Sep 15, 2018 | Nelspruit Lodge
Travelling in and Around Graskop
While visiting Nelspruit, it is well worth your while to take in the beautiful surrounding areas. Graskop is one of those small towns sitting neatly on the Panorama Route. It was once a popular tourist destination, mostly for those passing through, while now it has firmly fixated itself as a must visit place. This small town serves the timber industry, with plantations surrounding the town and back in the day, it was a gold mining camp that dates back to the 1880’s.
The town itself is a great place to stop for lunch and pick up a few souvenirs but most visitors will find the real adventures just outside the town.
The Waterfalls
Scattered around Graskop you will be able to view several waterfalls. Lisbon Falls is said to be one of the most scenic in the area. The Lisbon River separates into three before tumbling 94 meters over a semi-circle rock face, making the Lisbon Falls the highest in the province. The Lisbon Falls are easily accessible for tourists and while you are there why not pack a picnic basket as there are picnic spots available under the shade of lovely trees.
Tumbling down 80 meters from the Sabie River is the Berlin Falls. This waterfall cascades into the most beautiful jade coloured pool below and is surrounded by red cliffs. The Berlin Falls are best observed from the platform above.
Not the highest but by far the most stunning, the Mac Mac Falls plummets 70 meters into a gorge below. Mac Mac Falls is split in two but was not always so. Back in the gold rush days, gold miners actually blasted the rock in an attempt to reach the gold-bearing reef behind the falls thereby splitting the falls into two. During the dry season, you will find that the falls revert back to one stream. Mac Mac Falls has a braai and picnic area as well as several pools where you can cool off after a day of sight-seeing. Mac Mac Falls also has a 3km “Secretary Bird Trail” which offers a delightful walk through the bush.
The Best Views
If you looking for a one of a kind experience, a definite must is a visit to the Graskop Gorge Lift. Guests can hop into this passenger elevator and travel down 51 meters of cliff face into the lush green forest below. Once down in the forest, you will find a massive network of trails made up of suspension bridges and elevated walkways. Also to be seen from the walkways is the Panorama Gorge Falls that stem from the Motitsi River, before crashing down 70 meters into the gorge below. Small retail outlets, a bar and restaurant are balanced on the edge of the cliff and make this an unforgettable experience.
Go Hiking
Finally, you can take a hike on a three-hour circular trail that starts and ends at the Graskop Holiday Resort. This hiking trail is known as the Jock of the Bushveld or Fairyland hike, and is roughly 8km long. Walking along the escapement, you will find yourself overlooking the Pinnacle Gorge. En route you will pass Sir Percy Fitzpatrick’s overnight camp as well as pass some oddly shaped rocks known as Fairyland. The only expense you will have on this walk, is the price of your sunscreen, as there is precious little shade.
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Book your stay at Nelspruit Lodge and experience the vibrancy of Mpumalanga. Our Nelspruit accommodation is affordably priced and centrally located, making it ideal for tourists and those visiting on business.
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 30, 2018 | Nelspruit Accommodation, Nelspruit Lodge
The bustling urban landmark that is Nelspruit is never without more than just a few things to do. Situated perfectly in between some of the best tourist attractions in the province, Nelspruit is the place to stay when you want to add a variety of things to do to your agenda.
Planning a holiday trip to Nelspruit doesn’t just require careful planning of your Nelspruit accommodation, but it also includes knowing what there is to do in the area. This doesn’t mean that you have to have the perfectly planned bucket list, but it certainly does help to have a well-informed idea about what the city has to offer in terms of entertainment and things to see.
Visitors are not all going to be same when it comes to what they would like to do while here. The more social visitor might want to hit up the best bars and restaurants in town, while those seeking some quiet time will probably want to find the best places to go hiking.
In our list of the best things to do in Nelspruit, we’ll include a little bit of everything, so that you have more of a variety. We do advise that you take advantage of central Nelspruit accommodation. It can come in very handy to not have to travel out of town or deep into unfamiliar suburbs.
- Go on that safari you’ve been dreaming about
If this is your first visit to Nelspruit, know that the famous Kruger National Park is just around the corner. Less than two hours away lies one of South Africa’s biggest tourist attractions and you’ll regret not spending at least a day there. You have the option of self-driving tours of the park, or you can book a tour with one of the many reputable safari companies in the area.
- Spend a day having a picnic
This has to be one of the best places to go in Nelspruit if you are looking to get a bit outdoorsy. The Lowveld National Botanical Gardens is a haven of quiet space in the middle of a busy city. You can literally get lost here, so don’t go off the beaten track. Under the massive trees you can find numerous places to enjoy a picnic, so pack some snacks and head to the gardens.
- A day in the caves
Did you know that the surrounding areas of the town are considered to be some of the oldest in the world? There are countless geological sites here, including the GeoTrail on the other side of Barberton. But you don’t have to travel that far to take a peek back into history. The Sudwala Caves are a huge attraction and you can spend a whole day here, taking tours of the cave and enjoying the other activities.
- Take a trip to the falls
The surrounding areas are well known for spectacular natural scenery, including numerous waterfalls. Visiting places such as Sabie and Graskop, even just for a day, will give you plenty of time to travel from waterfall to waterfall.
When you book your Nelspruit accommodation at Nelspruit Lodge, we’d be more than happy to give you great advice about the best things to do while you are here.
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