beestekraalspruit Hiking Trail and Brakkrans are two-day hiking trails that are not difficult or advanced and are perfect for those who are not fit or are a bit out of shape. Hikers are exposed to some truly beautiful scenery while taking part in the 2 day Hike.
The Houtbosloop Hiking Trail is filled with beautiful pine forests, hills, mountains and ravines as the circular route brings you back around to the start, after experience the beauty of the natural landscape.
Lindenau Hiking Trail
Located on a farm called Lindenau, found between Nelspruit and nGodwana, lies the Lindenau Hiking trail. Formerly known as the Elandsvallei Trail, hikers travel all along the new route found on the 1800 hectare farmland. The starting part of the Hiking trail is a converted schoolhouse that is known as ‘Old Plaas Skooltjie’. Previously, hikers would live in a thatched stone building that was fully equipped, but the trail was changed and now guests make a return trip and stay in the Old School House on the second night. The Farm that the trail is laid out on, is lush and green with an abundance of water from the Elands River. There are many mountains streams along the road, carving through the beautiful landscape.
Some of the amazing highlights you can experience while on the trail include the Sugar Loaf Mountains, stunning kloofs and gorges, and an insane 300 species of birds that can be encountered. On the second day, hikers pass old gold mine sites and the ruins of an old South African War Camp. Otters also call the lands home
Kaapsehoop Hiking Trails
There are a multitude of different amazing hiking trails that hikers can take part in, that range from 2 night trails to 5 night trails. The 2 night trails range anywhere from 23km to 43km, with the 5 night option reaching 60km each. All of the trails are set in the stunning and beautiful misty hills, filled with gorges, valleys, aloes, cycads, ferns and streams to decorate and make the hiking experience so much more enjoyable. A good idea is to keep the weather in mind as high in the Drakensburg region the afternoons and nights can be quite cold.
Aug 27, 2020 | Things to in and around Nelspruit
Nelspruit is a beautiful town located in the middle of the Lowveld. Nelspruit is one of the busiest towns to be found in Mpumalanga and is popular with a variety of people of people young and old. The location for Nelspruit is prime as it lies conveniently near a lot of the popular attractions as well as near small towns. Mbombela is the Capital city of Mpumalanga and is known worldwide because of its close proximity to the World-famous Kruger National Park.
Nelspruit’s name has been officially renamed to Mbombela. One of the popular reasons why Mbombela is so popular, is because of its sport functions and the varied sport facilities it boasts. There are numerous schools that have frequent sporting events that vary from rugby and hockey to tennis and netball and many other sports. Mbombela is also known for its great golfing facilities as the golf course is one of the best in the region. Town Rugby tournaments are also held frequently and there are also a couple of Lawn Bowl greens for those who prefer a slower pace.
Mbombela is renowned for its possession and close proximity to popular tourist attractions. Some of the more popular tourist attractions that make people flock to Mbombela include the Lowveld Botanical Gardens, Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Eden, the Kruger National Park, Sudwala Caves and Kaapschehoop. Many people visit these amazing tourist destinations and then spend some time in the town, taking in the sights. Because of the close proximity to all these tourist attractions many tourists or visitors from afar will stay over in the town because of convenience.
Mbombela is a town that is diverse in the amount of commerce it provides. Mbombela has two spacious malls that is guaranteed to check off a few of your necessities. Riverside Mall was the First mall built in Mbombela and was the go-to place in the town. Ilanga was then built on the opposite side of the town, near the homes and residential areas for greater ease of access for many residents. Mbombela also has 3 popular shopping centres in the form of Crossings, The Grove and Sonpark that each contain a sizeable Spar with a variety of take away and ease of life shops. Many of these shopping centres are spread out nicely throughout the town to provide residents with the most convenient way to fulfil their shopping needs.
Mbombela is not just shops and businesses, there are various recreational locations in Nelspruit and the surrounding areas that will keep everyone entertained from young to old. Ilanga Mall is a hotspot as visitors can go ice skating, watch a movie or have some fun at the Fun Company Arcade. For those really hot Nelspruit days, the Riverside Waterpark, Mafunyane, is a perfect place to spend the day and cool off in the process. Riverside Mall also has a few fun and exciting things to do to keep visitors busy, like enjoying the cinema and browsing the shops while you wait.
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