Dec 17, 2019 | Nelspruit Accommodation
Find yourself staying in Nelspruit this Christmas? There are many ways to prepare for the holidays and even if you are away from home, there is nothing to stop you from tucking into a delicious meal or going out shopping.
Although the Christmas decorations are very much winter themed, wherever you are in South Africa, the temperatures around Christmas time generally soar. So the whole idea of sitting down to a rich, hot meal is the last thing that anyone wants to do. One advantage that we have though, is that during this most wonderful time of the year, is that it is the perfect time to get outdoors and end the year with your feet up.
Let’s dive into the Christmas guide for those staying in Nelspruit for Christmas 2019
Gifting
The town’s many shops, especially those in the malls, generally extend their shopping hours in the run up to Christmas. The longer you leave your shopping, the more crowds you’ll have to face, so getting all your shopping wrapped up as soon as possible is best. You don’t want to taint the holidays with stress, so the earlier you head out the better. To completely remove the possibility of getting stuck in crowds, shop online. if you choose to do this, you’ll have to make sure that you order your items as soon as possible or they won’t be delivered on time.
Homemade and eco-gifts are tremendously popular right now, and the trend is fueled by the fact that Pinterest is filled with great ideas. If you want to really cut back the amount of money you spend, create a budget that everyone in the family must follow and then make your gifts. Remember, regardless of what the media says, it really is the thought that counts.
Christmas Lunch
Most Nelspruiters will settle down for a family lunch on Christmas Day. Traditional Fruit Cakes are always a popular hit as is the turkey or roasted chicken. But modern trends are also leaning towards seafood, and simple, cold foods. Delicious gammon, fillets and light snacks are very in right now and when paired with roast potatoes, seasonal veggies and all kinds of salads, everyone will have their fill.
Make sure that you add a few bottles of your favourite chilled wine to the table, and a bowl of ice cream or peppermint crisp tart for desert is always a winner.
Not keen on cooking? There are plenty of places serving up a delectable lunch. Sophie’s Bistro, Magnolia in White River, Bosvark Pub and Grill, La Villa Vita, Tindlovu at the Gardens, and Old Joe’s Kaia are all open on Christmas Day. If you plan on eating out, it would be best to book ahead.
Boxing Day/Family Day
It doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s another day of rest after the long year and the festivities. You could be super lazy and snooze the day away, or you could take advantage of this time by getting a little outdoorsy. Time in the Botanical Gardens or hiking through the misty forests of Kaapsehoop are both good for the soul!
Make sure that you book your Nelspruit accommodation with us today in time for Christmas and enjoy a relaxed day in our small town.
Dec 17, 2019 | Nelspruit Accommodation
For most travellers to the region, including those who will be spending a night at our Nelspruit accommodation, their time here is mostly limited as they are either just passing through or they are only here for a day or 2 on business. Nelspruit has never exactly been a main tourist attraction, it has almost always been the place through which people pass on their way to their real holiday destination. But that doesn’t mean that the 24 hours spent in the town needs to be a waste.
This is your 24 hour guide to the city
On the assumption that you either arrive early in the morning or that perhaps you arrived in the town late the night before and now have a day to fill, this is our suggestion about how you should spend your day.
The Morning
Did you know Nelspruit tends to come alive a lot earlier than most towns? Breakfast is served at many places well before 9:00 am and if you are an early bird one of the best places to grab a bite is at Feast. Situated just about on the N4, when travelling into town from Jo’burg side, this is one of the coziest and friendliest places in town, and they start serving meals pretty early. They make a killer cup of coffee and they have a quiet garden behind the restaurant as well as a play area for the children. Their menu is traditional but the food is high-quality and really affordable. It also happens to be a great place to have an early morning business meeting!
After Breakfast
If you are not in town on business, the rest of the morning can be filled with loads of activities. From Feast, you can drive basically across the way to iLanga Mall to stock up on necessities or browse the shops. Local favourites include Violet and Rose, a jewellery design company known for making stunning, affordable jewels, Earth Organics, who produce superb organic foods, skincare items and supplements, and The Crafters Market, where you’ll find loads of interesting trinkets, curios and gifts.
The brilliant thing about our city being so small is that from the shops, just a 20 minute drive away, is the lush Lowveld Botanical Gardens. You can spend hours out in the fresh air, exploring the rain forest and learning about the plants indigenous to the area. If you are keen on a drive, Kaapsehoop is a leisurely 30 minute drive up the mountain, where you will be transported from busy city to misty, mystical forests.
Both at the Gardens and in Kaapsehoop you’ll find great places to enjoy lunch, and if you have stayed around town, you can always pop in at a place at iLanga Mall, or visit the local pub Jock or upmarket Europa for a quick snack.
The Evenings
If you are staying at our Nelspruit accommodation, you can enjoy a meal at our dining area or you can venture out to any one of these fantastic places to eat. You’ll find scrumptious food, fabulous hospitality and perhaps even some live entertainment courtesy of the local bands. Evening entertainment can also be found at again iLanga Mall, where you can go ice skating, play some games at the Fun Company or watch a movie. Riverside Mall also has a few gaming companies and movie theaters, while those who fancy their luck with some gambling, can go to Emnotweni.
To complete your 24 hour stay, make sure that you have booked into our Nelspruit accommodation. We offer some of the best facilities and will make sure that your stay with us is as comfortable and memorable as possible.
