Hoedspruit
A safari town near the Kruger's Orpen gate and many private game reserves.
History
The farm was acquired by Dawid Johannes Joubert in 1844 and registered at Ohrigstad in 1848; the name ('hat creek') is said to come from Joubert losing his hat in a flood. Construction of the Selati Railway began in 1892 and the town grew around its siding, serving cattle and citrus farms. A WWII training airstrip was built in the early 1940s, and Air Force Base Hoedspruit was commissioned in 1977, turning the village into a service town. The surrounding private reserves later made it a safari and conservation centre.
Getting there
Eastgate Airport (HDS), about 5 km from town, has daily flights from OR Tambo (around 1 hour, Airlink and Federal Airlines). By road Hoedspruit is about 480 km (5 h) from Johannesburg, 220 km (2.5 h) from Polokwane and 130 km (1.5 h) from Nelspruit/KMIA, on the R40 and R527. Kruger's Orpen Gate is about 60 km and Phalaborwa Gate about 70 km away; the Panorama Route is about 45 km.
Weather & climate
Hot, humid summers (Oct–Mar) with days of about 30–35°C and short afternoon thunderstorms; dry, sunny winters (Jun–Aug) with mild days around 25°C and cool mornings. Hoedspruit is a seasonal low-risk malaria area, with risk highest in the wet summer months.
Things to do
- 24 Degrees SouthFormer Silk Farm complex with craft, leather and clothing shops, Godding & Godding silk products and day spa, a café and a private classic car and motorbike display.
- Big 5 game drives in the private reservesShared morning and evening game drives with pickup in Hoedspruit into the Timbavati, Klaserie, Balule, Kapama or Thornybush reserves, which do not admit self-drive day visitors.
- Blyde River boat cruiseCruise on the Blydepoort Dam beneath the canyon walls.
- Elephant Moments at JabulaniA 90-minute early-morning encounter with members of the rescued Jabulani elephant herd and their carers on the Kapama reserve, including coffee and biscuits; minimum age 6.
- Helicopter and microlight flightsScenic helicopter flights over the Blyde River Canyon and microlight flights over the Big 5 reserves from Hoedspruit.
- Hoedspruit Farmers MarketMonthly market with roughly 70–90 stalls of local fruit, vegetables, bread, cheese, preserves, crafts, coffee and street food, run by the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere.
- Horseback safari on the Hoedspruit Wildlife EstateGuided horse rides among plains game on the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, offered by local equestrian operators.
- Hot-air balloon flightSunrise balloon flight of about an hour over farmland and riverine forest near the Blyde River with the escarpment as backdrop, ending with bubbly and a flight certificate (Suncatchers).
- Kruger National Park day trip (Orpen / Phalaborwa gates)Self-drive or guided day safari into Kruger; Orpen Gate is about 60–70 km and Phalaborwa Gate about 70–75 km from Hoedspruit. Guided full-day trips leave around 05:00.
- Panorama Route day tripEscarpment road linking God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Lisbon and Berlin Falls; a full-day outing from Hoedspruit (about 45 km to the route).
- Quad bike trails (Buffaloland & Franklyn Park)Guided quad-bike trails through bushveld near Hoedspruit.
- The WaterParkWeekend family waterpark with slides and pools for all ages plus bring-and-braai facilities.
Things to see
- Blyde River Canyon & Blyde Dam (Swadini side)One of the largest canyons on Earth, with green forested slopes; the Blyde Dam at its foot is reached from Hoedspruit via the R527/R531 to Swadini.
- Daktari Bush School & Wildlife OrphanageWildlife orphanage caring for injured, orphaned or habituated animals, combined with a week-long environmental education programme for local children.
- Hoedspruit Reptile Centre (Khamai)Reptile park on the R527 with mambas, cobras, crocodiles and other reptiles; self-guided visits or guided tours with live snake demonstrations, good for children and the hottest part of the day.
- Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate bird hideBird hide on the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate for birding and game watching.
- MariepskopAt 1 947 m, one of the highest peaks of the northern Drakensberg escarpment, towering over Hoedspruit and Kampersrus.
- Nyani Cultural VillageCultural village visit near Hoedspruit introducing local Shangaan/Tsonga culture.
- Old Hoedspruit railway stationThe town's original Selati Railway siding building, now home to Sleepers restaurant and railway pub under large mahogany trees.
- Three Rondavels viewpointThree round-topped peaks that form the Blyde River Canyon's best-known view, seen from the escarpment lookout or from below by boat or helicopter.
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