Our Blog

Welcome to Hoedspruit!

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 18:27:59 GMT

South Africa's Big 5 Safari Capital

It's known as South Africa's safari capital and is the gateway to some of the best game viewing in Africa - welcome to Hoedspruit , a little town with a lot of heart!

Thanks to its proximity to the world-renowned Kruger National Park and leading private game reserves such as the Sabi Sands and Timbavati, home of the legendary white lions, this former farming outpost has grown rapidly over the last decade.

The town's thriving economy has been built on the citrus and cattle farms which surround it and mining in the region, but today things are increasingly focussed on tourism. Indeed, the safari industry is fast taking over as the major economic driver in the area, turning the town into one of South Africa's fastest-growing tourism hubs.

There has been a human presence in what is now Hoedspruit for millennia, with archaeologists recently discovering early iron age artifacts including pottery shards, human and animal bones, grinding stones, stone hammers, bone tools and beads made from ostrich egg shell as well as freshwater and sea shells.

The archaeologists who made the discovery, Anton Pelser and Anton van Vollenhoven, said that the site, on what is now Zandspruit Aero Estate, falls within a pre-established network of trade routes and that the people who were living there probably used the shells as money and were accustomed to trade.

The archaeologists estimate that the find dates back to around 800 AD, predating significant nearby archaeological sites such as Mapungubwe and Thulamela. Indeed, according to the archaeologists, there are indications that the people living in the area during this period were on the cusp of a technological shift from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, when humans discovered the practice of melting iron to make various tools and implements.

The iron age was a significant period in the history of the area and began around 300AD when the Ntu (or Bantu) speaking peoples arrived, replacing the indigenous San people, introducing pastoralism. They settled first along the Limpopo, Luvuvhu, Shingwedzi and Letaba rivers, moving further south to the Olifants, Sabie and Crocodile rivers, cultivating crops and keeping domestic livestock and living in semi-permanent settlements.

They smelted and forged iron and produced pottery of various characteristic types. The descendants of these people, the Shangaan, are still the predominant tribal culture in this region.

Hoedspruit as it is now began much more recently. It was 1844 when Dawid Johannes Joubert arrived in the area and established a farm between the Blyde River and what is now known as the Zandspruit (sand creek). He was quickly joined an influx of young "boere" (farmers) who saw huge potential in the region.

Farms were quickly demarcated and registered with the land office in nearby Ohrigstad. Farm names reflected both the topography of the land and the sentiment of these young pioneers. There was Jonkmanspruit ("young men's creek"), Welverdiende ("well-deserved") and Driehoek ("three corners") - names which are still to be found in the area today.

Joubert's original farm had no name until the day in 1844 when the heavens opened over Mariepskop - the highest peak in the Drakensberg escarpment which towers over the area - causing widespread flash flooding. The creek which ran across Joubert's farm quickly became a raging torrent and in trying to cross it, he slipped and lost his hat which was quickly borne away by the fast-flowing waters, never to be seen again. Thus Hoedspruit - "hat creek" - was born. Joubert spent his time between his newly named farm and his farm in the Ohrigstad area but was attacked and killed by a leopard in 1860.

At this time there was a major land dispute between South Africa and neighbouring Mozambique, with the latter claiming that the Drakensberg escarpment formed the international boundary between the two countries.

In response to this claim, the president of what was then the Transvaal Republic, Paul Kruger, arranged for the entire area to be properly surveyed and demarcated. However, there was a lack of qualified land surveyors in South Africa at the time, so surveyors from Europe were brought in, under the supervision of surveyor general, Gideon R von Wielligh.

While these surveyors were busy with properly demarcating the international border between the republic and Mozambique, President Kruger asked them to officially mark the borders of the various farms in the region, commanding that all of the exceptionally large farms like our "hat creek" be broken up into smaller farms, although still under the ownership and management of single farmers.

The predominantly European surveyors undertook this task and began to name the smaller portions of these huge farms from their own vernacular, which is why to this day you will find farms like Berlin, Essex, Madrid, Dublin, Moscow, Chester and Dundee on the outskirts of town.

