Towards the north eastern part of southern African lies the province of Mpumalanga, the capital city of which is Nelspruit. The city is located on the Crocodile River, and is about 100 kilometres west of the Mozambique border. It’s an agricultural region, and is a wonderful town to disappear into for a holiday away from the concrete jungle of the Johannesburg city.
The town will give off a quaint feeling with its orange farms, timber mills, paper-making factories and furniture manufacturing businesses. If you enjoy fresh fruit then Nelspruit has got a treat for you; the tropical climate conditions and the fertile soils make it possible for citrus and tropical fruits to grow in abundance. So if you head down to the local restaurant in the morning you’d probably be able to enjoy one of the freshest fruit salads around including oranges, mangoes and bananas straight from the trees. You’ll also find freshly-picked avocados and macadamia nuts all around town.
But there are others things to do in Nelspruit that don’t involve eating fresh fruits. You can visit the Sudwala Caves, the oldest on earth. SA-Venues comments that the Owen Hall is the oldest dolomite chamber around the globe, and it spans 70 metres in diameter. This might not be the best activity for you if you get claustrophobic but if you have no problem with small spaces then you’ll enjoy the exploration of a magical world underground.
Otherwise stay above sea level and check out the Dinosaur Park. It’ll be a great way for the family to do something educational together without it being boring. There is also the self-drive reptile route which is bound to get the guys excited and the ladies quivering. It’s an activity that can still be enjoyed if it’s raining and will give you a chance to check out the Chimpanzee Eden Park and the Perry’s Bridge Reptile Park. This activity is a great one for animal-lovers.
For nature-lovers there are a number of walking-trails and hikes to be had around the town, just ask your friendly local for tips about which are the best. Places recommends a day trip to the crocodile and ostrich farms in the area. And when you get hungry head into the town centre and try out the Yellow Caravan’s offerings. You’ll find it in the parking lot near the Pick ‘n Pay shopping centre. The Mozambican-born cook has people queuing around the corner for his traditional spicy dishes. Should be a treat!
And if you’re looking for a great place to stay pop into the Nomndeni Celokuhle Lodge. According to South Africa To this lodge is a fine establishment. It’s a beautiful-looking lodge with a crystal-clear pool, and is set amongst the rolling mountains. There is also a restaurant that serves breakfasts, lunches, dinners and a la carte menus just in case you get peckish.
Image via Stock.xchng.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
