Hoedspruit, Maruleng
Hoedspruit is a small bush-town well-situated in the midst of the region's attractions, half way between the Orpen and Phalaborwa gates to the Kruger National Park. The town has a beautiful setting- the towering cliffs of the Escarpment meet endless expanses of bushveld with plains of marula, acacia, combretum and mopane woodlands stretching as far as the eye can see.
Hoedspruit is well supplied with a variety of shops and restaurants, and is growing rapidly with the establishment of new developments such as Raptor's View and Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate.
It is worth picking up some of the local newspapers as you pass through, including the Kruger Park Times (some of whose content we publish in our Kruger news pages), the Hoedspruit Week and Kruger2Canyon.
They carry details of what's on and special events - one particular occasion to watch out for if you are here in Winter is the annual Bush Banquet competition, a fundraiser for the excellent Southern Cross Schools. Here, chefs from the numerous luxury lodges around Hoedspruit compete without the benefit of mod-cons such as refrigerators and cookers, to prepare and present stunning three course meals. A ticket is a must if, it is on when you are here.
Shops and facilities
Hoedspruit is the centrifuge for an area extraordinarily focused on tourism, and you can expect to meet a friendly welcome.
Many of the luxury lodges buy in their requirements from this town, and an effective supply chain works throughout (note that some items may need to be ordered in from Nelspruit or Johannesburg).
Hoedspruit acquired its name when, after a long trek over the mountains into the heat of the Lowveld, one of the pioneers removed his hat and threw it into the cool waters of the Sandspruit River and decided to stay (it is now largely dry).
There is a heat-repelling plastic statue to celebrate this outside the train station lot (Hoedspruit is on the railway between Phalaborwa and Kapmuuiden, although most trains running are of the goods variety), where you can also find the first of a number of useful Lowveld services including the Lebamba Grocery, the Bosveld Slaghuuis butchery, the "Tourist Centre" (actually McFarlane's Safaris), and excellent dining at Sleepers' Restaurant.
Drive over the railway bridge past the Spa and turn right to the Green Door centre to enjoy (unusually, for the region) an authentic curry at Tractors Restaurant.
Further down the main strip from the railway bridge there is the new Kamagelo centre with a number of good eating and drinking outlets, a very good deli (which bakes its own bread), and some nice artisanal shops. Wimpy and banks are here too. A complete list of their outlets is on the Kamagelo Tourism website.
There is a hospital on the Drakensig Military Base and Doctors, Pharmacies and a Dentist in town. There are hairdressers and a beautician and spa. Hoedspruit can also do new kit, food, laundry, dry cleaning, fix cars and tyres...
Things to do
A wide range of outdoors activities are available, as befits the centrality of Hoedspruit within the touristic hotspot of the Greater Kruger.
Local attractions include the Cheetah Breeding Project, the excellent Khamai Reptile Park at Swadini, and the Bombyx Mori Silk Farm.Almost everything you want can be organised from here- including one of David Attenborough's favorite African experiences (observing warring Matabele ants)- in addition to the ubiquitous game activities. Hot air ballooning, white wafter rafting, abseiling, and kloofing are also available.
A Microlight Flying School is based here, at the runway next to the Spar (note, not at the military airbase). It is possible both to go for casual "flips" over the surrounding Big Five reserves or the Blyde River Canyon, and to learn to fly and take your qualification here.
Horse riding is available close to town at Offbeat Safaris (a relatively small property without the danger of the Big Five), and further afield at Wait-a-Little Safaris on Edeni Reserve.
4x4 driver training takes places on a course near the town centre for those with their own off-road vehicles.
Click here to book accommodation in and around Hoedspruit.
Getting here & Orientation
Hoedspruit Airport- known as Eastgate- is a major getting-off point for visitors to the numerous five-star lodges in the locality. Shared with the South African Air Force, the runways are huge and you often land for a five minute high-speed taxi around the Base to the delightful thatched bush-style arrivals lodge at one end of the base.
Car hire is available in Hoedspruit, with Avis at the airport and Budget at the offices of McFarlanes Safaris next to Lebamba (be aware that the airport is around 10km out of town, so you will need to get your car delivered if you require it at the airport).
On the way out, and worth a stop on the road to the Blyde Canyon (just before the Tzaneen turning) is the Mad Dogz Cafe. For breakfast with a twist, or a good place to finish off the day, the Trading Post is 10km or so closer to town along the same road.
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