From a farming village to a gold mining town to the capital city of Mpumalanga, life in Nelspruit is exciting, dangerous, and full of life. The people in Nelspruit seems to have the veritable paradise where land is fertile, water is plentiful, and the people are incredibly resourceful and peace-loving.
Some of the things you will find the people of Nelspruit doing on any given day would be to enjoy what natural resources they have, or what they have been able to accomplish because of their resources.
Aside from the ostrich and crocodile farms, there are beautiful hiking trails and wonderful misty evenings where one can be surprised by a herd of wild horses racing past the Nelspruit valley. However, there’s much more that keep Nelspruit alive and kicking.
Barberton Nature Reserve
Twenty kilometers in south Nelspruit is the Barberton Nature Reserve. Game species can be found here like klipspringer, kudu, velvet monkey, baboons, bushbuck and many others which are local animals’ in their natural habitat. It also has an amazing array of plant species, some of them rare and found only in South Africa. No one is allowed to camp in the reserve for obvious reasons.
Emnotweni Casino
A sure sign of prosperity is having your very own casino in your city. Emnotweni Casino is in the middle of Nelspruit’s entertainment center. There are also theaters and a mall, along with retail stores, hotels, a conference center, and restaurants.
The casino is named after a Zulu slang phrase which translates to “where the money is at.” And certainly it proves it with over 350 slot machines, a main casino floor with video poker, Blackjack and Roulette tables.
Kaapsehoop Horse Trails
Rising horses is a favorite pastime in Nelspruit. One can hop over to Kaaspsehoop which is a 7 kilometer trail that cuts across the massive Berlin Forest. The trail is inspiring mainly because of the sights and views one gets to enjoy during the ride. For many of those living in Nelspruit, this is an idyllic way of de-stressing. The horses are well trained and you will not get that “rushed” feeling of being in a commercial horse trail.
Mbombela Stadium
After the 2010 FIFA World Cup, this 45,000 seater stadium has become the place to go for a little (or a lot of ) exercise. Residents like to play football, run around the track, or just sprint up and down the steps. Upon reaching the top of the stadium, the view is fantastic no matter which side of the stadium you’re on.
Nelspruit Golf Course
Nelspruit would not be complete without its golf course. Nelspruit Golf Course has become so popular that it’s now the busiest in Mpumalanga, if not South Africa. Aside from being able to go the full 18 hole course, one gets to watch over 250 unusual bird species in their natural habitat.
Every year, the members host the Jock of the Bushveld Festival and invite amateur golfers to participate. The club has a bar, clubhouse, and Pro Shop.
Other Places of Interest
Other placecs in or close to Nelspruit are the Lawson’s family-owned wildlife reserve, Nature’s Gate with an outdoor paintball range, Eloff Studio which highlights local talent, Zakkie Eloff, and the Pelipa Ranch which also has a paintball range.