Jun 2, 2019 | Things to in and around Nelspruit
When on holiday or just away for the weekend nobody want to think of illness or accidents. But accidents happen and people do get sick so it’s good to know where to go for the best medical care. Nelspruit has several emergency services centres to choose from, all offering super care. And the town also has a number of ambulance services available.
At Nelspruit Lodge, we have a list of all of Nelspruit’s emergency services and to give you a little more insight into where you can medical assistance when you are new to the town.
Urgent Care
Urgent Care opened its doors in 2014 and is centrally located. It was opened in conjunction with an Urgent Care run ER facility at Medi-Clinic. The idea of Urgent Care is to handle all kinds of non-life threatening illness or injuries. The facility is open between 8h00 am and 8h30 pm every day, and that includes weekend and public holidays. The facility is easily accessible for both patients and emergency vehicles. The medical facility is accessible for young and old, and it caters to patients in wheelchairs. The facility provides the convenience of a pharmacy, x-ray rooms and a laboratory in the same building. The general practitioners at Urgent Care are proficient in handling most cases that are not life-threatening. At this facility, there is no need for appointments.
Nelmed Medi-Cross
Nelmed Group Practice is part of the Medi-Cross Group and offers non-stop medical services. At Nelmed they offer services by appointment and they also assist walk in illness or emergency patients. The doctors at this facility also do not offer life threatening services but are equipped to assist with lacerations, illnesses and fractures. The facility has a pharmacy on the premises, a laboratory, as well as an x-ray department. Nelmed is open seven days a week from 7h00 in the morning to 8h00 at night. They have their own parking area which includes parking for the disabled as well as ambulances. In the same building, there is a dentist, optician, orthopaedic surgeon and ear institute. These facilities are open from Monday to Friday only.
WeCare
WeCare is another modern medical facility in Nelspruit that offers excellent medical services. Their facility is conveniently situated in the Busamed Lowveld Hospital. They established the care centre in 2012. The practice is open 08h00 to 18h00 from Monday to Friday and on Saturdays from 8h00 to 12h00. The patients visiting this facility need to make appointments unless it is an emergency consultation. WeCare has a laboratory and orthotist on the premises and an x-ray department and pharmacy is within walking distance. At WeCare they are capable of taking care of minor lacerations and fractures as well as doing child immunizations. They also offer diabetic management at their facility.
When staying at Nelspruit Lodge, you’ll be treated to the very best accommodation in Nelspruit, while there are shops, restaurants and other exciting things to do within walking distance. Contact us today for more information or to book your stay.
Mar 4, 2019 | Things to in and around Nelspruit
Nothing to do on Sunday while staying in Nelspruit? Bring along your passport and nip across the border to the Sunday Fish Market in Maputo. The scenic drive there alone is well worth the experience, and with Nelspruit Lodge being nearby, you can easily make a day of it!
Sunday in Mozambique is a day to relax and socialize and what better place to meet than at the Fish Market.
The old fish market was a rustic affair, with squid and prawns placed in a bucket of ice to keep fresh and fish placed on newspaper on old wooden tables, with vendors sprinkling their fish with water from plastic bottles with holes in the lids. The new fish market is more upscale with vendors having a cement cubicle and table with running water.
The new Maputo Fish Market is based on the waterfront. This seaside attraction is buzzing on Sundays with both locals and visitors. Local vendors purchase their wares straight from the ocean directly from the fishermen. There is a wide variety of fresh fish, lobsters, crabs, calamari and more, which is sold by the kilogram at very affordable prices. Fish can be cleaned on request for an extra fee. Along with the wide variety of fish, vendors also sell a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, all grown in Mozambique.
Lunch, Snacks and a Drink by the Ocean
After strolling through the market and purchasing your choice of lunch, you can find a place to sit opposite the market where there is the waterfront patio which has umbrella covered tables with seating. For nominal fees, the restaurants on this patio will prepare your purchases to taste, be that your way or the traditional Mozambican way. Although all seafood in Mozambique is delicious, the prawns are a definite must, served grilled or fried either with peri-peri or garlic. Enjoy with rice or fries, and be sure to get some “Pao” bread rolls to soak up every last bit of sauce.
Snacks are a must, especially if you are feeling a bit peckish while waiting. Well known in the area is Rissois de Camarao. This is a crescent-shaped croquette which contains shrimp in either a spicy sauce or a peri-peri sauce. These can be enjoyed hot or cold, but they are always delicious.
At the restaurants, you can select your choice of side dish to enjoy with your fish. These restaurants offer a variety of salads, rice or fries. Matapa is uniquely Mozambican dish that is made from stewed cassava leaves that are blended with ground peanuts, garlic and coconut milk. Locals enjoy it as a side dish with fish and it’s well worth the try while there.
While waiting for your meal, you can enjoy a refreshing soda or alcoholic drink. Tipo Tinto is their national rum, best tried with a mixer, the locals enjoy it with berry flavoured soda. The beer of choice in Mozambique is Laurentina that was first brewed in 1932 and comes in three different flavours, Laurentina Clara, Laurentina Premium and Laurentina Preta.
Service is true “African” time, so sit back and relax with your drink, as the service is slow but the food is worth the wait.
Your stay at Nelspruit Lodge doesn’t have to be confined to Nelspruit, or even South Africa! Book your stay today and start exploring!
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!
Recent Comments