Aug 27, 2020 | News
With many of us spending time at home or being confined at home because of Covid and the lockdown, we did not spend a lot of time exploring the beauty of nature and all it has to offer. There is a lot of nature that many do no know and there are plenty of amazing locations in the Lowveld that can help people learn some interesting facts about nature and the amazing animals that call the lowveld and surrounds home.
Jane Goodall Chimp Eden
The Jane Goodall Chimp Eden Sanctuary is a large protective location found just outside of Nelspruit, between the town and Barberton. The goal of the Chimp Sanctuary is to rehabilitate, raise and educate people on the life of chimpanzees. Many of the chimps that can be found in the sanctuary are rescues and victims of deforestation, fires, black market trade and poaching. Visitors here can interact with the chimps, learn all about their history and about protecting these amazing animals.
Sudwala Caves
The Sudwala Caves are the oldest known caves in the world. The Caves can be found on your way to Sabie. This stunning collection of caves lies comfortably in the mountain up high, with a decent hike to the entrance. Visitors are able to take part in amazing tours into the caves, led by guides that know the layout of the cave. The Caves are rather educational as visitors learn very interesting facts about the caves, like the history and significance, the crystal and dolomite formations as well as the utter beauty of the Amphitheatre.
Elephant Whispers
Elephant Whispers is a safe haven with the goal of conserving and protecting the elephants of the lowveld. It is a very immersive experience as visitors are able to interact with these gentle giants. Visitors are led on an educational tour, providing the story of the elephants, their conservation plans and stories of poaching in general.
Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre is a protective sanctuary for a variety of endangered and rare species. The variety of endangered and vulnerable species that call the centre home are conserved and sustained here. This centre thrives on tourism and educate the guests on conservation and amazing facts about these amazing and rare animals. Visitors will see animals that they will not see anywhere else in the wild, or will have a decreased chance.
Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre
The Moholoholo Wildlife Reservation Centre has a very similar goal as the Hoedspruit Reservation Centre. Home to a large variety of endangered and vulnerable animals, the Moholoholo Reservation Centre aims to educate tourists on the importance of conservation as well as some fascinating information about each of the animals living there including some of their back stories and where they come from. Visitors will be led on an educational tour to many of the enclosures along the tour.
It is important to have some decent knowledge about nature, our surroundings and the importance of conservation to protect our animals and natural resources.
Jul 29, 2020 | Things to in and around Nelspruit
With schools closed and many people working from home, families have more time to spend time together. Unfortunately, coming up with things to do to make things fun can be tough sometimes. Luckily there are plenty of fun and exciting things to do with your family. The Lowveld and Mpumalanga is packed with activities for the whole family. So to help come up with some fun family activities, Nelspruit Lodge has a list to make that planning a little bit easier.
Sudwala Caves
The Sudwala Caves is the oldest known caves in the world and is found right here in the lowveld. There are plenty of tours that can take visitors into the caves, from 150m deep to 600m deep. The Caves have a wonderful combination of Stalagtites, Stalagmites, fossils and flow stones. Kids will really enjoy the caves as they can explore the insides and let their imagination run wild. The caves are well lit and are very safe for guests to visit as they are not allowed to go deeper than 600m. All tours in the caves are led by an experienced guide.
Graskop Gorge Lift Co.
The Graskop Gorge Lift Co. is the latest instalment of tourism in the beautiful Blyde River Canyon, Part of the Famous Panorama Route. Guests will depart into the last untouched forest in the Lowveld using a state of the art 26 person viewing elevator. Guests will be lowered down the cliff face into the forest below where a network of elevated walkways can be found, providing guests with a wonderful and untamed feeling of nature. Kids and adults alike will love this adventure and is a time for people to let go of the stresses of everyday life.
Kruger National Park
One of the Post visited tourist attractions in Africa, The Kruger National Park is a wildlife conservancy that is home to hundreds of different plant, mammal and bird species. Pack a lunch, bring lots of water and sunscreen and have your camera ready as you depart on a safari through the wild Kruger Park. Plenty of animals can be found on your journey, from antelope, zebra, and giraffe to powerful and intimidating animals like the hippo, elephant, lion and Buffalo. The Kruger Park is also one of the few places where you can encounter a Black / White Rhino. Your first experience in the Kruger will usually stick with you all your life.
Ilanga Mall
Ilanga Mall is one of the most visited places in Nelspruit. The newest mall in Nelspruit comes equipped with plenty of things to do for both adult and child. People can go Ice Skating, watch a movie, or enjoy a delicious lunch/breakfast/dinner at one of the many eateries in the area, while the kiddies enjoy the indoor splash play area. You can enjoy a nice warm cup of coffee at Exclusive Books while reading a book while the kids tire themselves out at the arcade close by. Bowling, bumper cars and a trampoline park all provide fun activities for a family group.
Elephant Sanctuary
When visiting the Kruger National Park or un the area, a perfect stop would be the Elephant Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is home to 2 orphaned African Elephant Bulls named Kitso and Kasper. Guides take guests on guided tours through the sanctuary to give guests a hands on experience with the Elephants. Guests can also go on a private and personal safari of the Sanctuary if they so choose.
Feb 10, 2019 | Things to in and around Nelspruit
Nelspruit and its natural surrounding areas are filled to the brim with natural attractions of all kinds. When staying at our Nelspruit accommodation, guests are in the perfect place from which to explore mountains, hiking trails, dams and caves.
If caving is your thing, a day trip on the Panorama Route will bring you to the famous Echo Caves. This National Monument can be found in the Molopong valley which is situated near Ohrigstad.
The Echo caves were discovered in the 1920’s, by the owner of the farm Klipfontein, while he was searching for water in the area. After searching the land in and around his farm extensively, he came upon the caves and saw that his cattle had already found the caves and the water source. The caves are among some of the oldest of their type in the world and are now a Historical Monument.
The best, and safest, way to explore the caves are by signing up for a guided day trip. Of all the limestone caves, the Echo caves are not that well known, so a visit there is rather a personal affair, sometimes making it just you and the guide on the tour.
Early History and Cave Features
The Echo Caves have been a shelter for humans since the Middle Stone Age. San rock engravings can still be viewed within the caves and can be seen alongside beautiful, ancient rock formations which have taken centauries to form.
The caves were given their name by the local people who used to use the stalactites as a drum which served as an early warning system when Swazi tribes were approaching. The caves are about 40km in depth, and the sound from drumming on the stalactites can be heard throughout the caves. The caves have an eerily feel when the stalactites are drummed and your guide will give the experience.
Today the stalactites and stalagmites can be comfortably viewed from walkways with staircases where needed as well as railings for your safety. Electric lights are fitted throughout the guided tour areas.
The height in one of the rooms is an amazing 60 meters and the caves also boast a chamber 100 meters long. Guides will take you 2 km into the caves and en route you will have the opportunity to view the stunning cave features of stalagmites, stalactites, columns and flowstones.
The Echo Caves have not been thoroughly walked through as yet and so we can only surmise where they end. Some think it ends close to the Strijdom Tunnel, but that is just a calculated guess. For those of us that are not claustrophobic, special tours can be arranged to go deeper into the caves.
When you have absorbed all there is to see inside the caves, be sure to take a look at the various shops close to the area and buy a few keepsakes to remember your time in the area.
Nelspruit Lodge has a number of superb rooms for you to choose from. When staying in Nelspruit, our accommodation offers all of the creature comforts you could want. Book your stay today.
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