For most travellers to the region, including those who will be spending a night at our Nelspruit accommodation, their time here is mostly limited as they are either just passing through or they are only here for a day or 2 on business. Nelspruit has never exactly been a main tourist attraction, it has almost always been the place through which people pass on their way to their real holiday destination. But that doesn’t mean that the 24 hours spent in the town needs to be a waste.
This is your 24 hour guide to the city
On the assumption that you either arrive early in the morning or that perhaps you arrived in the town late the night before and now have a day to fill, this is our suggestion about how you should spend your day.
The Morning
Did you know Nelspruit tends to come alive a lot earlier than most towns? Breakfast is served at many places well before 9:00 am and if you are an early bird one of the best places to grab a bite is at Feast. Situated just about on the N4, when travelling into town from Jo’burg side, this is one of the coziest and friendliest places in town, and they start serving meals pretty early. They make a killer cup of coffee and they have a quiet garden behind the restaurant as well as a play area for the children. Their menu is traditional but the food is high-quality and really affordable. It also happens to be a great place to have an early morning business meeting!
After Breakfast
If you are not in town on business, the rest of the morning can be filled with loads of activities. From Feast, you can drive basically across the way to iLanga Mall to stock up on necessities or browse the shops. Local favourites include Violet and Rose, a jewellery design company known for making stunning, affordable jewels, Earth Organics, who produce superb organic foods, skincare items and supplements, and The Crafters Market, where you’ll find loads of interesting trinkets, curios and gifts.
The brilliant thing about our city being so small is that from the shops, just a 20 minute drive away, is the lush Lowveld Botanical Gardens. You can spend hours out in the fresh air, exploring the rain forest and learning about the plants indigenous to the area. If you are keen on a drive, Kaapsehoop is a leisurely 30 minute drive up the mountain, where you will be transported from busy city to misty, mystical forests.
Both at the Gardens and in Kaapsehoop you’ll find great places to enjoy lunch, and if you have stayed around town, you can always pop in at a place at iLanga Mall, or visit the local pub Jock or upmarket Europa for a quick snack.
The Evenings
If you are staying at our Nelspruit accommodation, you can enjoy a meal at our dining area or you can venture out to any one of these fantastic places to eat. You’ll find scrumptious food, fabulous hospitality and perhaps even some live entertainment courtesy of the local bands. Evening entertainment can also be found at again iLanga Mall, where you can go ice skating, play some games at the Fun Company or watch a movie. Riverside Mall also has a few gaming companies and movie theaters, while those who fancy their luck with some gambling, can go to Emnotweni.