Apr 6, 2020 | Nelspruit Lodge
It’s a strange time to be alive, and while we are all on lockdown, with little more to do than wait it out, there is one way that you can keep yourself and your family entertained, if you have access to the web.
Since we can’t travel right now, many people are turning to the digital world to take part in a virtual tour. From famous destinations to museums and other interesting places, a quick Google search will present you with a range of interesting options that will not only educate you but keep you entertained for hours on end.
To narrow down your list and make your search that little bit easier, we’ve sourced a few of the best virtual tours that you can do today.
- The Louvre
A museum in the heart of Paris, The Louvre is not only world famous but it is also the one place that everyone visiting Paris hopes to visit (although the queue to get in can be off putting). The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and with an online tour, you can visit all sorts of exhibits. See the famous Egyptian Antiquities, which features pieces from the Pharaonic Period, the Galerie d’Apollon, and the Remains of the Louvre’s Moat.
- The Vatican MuseumVisit Italy via the web and see the Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Room, and St Peter’s Basilica. Other virtual tours available on the site include the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis, the Excavations of St. John Lateran, and you can view an impressive collection of art.
You will be entertained for hours on end while touring and will learn all sorts of amazing things.
- NASAWe all watched space programmes as children, and we all had day dreams about launching off the planet and exploring the stars. You can revisit your childhood when you explore the virtual tours offered by NASA. The virtual tours are offered by various NASA facilities, including the one in Ohio and the one in Virginia. These tours are free. To find more, you can visit the NASA website.
- Machu PicchuIn Peru, South America, this Inca site draws many people year after year. It was built in AD1450 and it sits on top of a mountain, literally. The amazing thing about this historical site is that it was built without help from wheels or animals. A 360 virtual tour is freely available online and it is immensely enlightening.
- Pyramids of GizaTravel to Cairo and beyond to see the famous Pyramids of Giza. Built more than 4500 years ago as grandiose tombs of the Pharaohs, these structures are almost certainly going to awaken your inner Indiana Jones. This virtual tour will bring the Pyramids into your home and give you the opportunity to see why they are a magnificent testament to mankind’s perseverance and ingenuity.
While you are unable to travel right now, a virtual tour might be just what you need.
Nelspruit Lodge wishes everyone a safe lockdown and we will see everyone very soon. In the meantime, stay safe, stay sane, and stay home.
Mar 4, 2019 | Things to in and around Nelspruit
While taking a break in Nelspruit, and staying at our lazy Nelspruit accommodation, why not take a trip to Kaapsehoop and indulge in a day of horse riding?
The best place to go horse backing riding is at the Kaapsehoop Horse Trails. Situated just 35km from Nelspruit, the Kaapsehoop Horse Trails is a true gem of a retreat for those who enjoy horse riding or while it is also the perfect place for every nature enthusiast. The retreat is situated on the Drakensberg escarpment, about 7km from the village of Kaapsehoop, which is well known for its wild horses.
The horses at the Kaasehoop Horse Trails are well-trained, with a good temperament and they are safe for novice and experienced riders. While out riding you will always be accompanied and guided by a team.
For the less experienced, those who might be a little nervous, there is an hour-long route, while for the more experienced there is the four to six-hour ride. All rides are through the pine forests and rolling mountains of the scenic escarpment.
One hour rides (for beginners) are a fun, laid-back ride, while the two-hour ride is for the more experienced rider. Regular riders can take the four or six-hour rides. This ride includes a stop at one of the great village restaurants, where you can enjoy a leisurely lunch before heading back to the retreat. Or if you prefer, you can take a ride through the plantation and have a packed picnic lunch before heading back to base.
While out there one can enjoy a refreshing drink or nibble at the Gypsy Caravan Café. The café is run by an eccentric Café Keeper who has many years of culinary experience and therefore you can be assured of a scrumptious treat while enjoying the surroundings. The patio is known as a meeting place where friends enjoy a cup of slow percolated coffee.
Kaapsehoop Horse Trails also has a shop where you can purchase gifts of crafts, books and even photos are available so that you can take a piece of your experience home with you.
Kaapsehoop Horse Trails also offers fun pony camps where you drop your children off for a few days and they can enjoy nature and horses while under constant adult supervision. Daily programmes include horse riding, swimming, hiking and plenty of outdoor fun and fresh air. Three meals a day are included in the package.
Should you be between the ages of 18 and 55, and be physically fit, you can also enjoy a working holiday. Volunteer Programmes are available from one week to twelve weeks. They will teach you basic skills but you are required to have some riding experience. A volunteer will be expected to work from 7-16 daily. Three meals a day are supplied on the working days and you will be allowed to have a day off when required. Accommodation is in the form of a two bedroomed flat for 4 people sharing. Basic laundry and kitchenette facilities are in the flat as well as an en-suite bathroom.
When staying at our Nelspruit accommodation, it is easy to spend a day riding horses in the town of Kaapsehoop. Don’t miss out on this exciting activity!