By the turn of the 20th century, gold and other precious metals had been discovered in the area around Hoedspruit and mining began to play a major role in the region's economy. This was when Abel Erasmus and his partner, Org Basson, ran a successful transport company, running teams of oxen between the Mozambican capital and port of Lourenço Marques and the mines at Gravelotte.

Erasmus prided himself on his oxen, which he farmed nearby on his farm, Orinoco. Little did he know that these animals would become a pivotal factor in a legendary raid by Boer commandos during the Anglo Boer War, which raged from 1899 to 1902.

It was 1901 and Erasmus's oxen were being rustled by the infamous Steinaecker's Horse - a voluntary military unit fighting for the British forces which consisted of English-speaking lowvelders under the command of former Prussian soldier, Major Francis Christian Ludwig von Steinaeker.

As a result, Erasmus laid a formal complaint with General Ben Viljoen, in charge of the Boer forces in the area and based in Lydenburg. At a meeting of his men in Pilgrim's Rest, Viljoen sent Kommandant Piet Moller and a unit of men to attack Steinaeker's Horse at their stronghold at Fort Mpisane. The attack took place on 8 July 1901 and Moller and his small band of men took the fort successfully.

Among the notable names within the ranks of Steinaeker's Horse was Henry "Harry" Wolhuter, who was appointed as game ranger for the Sabi Game Reserve in 1902. The Sabi Game Reserve eventually became the Kruger National Park and Harry Wolhuter one of its most famous rangers.

The early 1900s also saw the safe and effective transportation of ore, mining equipment and supplies to the area become a matter of prime importance and thus the Selati railway line was laid, traversing the farm of Hoedspruit in the process.

The railway brought people with it, and with the growth in passenger trains, the need for stations became apparent. Hoedspruit station, actually built accidentally on the neighbouring farm Berlin, fast became a hub around which businesses began to spring up.

However, the gold fields petered out before the line was completed and work on it was abandoned. Work began again on it in 1909 and it was finally completed in 1912.

The Selati Line ran from Komatipoort on the Mozambican border to Tzaneen and helped to open up the area to tourism, helped in 1923 when South African Railways launched a "round-in-nine" passenger rail trip of the Lowveld, including an overnight stop at what was then Sabi Bridge in the Sabi Game Reserve and is now Skukuza in the Kruger National Park.

There were no overnight facilities for the public at Sabi Bridge, so the tourists had to sleep on the train. Eventually, these train trips became so popular that rangers accompanied the tourists on the train and arranged short bush excursions for them. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Selati Line was eventually abandoned when, in 1963, work began on a new railway line west of the Kruger National Park. This is the railway line which runs through Hoedspruit to this day.

By the 1950s the bustling little outpost that had originally sprung up around Hoedspruit station had yet to be formally registered as a town, but when, in 1952, the Roos family bought Berlin and established a general dealers and motor repair shop alongside the railway line, Hoedspruit the town had finally arrived.

The town continued to attract farmers and in the 1950s there was a boom in cattle farming in the area. One of the farmers who purchased land was Willie Schürmann. At the time, predators such as lion and cheetah were seen as a huge threat to livestock and sadly were often shot on sight.

And so it was that Willie's six year-old daughter, Lente, was given an orphaned cheetah cub to care for after a neighbouring farmer shot its mother. Lente called the cub Sebeka and formed an inseparable bond with the young animal. So began a love affair with orphaned and distressed animals that saw the girl who grew to become Lente Roode eventually turn her father's farm into Kapama Game Reserve, home of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC). Today, the centre is run by Lente's daughter, Adine and continues to contribute to cheetah conservation.

In the late 1970s the pace in Hoedspruit was stepped up with the opening of the South African Air Force's base there. Surrounded by 25 square kilometers of game reserve, the base quickly found itself having to deal with the almost constant presence of wildlife on the runway. Working with the HESC it introduced three cheetahs onto the property to help keep the wildlife off the runway and things improved dramatically.

During the 1990s an unused portion of Air Force Base Hoedspruit was converted into what is now Eastgate Airport, opening up the region to global tourists en masse by providing daily flights from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, enabling them to quickly and easily connect to surrounding game reserves and safari lodges in the area.

