Travel blog

The best Nelspruit attractions that you cannot miss

Nelspruit, now renamed Mbombela, is a thriving town situated in South Africa’s Lowveld area in its most easterly province, Mpumalanga. Also known as the gateway to Mozambique and the Kruger National Park, Nelspruit has many attractions that local and international tourists will find both interesting and even a bit challenging.

2min read

Published 7 February 2023

Once a fairly sleepy town with a huge paper mill on the outskirts and a famous farm stall (Halls) as you enter Nelspruit from the west, it is now a centre for the local tourism industry. It, therefore, boasts a wide range of accommodations, scheduled and specialised tours, vehicle rentals, restaurants and everything else a discerning traveller could want. From here it is an easy drive to visit spectacular natural scenic sites such as God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon, while a short trip south takes you to the historic mining town of Barberton which is well worth a day's visit in its own right. Fairly recent additions to Nelspruit's growing infrastructure are of course the iconic Mbombela Stadium and a state-of-the-art casino. However, once leaving the urban sprawl of Nelspruit there is so much to see and do that a visitor to the area is very much spoilt for choice. To say that a camera is an essential tourist accessory would be the understatement of the century!

Panorama Route
Pilgrim’s Rest
Sudwala Caves
Sudwala Dinosaur Park
Kruger National Park

Top things to do in Nelspruit

Panorama Route

The nearby Panorama Route (where God’s Window and other attractions can be found) makes for one of the most scenic road trips that can be taken anywhere in South Africa. Travellers are rewarded with breathtaking views as far as the eye can see, meandering rivers, many lovely waterfalls and one of the world's deepest canyons, the Blyde River Canyon. Along the way you will find the Graskop Big Swing, one of the highest cable gorge swings in the world which will give adrenaline junkies the trill of a lifetime! Or why not take the 80-metre zip-line trip across the gorge? And for something a little different, what about taking the Graskop Gorge Lift, a glass elevator, down the cliff face to the elevated walkways and suspension bridges and ambling through the forest below.

Sudwala Dinosaur Park

An easy short walk from the Sudwala Caves is the Sudwala Dinosaur Park. Take a 30-minute stroll through a beautiful sub-tropical garden displaying 35 different life-sized and scientifically accurate models of dinosaurs, while monkeys frolic in the trees above that is also home to various species of sub-tropical birds. This is altogether an educational and fascinating experience for visitors of all ages and one not to be missed.

Sudwala Caves

For the more adventurous visitor the Sudwala Caves and the Dinosaur Park beckons. These caves are the oldest in the world boasting microbial fossils which were formed 2000 million years ago. There are daily one-hour guided tours and a monthly five-hour-long two-kilometre trek (for which booking is essential) to the chamber of crystals and the famous “Sudwala Star". A visit to Nelspruit would be poorer for not taking a tour of these caves

Pilgrim’s Rest

A pleasant day trip from Nelspruit is a visit to the tiny but fascinating gold rush town of Pilgrim’s Rest. The whole town is a national monument, with its historical buildings having been restored to look exactly as they did in their gold rush days, around the late 1800s. And for the thirsty traveller, how about savouring an ice-cold beer in the Royal Hotel’s bar which in a previous life was a church in Mozambique!?

Kruger National Park

But without a doubt, seeing it is almost next door to the Kruger National Park, Nelspruit is the ideal jumping-off point for a visit to this world-famous destination and you can book day trips. “The Kruger”, as it is colloquially known, is home to the so-called “Big 5”, namely the black rhinoceros, African bush elephant, Cape/African buffalo, lion, and leopard. This vast area adjoins Mozambique, and its vegetation and climate are therefore diverse in nature and sustain equally diverse wildlife and plant species. From the tiny Klipspringer buck to the massive Eland and the rare Roan and Sable antelope. Its birdlife is equally varied and ranges from the colourful Lilac Crested Roller to the soaring Cape Vulture and everything in between. It is served by a very good road network (dotted with viewing and picnic spots where visitors are allowed to leave their vehicles in safety). The Kruger offers visitors a wide variety of places to stay ranging from camping/caravanning facilities to traditional bungalows situated in fenced camps to exclusive super luxurious lodges along the crocodile river. Most accommodations are furnished with self-catering kitchens and air conditioning and some have a pool for the adults to relax and the kids can enjoy.

So, are you ready to pack your bags and head towards the east of South Africa for an unforgettable holiday break and experience top attractions? We hope we have whetted your appetite and that you are looking forward to your holiday. Stunning views, hidden caves, and game drives in the Kruger Park with a sub-tropical climate, will have you wanting more. Oh yes indeed! Kindly contact one of our consultants right away and together we will set up a great holiday experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life!