Located on the banks of the Crocodile River in the heart of the Lowveld, Nelspruit is one of South Africa's most beautiful cities. Now known as Mbombela, it charms with its weather, scenery, attractions, and lifestyle. The capital of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit is fast growing; it is a major tourist destination and a popular place for those on the property hunt. To locals and all that visit, the city has a unique quality. Here are some of the ways Nelspruit will capture your heart.
Nelspruit's history
From an outpost town to a provincial city, Nelspruit has evolved over the years. This progress is a point of pride. The area was founded in 1895 by the Nel brothers who grazed their cattle around the site during the winter months. The area became a town when the Republican Volksraad approved plans to build a railway from the newly discovered Lowveld goldfields to Johannesburg.
Today, Nelspruit is a vibrant city. It was renamed Mbombela in 2009, a Siswati word for "a lot of people together in a small space". A Nelspruit milestone was being a host city for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In 2021, the city saw the opening of The Capital Mbombela, a R205m hotel featuring an array of accommodation options and amenities.
Nelspruit's attractions
Another feather in Nelspruit's cap is its prime location. The area provides easy access to many popular attractions. The Lowveld National Botanical Garden offers an exciting peek into South Africa's fauna and flora. With beautiful gardens and waterfalls, it's also an excellent spot to have a picnic, quiet read, or simply admire the wonders of nature.
In the middle of town, Steiltes Nature Reserve boasts stunning scenery and well-marked hiking trails to get your steps in. Chimp Eden is home to chimpanzees that have been displaced from their natural habitats in Africa. Book a tour to learn more about their stories through experienced guides.
The Mbombela Stadium, a football and rugby union all-seater stadium built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, is also a worthwhile stop. Its distinctive design includes 18 majestic orange giraffe columns that support the roof structure.
About half an hour away from Nelspruit is Sudwala Caves, the largest dolomite chamber in the world. Taking a cave tour will leave you in awe of the majestic rock formations. Also close by is the Panorama Route, a scenic self-drive through the Mpumalanga highlands or the north-eastern section of the Great Escarpment of the Drakensberg.
Nelspruit is also regarded as the gateway to the famous Kruger National Park. This offers the quintessential South Africa safari experience with the chance to see the Big Five.
Nelspruit's wildlife
Another way Nelspruit is special is the animal sightings you're sure to enjoy in the area. A visit to the Lowveld National Botanical Garden, for example, is the chance to see 243 bird species, 75 reptile species, butterflies, and a range of mammals like vervet monkeys, dwarf mongooses, tree squirrels, thick-tailed bushbabies, and hippopotami. Kruger National Park, as mentioned, has elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, and buffaloes. With a close proximity to nature, it's not unusual to catch the odd hippo sighting even in the CBD area.
Nelspruit's friendly people
South Africans are warm and compassionate people; this is best witnessed in Nelspruit. The area is known for giving back and treating people with consideration. On Mandela Day, local Healing Wings kitchen produced 1 200 litres of soup for 4800 people in a nationwide effort. In another instance, a post office employee drove three hours out of Nelspruit (in his own time) to hand-deliver a parcel to a woman. Nelspruit's generosity is even reflected through Uber Eats. The city takes the top spot on the app using "please" and "thank you" on any special order requests.
Nelspruit's culinary scene
With its subtropical climate and fertile land, Mpumalanga is known for growing delicious citrus and tropical fruits and nuts. The availability of fresh produce and local ingenuity have made Nelspruit a great place for epicures. Top restaurants include the award-winning Orange Restaurant, The Greek Kouzina, and Turn 'n Tender Steakhouse. Of note, is that Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, the first-ever South African chef to be awarded a Michelin star, was born in Nelspruit.
Nelspruit's famous faces
Nelspruit is unique for the wealth of talent in the area. The city has seen several notable celebrities born and raised here. Rugby players such as François 'Faf' de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen, and Pedrie Wannenburg were nurtured in Nelspruit. The city has also seen the rise of music stars. These include Ray Phiri, the jazz musician, Rebecca Malope, the African Queen of Gospel, and Karabo Mogane, the 2015 Idols SA winner. Nelspruit is also home to the late South African Literary Award-winning author, Chris Barnard, and professional golfer, Monique Smit.
Live in Nelspruit, a remarkable city
Nelspruit is an area with so much to offer. It is a place for adventurers, food lovers, nature fanatics, those with community spirit, and parents keen on raising their children to be the best they can be. Nelspruit is ever-evolving, and that's the beauty of being a part of the area. View Century 21 White River's properties for sale, and contact us today.
Image credits:
Mbombela Stadium by Ben Sutherland | Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | bit.ly/3qoJcDm
Rebecca Malope by Neo Makamole | Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 4.0 | bit.ly/3EZPtNa