Today, Hoedspruit is a magnet for people who love wildlife and who are looking for exceptional game viewing experiences. With an enormous range of safari offerings on its doorstep to fit any budget requirement, it has firmly established itself as the Rainbow Nation's number one safari town. This has been helped by the advent of the residential wildlife estate, a housing niche which has made Hoedspruit one of the most sought after property destinations in the country.

For anyone interested in buying into life in the African bush, having wildlife on their doorstep and living in safari lodge-style accommodation, estates such as Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, Raptors View, Moditlo, Zandspruit Aero Estate and Leadwood offer exceptional opportunities to live the African dream as well as go on safari!

The town's infrastructure has expanded to meet the demand of international visitors and a growing number of permanent residents, with major supermarkets like Spar and Pick n Pay and a range of excellent restaurants on hand.

No longer just a town people pass through on their way to somewhere else, Hoedspruit holds its own as a tourism destination and is an excellent base from which to explore one of the most exciting and adventure-soaked areas of South Africa. The town is within easy reach of the Panorama Route with tourism drawcords like the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes and God's Window complemented by great activities like zip-lining, hiking, horse riding and hot air ballooning.

Day trips to the Kruger National Park are a leading attraction for visitors to the town, with both the Orpen and Phalaborwa gates a short drive from the town. Game drives can be arranged in the Kruger and in a number of private reserves around Hoedspruit so wildlife enthusiasts will never be tired of things to do and see.

From its humble beginnings Hoedspruit has finally arrived and is looking forward to the future. So next time you are planning a safari, make sure that this vibrant little piece of South Africa is on your itinerary.

Exploring a hidden Eden...

Tue, 26 May 2020 09:00:05 GMT

Descend into another world at Graskop Gorge Lift

One of South Africa's newest and most dynamic tourism attractions - the spectacular Graskop Gorge Lift - is within easy reach of Bushwillow Private Villa. It's located just outside the small town of Graskop on the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment, an hour and a half's drive from Hoedspruit through some of the most fabulous scenery South Africa has to offer.

A highlight of any Panorama Route tour, the lift descends to the floor of the breathtakingly beautiful Graskop Gorge allowing you to explore the magical natural ecosystem that awaits, with waterfalls and a gently flowing stream. The gorge floor is home to an amazing array of wildlife and incredible variety of plants and trees and is navigable via a raised wooden walkway with interactive viewing points and information stations that meanders through the gorge beneath the lush, green rainforest.

You can spend as much time as you like exploring the gorge floor before ascending once more to the main lift centre, which is home to a range of curio shops and stalls where local people are given the opportunity to sell a variety of trinkets, from textiles and wooden carvings to ceramics, beadware and hand-crafted jewellery.

Stop for lunch, coffee and cake or a celebratory drink at the centre's restaurant and bar with breathtaking views over the gorge and surrounding scenery, making this a great place place to refresh, enjoy a hearty meal and enjoy this wonderful attraction!

Adventure awaits!

Mon, 11 May 2020 11:19:02 GMT

There's lots to do and see during a stay at Bushwillow Private Villa...

Adventure is on the cards when you visit the Greater Kruger National Park and Bushwillow Private Villa, with a host of places to visit and things to see during your stay with us.

Top of the list is a full-day guided game drive in the world famous Kruger National Park where the Big Five await in a fabulously wild, untamed African wilderness. This incredible experience starts very early, before dawn, when we fill you with coffee and muffins and wave you off on your adventure with a scrumptious packed breakfast as your guide comes to fetch you at the villa. You'll arrive at the Kruger Park's Orpen Gate approximately 40 minutes later, where you'll experience the thrill of being in one of Africa's most iconic game reserves on an open game vehicle, learning all about the bush from an experienced safari guide and getting up close and personal with some of Africa's incredible wildlife.

Morning and afternoon/evening game drives in some of the smaller, private reserves bordering the Kruger National Park are also on offer, allowing you to make the most of the amazing wilderness areas that surround us. And there's always the opportunity to go for a walk, cycle or drive on our beautiful "home" - Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate - where you can see a variety of wildlife including giraffe, zebra, kudu, warthog, waterbuck and impala. There's more than 25km of walking and cycling trails on the estate. Or you can explore on horseback, if you'd prefer.