May 19, 2018 | Accommodation in Nelspruit, Nelspruit Lodge
Visiting Nelspruit presents a whole lot of opportunities to immerse yourself in nature and get outdoors. Hiking, picnics and safaris are all just a short drive away. The reason why most holidaymakers head to Nelspruit is to enjoy some sunshine and fresh air. But as an ever-growing city, we have some great indoor entertainment that you can indulge in.
We’re not well known for our malls and shopping centres. However, some recent new additions to the city have meant there is more to do here than hiking and safaris trips. In the past, our shopping malls have been just a convenient place to get your shopping done, but with Ilanga Mall’s recent revamp, there is a new reason to head to Nelspruit.
Ilanga Mall is located on the N4, just on the outskirts of our ever-expanding town. Ilanga Mall had it all and is still one of the best places to enjoy some good shopping, and some great food at one of its many eateries. After a day of hiking or after spending your time on a safari, coming to the mall in the evening and tucking into a meal is one of the best ways to end the day.
The open piazza style eating area brings all types of culinary tastes to one place. From relaxed dining to the more formal affair, with the variety of places to eat here, you are never without a choice. The mall also offers outdoor dining with great views of the busy city road as well as the distant mountains.
For the past few years, it has become the go-to shopping centre, but it lacked in the entertainment department.
But now with its recent expansion, the mall is the perfect indoor playground!
If the great outdoors doesn’t quite do it for you and you are rather in the mood for something else, you should consider some of the latest activities on offer at Ilanga. It is the only place in town where you can watch a movie, in great comfort and style, enjoy some gaming at the Fun Company and then try your luck at ice skating. You can have hours of entertainment while here and add some versatility to your holiday.
Nelspruit has become the perfect place to enjoy the best of both worlds. Your holiday planning can include trips to the nearby historical towns and you should spend some time in the Kruger Park. But once you’ve had your fill, you can include ice skating and a movie on those days when you don’t feel like adventuring!
Stay at the Best Lodge in Nelspruit
Booking the best accommodation in Nelspruit will be the perfect way to complete your holiday! Nelspruit Lodge is the best place to stay in town and our location is perfectly convenient for all travellers and holidaymakers.
Apr 18, 2018 | Accommodation in Nelspruit, Nelspruit Accommodation, Nelspruit Lodge
Nelspruit Lodge has become the preferred accommodation in Nelspruit for guests enjoying a holiday, business people looking for a night’s lodgings and just about any company looking for the ideal place to host a conference.
And over the years we’ve watched Nelspruit grow and change in numerous ways, transforming from a small town into a decent sized city. Attracting people looking for a slower paced lifestyle, but one that is not completely dead, Nelspruit has become the place many people from bigger cities, such as Johannesburg, choose to make a life for themselves.
Nelspruit has a rich history, and it’s located in a part of South Africa that has seen gold rushes, wars, republics and revolution. While choosing your accommodation in Nelspruit, you might be interested in learning a little bit about our town.
Nelspruit is the gateway to Mpumalanga and an important landmark for anyone on their way to the beautiful Kruger National Park. In many ways, we could easily be a beach town, if we had an ocean that is. The temperatures here are always mild, except in summer, when they are beyond humid. But you can quickly acclimatise, especially if you are staying at Nelspruit Lodge, where we have a summer pool and air conditioning.
Everything about our part of the world screams sub-tropical. We have palms lining our major streets and just on the outskirts of town, you will see countless sub-tropical fruit trees. Oranges, mangoes, avocados and bananas are some of our biggest exports. And you will always find the freshest fruits in our shops and along the roads.
The history of the town dates back to 1895 when the brothers Nel visited the area with their cattle every winter. It is after them that the town is named. The earlier years of the town were marred by war. Nelspruit was briefly the seat of the Boer Republic’s government and after the war, prospectors in search of gold moved into the area. The nearby towns of Barberton and Pilgrims Rest were mining towns, but Nelspruit was the central point for those in search of riches.
The history of the town is a mixture of Dutch, Swazi, Tsonga, English, and later on, Portuguese influences. The town is a melting pot of cultures and unlike other places in South Africa, it plays host to many Mozambican visitors, who add to the vibrant, unique atmosphere that our town is so popular for having.
Nelspruit is no longer officially called Nelspruit. Today, we are officially Mbombela after a High Court approved the name change in May 2014. But few people refer to the city using its new name.
In many ways, our miniature city is a tourist destination. Travellers stop over here before heading to the Kruger National Park or to Mozambique and in turn, Mozambican visitors give our local economy a much-appreciated boost!
And as a stopover, we have some of the best accommodation.
Accommodation in Nelspruit is as varied as opting for a rustic, hippy backpackers lodge or a more comfortable, luxury hotel, such as Nelspruit Lodge. If you are soon to find yourself in our part of the world, be sure to take advantage of our affordable accommodation!
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