Resting at the foot of the Klein Drakensberg, in the beautiful Limpopo Province, the town of Hoedspruit is surrounded by the largest privately-owned conservation area in the world. It is sandwiched between the world-famous Kruger National Park and the breathtaking Blyde River Canyon. Hoedspruit serves as a great base from which to explore the surrounding game reserves and natural attractions. This spectacular landscape features towering cliffs shadowing over enormous stretches of bushveld that give way to marula, acacia and mopane woodlands. Within this wilderness paradise, some of Africa’s most captivating wildlife can be spotted. Visitors can enjoy a number of activities including: Big Five game drives, whitewater rafting, horse riding safaris, visiting the Khamai Reptile Park as well as the Daktari Wildlife Orphanage.
Set at the heart of South Africa’s largest and most famous game reserve, Central Kruger is home to large numbers of lions, hyenas, cheetah, leopards, buffalo, wildebeest, elephants, zebra, and birds of prey. The Olifants River flows through the region, a popular bathing and drinking site for hippos, elephants, and other mammals. Visitors can explore the area by way of guided game drives, bush walks, bird walks, and night drives. The area is also conveniently close to the Masorini archaeological site, an excavated ruin that dates back to the late Iron Age known to be a trading post for iron products by the Ba-Phalaborwa people. Other popular attractions easily accessible from the region include the spectacular Mac Mac Falls and the quaint historic town, Pilgrim’s Rest.
Although located close to the Indian Ocean, northern Kruger experiences high levels of aridity because of the Limpopo high-pressure system. Covered in a blanket of shrub mopane, the low-lying northern Kruger area is dissected by the Olifants and Letaba rivers and other, smaller rivers that are more like large pools of water. The addition of reservoirs has allowed for the presence of hippos and water birds. These areas of water have created lush river corridors, adding to the ecological diversity of the area and attracting various animals and birds, including waterbuck, bushbuck, kudu, nyala, buffalo, lion, leopard, hyena and half of Kruger’s elephants.
The Panorama Route in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province traces the edge of the Great Escarpment, where the highveld plateau drops toward the Lowveld. Passing through historic towns such as Pilgrim’s Rest and the gateway hub of Graskop, this scenic driving route connects dramatic viewpoints, waterfalls and geological formations. Travellers are drawn by sweeping vistas over Blyde River Canyon, one of the world’s largest green canyons, and iconic landmarks including Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels and God’s Window. Short hikes, lookout points and winding mountain roads reveal ever-changing scenery shaped by ancient erosion. Mist often clings to cliffs in the early morning, while sunlight breaks across dense vegetation and the cooler mountain air carries the sound of distant waterfalls through the escarpment.
As previously described
Sandwiched between Mozambique and the Mpumalanga area of the Drakensberg, the Lowveld is renowned for it subtropical climate, abundant wildlife, and ancient history. This area encompasses a number of spectacular game reserves including the world-famous Kruger National Park, vast farmlands, and the popular Panorama Route. This area serves as an excellent base from which to explore the Kruger. Visitors can explore the old gold rush town of Barberton, enjoy the city lights of Nelspruit and stay at a variety of comfortable country lodges.