Hoedspruit also offers a lot in the way of exploration and eating out, with a variety of wonderful restaurants, art galleries, curio shops and boutiques on hand to meet your retail therapy requirements.

Then there's the magnificent Drakensberg Escarpment that dominates our western horizon... You can take a full-day tour of the impressive Panorama Route, offering you the chance to explore the mountains and witness the incredible views and geological formations like Bourke's Luck Potholes, the Graskop Gorge and a selection of beautiful waterfalls. Or take a drive up Mariepskop - the highest peak in the Escarpment - where on a clear day you can see all the way to the Indian Ocean!

Helicopter and light-aircraft aerial tours are also a great way to experience the Greater Kruger region and Kruger to Canyon Biosphere, giving you a whole new perspective on this wonderful part of South Africa. Or you could try microlighting and spotting game from the air. You can also visit some of our local wildlife rehabilitation centres to discover more about conservation in the area and the work being done to protect rare and endangered wildlife species.

Of course, sometimes what you need most is to do absolutely nothing! There's nothing to beat just sitting by our sparkling swimming pool, with a cool and refreshing drink in your hand while enjoying the warmth of the African sun on your skin.

Kruger Park Day Tours

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Full Day tours to the Kruger National Park

This Full Day Safari Tour offers guests the best opportunity to see the Kruger National Park , its diverse landscapes and most importantly its wildlife. With a Full Day, your expert guide has more time to share the wonders of the Kruger National Park and it's for this reason that the Full Day Tour is the best option available.

Panorama Scenic Tour

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Full day Pano tour including, Bourkes Luck Potholes, Gods Window and many more

This Tour to the Kruger National Game Park follows the world renowned Mpumalanga Panorama route and includes breathtaking views with stops at Bourke’s Luck Pot Holes, Pilgrims rest, Gods Window, Wonder view, three Rondavels and worlds third largest canyon – Blyde River/Molatse Canyon .

Pilgrims Rest – This village in it entirety has been declared a national monument. It began life as a lively mining settlement that made its appearance almost overnight after the discovery of alluvial gold in the surrounding hills. In it heyday, it accommodated about 1 600 diggers.

Blyde River/Molatse Canyon, Mpumalanga – The water tumbles through a deep and spectacular gorge, part of which is dammed, most of which runs through the Blyde River Nature Reserve. There are a number of wonderful view sites from which to enjoy the dramatic canyon with its towering red and gold sandstone cliffs.

The Three Rondavels , also known as the Chief’s Wives, dominate the northern section.

Gods Window – A short walk through the indigenous shrubs to the God’s Window and Wonder view sites, with wooden platforms that offer the most stunning vistas over the Escarpment.

Here the land drops way almost vertically to the Lowveld, and standing at God’s Window, at an altitude of around two kilometers, leaves you feeling as if you are, literally, on top of the world.

Bourke’s Luck pot-holes – Formed by the confluence of the Treur and Blyde rivers. A moonscape of deep hollows and channels. Some of the Potholes are six meters deep and have been formed over centuries of continuous scouring by sand and pebbles carried along by the river.

Big 5 Open Vehicle Safaris

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

View the Big 5 up close and personal in private reserves

Experience the Big 5 up close and personal in open 4x4 vehicles

Airport Transfers

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 15:49:09 GMT

Transfers from Johannesburg or Hoedspruit Airport

We can arrange transfers from Johannesburg, Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa, Skukuza or Kruger Mpumulanga International airports. Give us a call or email and we will arrange it for you.

Is it safe to go on Safari?

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 15:34:48 GMT

Is it safe to go on Safari in South Africa

1. Isn’t the crime in South Africa much worse than most Western countries?
Still alive and unscathed after many months on safari in South Africa. WINNING. Yes, crime rates in South Africa are typically worse than those of Australia, UK, Europe and the USA. However if you’re heading over to go on a safari and maybe spend a few days in touristy Cape Town, there is very, very little chance you will be exposed to any crime (other than perhaps some speeding on the roads). I certainly wouldn’t recommend wandering around the streets of shady Johannesburg areas at night – but if all you’re doing is staying overnight in a Johannesburg hotel, driving or flying to/from a game reserve and perhaps spending some time in Cape Town you have nothing to worry about.

