Tag: Mbombela

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Hotel Review – Jörn’s Gästehaus, Mbombela, South Africa

Around a four-hour drive from Johannesburg, Mbombela is a perfect base for exploring the attractions of the region, such as Kruger National Park, Sudwala Caves, and Blyde River Canyon.

I spent five nights in Mbombela, in order to explore this fascinating region, choosing Jörn’s Gästehaus as my base.

The property is situated in a quiet residential area around a ten-minute drive outside the city, with several highly rated restaurants close by.

I was assigned room #4, an economy apartment located at the back of the property.

Despite the description, the room was well appointed with a double bed, couch, armchair, coffee table, safe and a small desk.

The room was also equipped with a simple, but functional, bathroom, as well as a small kitchen with a fridge, microwave, toaster and kettle. Cutlery, crockery and glassware were also provided.

The room opened out onto a furnished patio that was both convenient and comfortable.

The property offers a small swimming pool, which is extrembly inviting in the summer warmth (my visit was in February).

There is also a bar, opening out onto a terrace by the pool area, which is a very pleasant place to spend an evening.

A full breakfast is included in the price.

For the price of around £44 or $60 per night, including all taxes, this property is a comfortable and relaxing place to stay and represents superb value for money.

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Destination Guide – Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga, South Africa

The day after my tour of the stunning Sudwala Caves, I took a scenic drive along the renowned Panorama Route.

The most scenic part of the route begins at Graskop, around a 90-minute drive from my base in Mbombela. This is where I joined the R532 towards my first stop at God’s Window.

God’s Window

This area is well known for sightings of vervet monkeys.

Further North are the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde Rivers.

Bourke’s Luck Potholes 

Pedestrian bridges connect these striking natural features, the result of millions of years of water erosion.

The last stop on my drive was the Three Rondavels viewpoint.

Three Rondavels

These immense dolomite rock formations are so named due to their visual resemblance to the traditional African thatched houses.

The viewpoint offers a breathtaking vista across the Blyde River to this natural spectacle.

In total, I drove a loop of around 400km (250 miles) from my base in Mbombela. With all the stops to enjoy the vastly varied scenery, this made for a very full and long day. However, it was definitely worth it, and I highly recommend taking the time to enjoy this region of iconic scenery.

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Destination Guide – Sudwala Caves, Mpumalanga, South Africa

After a delightful day at Kruger National Park, my next little escapade was a scenic drive via the captivating Sudwala Caves and the enthralling natural beauty of the Panorama Route.

Due to the distances involved and the expanse of scenery to be experienced, I opted to take two days to traverse this stunning region.

My first day was solely dedicated to exploring the Sudwala Caves, the world’s oldest known caves.

The caves were first carved 240 million years ago, from Precambrian dolomite rock.

The organised tours venture some 600 metres into the naturally formed labyrinth and some 150 metres underground.

The tour is fully guided and explains the formation of stalactites and stalagmites over the course of tens of thousands of years.

As a natural segue, the tour continues into the more expansive cave formations, showcasing the evolution of this natural wonder over millions of years.

The Sudwala Caves are around a 40 minute drive from Mbombela, or a little over three hours from Johannesburg Airport.

The entrance fee for adults is 130ZAR (£5.50 or $7) and includes a guided group tour.

I definitely recommend allocating at least half a day of your itinerary in Mpumalanga to this enthralling natural spectacle.

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Destination Review – Kruger National Park, South Africa

Having enjoyed a short hotel break to settle into the South African lifestyle, I took to the road to enjoy some of the highlights of this magnificent country.

Around a four-hour drive from Johannesburg, Kruger is one of the most iconic and best known safari destinations in the world.

From my base in Mbombela (formerly known as Nelspruit), I spent most of the day driving the various loops and trails, viewing a wide variety of wildlife in a natural and authentic habitat.

Kruger has a total of ten entry and exit gates. My personal advice is to enter via the Malelane or Crocodile Bridge gates at the southern perimeter and exit via the Paul Kruger or Orpen gates in the west.

Of course, one day is not nearly enough to do justice to what is widely considered to be the premier managed safari venue in the world.

However, I consider myself privileged to have had the opportunity to experience this spectacular destination.

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