As an Australian the first time I visited Cape Town was with my sister and we were in our early 20s and told by our hostel not to walk around at night (advice by the way that I have been given in many other cities of the world). We ignored that advice a couple of times and never had any issues. The second time I visited South Africa about 4 years later with my whole family and we hired a car at JHB airport, drove to a nearby B&B for the night then drove up to Blyde River Canyon, onto Timbavati Game Reserve and then through Kruger and on to Swaziland. Again, no issues whatsoever.

I have since visited South Africa many times and even lived there for seven months and never had anything so much as stolen, let alone witnessed any violent crimes. The game reserves or national parks where you would be going on safari are probably safer than your home towns given they are all fenced with rigorous security to get in and out given all the issues with poaching that sadly exist in today’s world. It also costs quite a bit of money to get in, so you are surrounded by tourists (both domestic and international).

2. Is it safe to drive yourself in South Africa? What about driving at night time?
Driving is a piece of CAKE. It is safe to drive in South Africa, particularly if you are driving predominantly on highways. Again, I wouldn’t advise driving around dodgy areas at night but the drive from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands , Timbavati , Madikwe or any other number of safari destinations is safe. Highways in South Africa are well maintained and most people are pleasantly surprised by how first world their road infrastructure is. Remember that South Africa is really considered first world when it comes to many things – including infrastructure like roads, it’s just other issues like poverty that classify them as developing. Of course you can have a car accident on any road in the world, so you still need to be careful about driving and keep in mind that in South Africa many people drive significantly under the speed limit (and other significantly over), which has its own associated risks. But for the most part driving around in South Africa is very similar to driving around in Western countries in terms of the infrastructure.

Driving at night is also fine, but I would recommend to do most of your driving in the day when possible. Typically when we arrive in Johannesburg from Sydney (a flight that arrives at dusk), we hire a car and drive straight to Nelspruit which is about three hours away, arriving at around 9-10pm. This means we are only 1-2 hours from Kruger park so we can arrive as the gate opens and maximise our few days in the park! That being said, my husband is South African and also relatively impervious to jet lag or lack of sleep, so that makes it easier for us. If I didn’t have him I would stay overnight in Johannesburg and drive early the next morning. I have never felt unsafe driving in South Africa at night, but it’s best to avoid dodgy areas and also keep your doors locked and windows up just in case. In fact it’s best to keep your doors locked during the day as well, just in case! Lastly there can be more animals (including usual domestic animals like cows) on the roads, which is another reason that driving in Africa at night is best avoided if possible.
If you don’t want the hassle of driving yourself then there are plenty of other options like transfers or flights to get to your safari destination. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like more information about this!

3. What about the animals? What are the chances a lion, leopard or elephant will kill me?
If you abide by the rules of the game reserve or national park you are visiting there is almost zero chance that any animal will hurt you while on safari. The one thing I will qualify here is that 95%+ of any tourist injuries caused by lions or wildlife in South Africa relate to lion parks (or small controlled animal parks), not private game reserves or national parks. I strongly recommend that you do not visit lion parks – click through the link to find out why. Lions who have been brought up in lion parks are socialised to humans and as a result they are more dangerous. Those in the proper wild (like Kruger National Park or game reserves) are not habituated to us and would be more likely to run away from a human than attack. However the point is that we don’t give them the option because we stay in our vehicle, which the animals recognise as being non-threatening and generally just ignore.

Elephants and hippos are probably the most dangerous animals in contrast to what many people would think. Even so I have only heard of locals being killed or hurt by elephants and hippos, because as a tourist we should never be wandering around in areas where these guys exist without trained professionals around to take charge if they do appear. Trails guides (like Van) are well trained in these situations so even going for a bush walk in South Africa is safe so long as you listen and obey all instructions your guide gives you!

4. What about diseases and Malaria?
The food you will eat will most likely be better quality than what you get at home. It’s always advisable to consult a doctor when travelling overseas and South Africa is no different. Doctors tend to err on the side of caution and so they may advise you to get relevant shots and also take malaria medication depending on where you are visiting. These things are good to do to protect you but South Africa is generally not a high risk country for most typical third-world diseases. For example you can even drink the tap water in South Africa without getting sick as from an infrastructure perspective they are first world. I generally don’t drink tap water when travelling overseas but I now do so in South Africa!
If you are travelling in the Kruger region it is advisable to take malaria tablets just to be safe. Malaria exists but the risks are (in my experience) relatively low. Risks can be reduced even further if you travel in the dry, winter months (June to September) and if you use insect repellent. That being said it is still worth taking the tablets just to be absolutely safe!

Visit Nourish | Growing vibrant communities

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 13:41:22 GMT

Nourish is focusing on conservation by fighting social poverty

Our Vision: To transform buffer zones through a holistic development model which fights poaching through fighting poverty;
Connecting communities to wildlife and conservation.

Our Mission: To facilitate strategic engagement between communities and conservation spaces through the creation of our B.A.T Zone Model. Through inclusive conservation principals we aim to unlock socio – economic opportunities in the wildlife/green/tourism economy which ensure the flow of benefits to communities in marginalised buffer zone areas. Our Beneficiation focus includes economic empowerment and conservation through education, which allows us to have long term sustainable impact. As part of our collaborative approach we partner with anti-poaching organisations, community upliftment projects and NGO’s in order to achieve our goal of being a community development model with conservation outcomes.

Relaxing Spa Massages

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 13:36:25 GMT

Relax, unwind, rejuvenate...

Wind down and pamper yourself at our spa. Our treatments promises an African experience in style, for you to rejuvenate and to indulge in complete relaxation. The natural aroma’s of the locally produced range will enhance your senses while you are pampered with the best aroma oils. The spa treatment menu includes a full range of body and beauty treatments by one of our highly trained and experienced therapists. Indulge in a 60 minute Hot Stone Massage. Bookings are essential and couples and children are catered for.

Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 11:39:49 GMT

The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre is a unique African wildlife facility focusing on conservation and the sustainability of rare, vulnerable and threatened species.

The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) is living proof that people can make a difference to the long-term survival of the planet and its animal inhabitants.

HESC focuses on the conservation of rare, vulnerable and endangered animal species. Cheetah Conservation is one of its core disciplines.

The centre is actively involved in research ; breeding of endangered animal species; the education of learners, students and the general public in conservation and conservation-related activities; tourism ; the release and establishment of captive-bred cheetahs in the wild; the treatment and rehabilitation of wild animals in need (including poached rhinos); and anti-poaching initiatives on the reserve.

Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 11:35:00 GMT

Great way to get educated on the state of our wildlife today

Situated in the shadow of the majestic “ Mariepskop” which forms part of the mighty Drakensberg mountains, our unique Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is a home to many of South Africa’s abandoned, injured and poisoned wildlife. Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is extremely proud of its efforts in wildlife education in South Africa.

At Moholoholo we are often faced with the difficult decision of what to do with an injured or poisoned animal which will not be able to be released back into the wild. As a result, we have a number of “permanent residents” at the centre and at our own cost we use them as “ambassadors” for their respective species. Members of the public are therefore able to get an up close and personal experience of these incredible creatures and with our hands on approach we have the ability to demonstrate to the public the threats and problems our wildlife is facing today.

The Centre has a long standing and successful Serval Breeding Project and more than 160 have successfully been reintroduced to areas where they have become extinct. We are actively involved in research on the movement and behaviour of leopards and also on a number of vulture species that we monitor daily at our “vulture restaurant”. A visit to the Centre is “an experience of a lifetime” and will leave you with lasting memories.

DAILY TOURS

Two tours daily from Monday – Saturday
Approximate duration of tour is 2 – 2 ½ hours

Morning Tour starts @	09:30
Afternoon Tour starts @	15:00

Open on Sundays during school holidays and long weekends @ 15:00pm

Nyani Cultural Village

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 11:29:29 GMT

Experience the local Shangaan culture

Under the stars around a glowing fire the songs and dances of the Shona & Venda, the Tsonga, the Shangaan, the Pedi and the BaHananawa (Tswana), the Swati and Zulu dances come to life. The hour long show ends with interactive dancing as a highlight for the guests.

An option in most lodges is to welcome the guests to the performance area with beautiful songs that range from local tribal tunes, gospel songs and popular English songs of Africa. This is an ice breaker and also a very popular way to surprise the guests before launching into the main dance show.

Roots of Rhythm performers provide visitors with a better understanding of the rich cultural background of the Limpopo Tribes, identifying the tribal rhythms and songs through colourful costumes, dynamic dance styles and earthy drumming. The 12 team members are all local residents from the rural areas in and around Acornhoek, who have been trained in singing, dancing, drumming and dramatic performance.

Blyde River Canyon Boat Cruise

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 11:15:02 GMT

Experience the Canyon form the water

Enjoy the splendour of the third largest Canyon in the world. Unquestionably being the largest ‘green canyon’ due to its lush Subtropical foliage. An interpretation tour by a tour guide will take you to the you to the rare living Kadishi Tufa waterfall and the Three Rondawels. An abundance of wildlife will keep you distracted while learning more about the natural history of the Blyde Canyon.

The Blyde River canyon supports large diversity of life, including numerous fish and antelope species as well as Hippos and Crocodiles, primate species and a diversity of birdlife such as the African Fish Eagle, African Finfoot and much more.

Possibly the best view in the whole of the Blyde River Canyon is of the “Three Rondavels”, huge, round rocks, thought to be reminiscent of the houses or huts of the indigenous people, known as rondavels. The Canyon is famous for the Kadishi Tufa waterfall. At 200m (around 660 feet) in height it is the second tallest Tufa waterfall on earth. In the case of the Kadishi Tufa fall, the formation that has been produced strikingly resembles a face which is crying profusely, and is thus sometimes known as the weeping face of nature.

Duration

1 hour 30 minutes

When
Daily

Where
Blyde River Dam jetty, 7km from Swadini, Forever Resort Use Forever Resorts Swadini to get the GPS Co-ordinates Entrance to the boat are from the R531 or the R527 Please take note that we are 140km from Graskop, 40km from Hoedspruit 120km from Hazyview

Weather
Depending on weather conditions

What to Wear
Comfortable clothes, during winter time bring warm cloths

Things to Bring
Camera, bring something to drink and to eat. Please take note ALCOHOL NOT ALLOWED on the boat

Guests or Spectators
No Spectators allowed

Eat out in style

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 13:25:50 GMT

Besides being the home of Bushwillow Private Safari Villa, the little town of Hoedspruit is renowned for its amazing variety of great bush pubs, restaurants, coffee shops and eateries. This means you are spoiled for choice when it comes to eating out. In town - a short drive, cycle ride or walk from the villa- there are a number of good options. Here's just a few of them:

The Fig & Bean cafe (known locally as F&B) is located at the Rock Fig Centre close to the entrance of Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate. It offers superb breakfasts, tasty light meals, a range of great coffees and other beverages, sumptuous home-baked cakes and soft-serve ice cream to boot. It's where the townsfolk come together to meet, share a good cuppa Joe and indulge in a little soul food.

Sleepers is another local legend, and is housed in the town's old railway station where freight trains still rumble past on a regular basis. Its diverse menu is packed with great fare from pizza to sizzling steaks and it offers a wonderful Sunday roast as well as special theme evenings. You haven't been to Hoedspruit if you haven't been to Sleepers!

The Hat and Creek is another popular restaurant, offering some amazing dishes on its menu, from seared salmon salad to

Rumble Restaurant at the pretty Kamogelo Centre offers steaks, chicken, burgers, seafood, pizza, pasta and more. , Breakfasts to Light Meals and the theme is in the spirit of Africa with Waitrons proudly wearing their bright modern traditional attire. This family restaurant also offers South African traditional dishes.

Also at the Kamogelo Centre is Kalimambo . Don't be deceived by its outward appearance (it's a popular local waterhole!) because it offers some of the best, 100% authentic Indian curries you'll find in the Lowveld!

If it's a good, family chain you're after, then look no further than our local Spur steak house at the Pick n Pay Centre for a range of tasty, meaty meals (ribs, steaks, chicken and burgers).

We also have local legend Tina Goncalves Mathewson (pictured above) running an amazing Mozambican food truck - Tina's Sabores de Mocambique - in town. Her beef prego rolls are epic, and you can sample peri peri prawns and chicken like no other!

A short distance from town there's the Bosveld Centre - home to Wild Dogz Burger Bar (gourmet burgers at their finest), Cooked (great food, great ambience and awesome milkshakes) and Safari Wines - home to all the best vintages, craft gins and a range of awesome beverages that you can sample along with home-made pizza and cheese and meat platters at The Venue .

And last, but definitely not least, just off the R40 heading towards Phalaborwa, about 10 minutes out of town, there's the inimitable Thirsty Giraffe where you can sample bush cuisine and ambience par excellence, as well as some incredible traditional Portuguese dishes. Try the beef espetadas - they really are beyond compare! The pizzas are also fab, as is the peri peri chicken and the calamari.

So much to do and see!

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Your stay at Bushwillow Private Safari Villa would not be complete without taking part in some of the great activities and things to do and see in Hoedspruit and its surrounding area.

First of all, there's excitement and adventure literally on your doorstep! Bushwillow Private Safari Villa is located on the beautiful Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, close to the centre of town but a lifetime away in other respects. The estate is home to some marvellous wilderness areas and is packed with wildlife, so the bush is your back yard!

The centre section of the estate is a dedicated green belt area with its own game drive routes as well as hiking and mountain bike trails. While leopard occur naturally on the estate, there are no elephant, buffalo, rhino or lion, meaning that you can take a walk or cycle around the estate in safety. You can opt to jump in your car and explore, or perhaps organise some horse riding and experience the estate on four legs. You'll likely see giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, impala and zebra on the estate as well as the ubiquitous warthog - Hoedspruit's mascot. Take a pair of binoculars and your camera wherever you go, because the birding is amazing and there's always something amazing to take a picture of.

The town of Hoedspruit is the safari capital of South Africa and offers a great variety of shopping opportunities, from curios and clothing to works of art and jewellery. There's also a wide range of restaurants, eateries, cafes and coffee shops as well as three great supermarkets to choose from.

As you'd expect, there's a wealth of safari experiences on offer, from full-day safaris in the Kruger National Park to morning and afternoon game drives in the beautiful Manyeleti Game Reserve and other private reserves in the area. The famous Panorama Route which takes in the best of the breathtaking Drakensberg escarpment as well as the magnificent Blyde River Canyon (pictured above) is also a stone's throw from Hoedspruit and is absolutely recommended to either self-drive or take a guided tour.

The Blyde River Canyon is the second largest canyon in Africa, after the Fish River Canyon. Carved out by the Blyde River as it pushes its way down to the lowveld to join the Olifants River, the canyon is surrounded by towering peaks of impressive red sandstone. It is 25km long and an average of 750m deep. It's highest peak - Mariepskop - is 1944m above sea level. Bourke's Luck Potholes is another major attraction on the Panorama Route.

It's a fascinating geological anomaly formed at the confluence of the Blyde and Treur rivers where the swirling waters have carved huge circular shapes out of the sandstone rock, forming open caverns and potholes. The pretty town of Graskop, on the edge of the escarpment, is a great place for lunch and home to the Graskop Gorge Lift - a new attraction that takes visitors down the steep side of a gorge in a glass fronted lift to explore the hidden wonders below.

A raised wooden walkway above the gorge floor allows visitors to move around with ease, learning all about the eco-system and the plants and animals that live there through amazing information stations dotted along the route. It's not to be missed. Add to the mix activities like hot air ballooning, helicopter flips, microlighting and hiking and you'll soon see why the Greater Kruger region and our little town of Hoedspruit are so popular.