Hazyview
1 kilometre from the villa, there are ample shops to buy supplies. There are banks,
two large supermarkets, a doctor and chemist. There is a small tea room and some
fast food resturants. It is a small supply town servicing the rural villages and
farmers in the local area.
Whiteriver
30 km away - Whiteriver (Witrivier) is a little higher and less humid than Nelspruit.
It is a green, pleasant little town with a colonial feel.
5Km outside White River in the direction of Hazyview is a great souvenir shop on
the left side of the road next to The Baghdad Café at ‘Safari Junction’. The shop
is called ‘African Art’. Opposite this is a small but very nice shopping complex
called ‘Casterbridge Farm’ specializing in handmade furniture, farm products and
household items. There is a pottery shop signposted from Whiteriver high street.
It is owned and run by one of South Africa’s best potters. It is about 5 km after
Rochester Wineries on the same road.
Nelspruit
50km away – Nelspruit, in the Crocodile River valley, is the largest town in Mpumalanga’s
steamy subtropical lowveld. The capital has a good selection of pubs and restaurants,
giving it a lively atmosphere.The promenade is a tree-lined street in the town centre
housing the Promenade Centre, a large shopping complex. The huge Riverside Shopping
Mall is 5km north of town on the White River road. It has many shops and a very
good ‘Spur’ restaurant. Within the centre is a cinema and the Emnotweni Casino if
you fancy a bit of gambling!
Graskop
This is a lovely tourist town with many curio/souvenir shops. The best one is called
‘Delagoa’ and is situated next to ‘Harry’s Pancakes’ – a very good spot to stop
for lunch. You are bound to be stopped by peanut sellers in this town. Be sure to
negotiate on their prices with them! Graskop is on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment,
at the top of Kowyns Pass. This is where you will find the ‘Big Swing’, a must for
the adrenalin junkies! Nearby are some spectacular views of the lowveld, almost
1000metres below. There is an information office next to the Spar supermarket.
Barberton
Barberton, 45km south of Nelspruit and about one and a half hours from the villa.
This was something of a boom town during gold rushes last century and was home to
South Africa’s first stock exchange. Barberton is a quiet but alluring town in harsh
but interesting lowveld country. This town is worth a visit as you can do many activities
such as panning for gold and some self guided walks in and around Barberton and
the surrounding mountains. One of the walks through an old ore tunnel requires you
to bring a torch. The information centre is in Market Square on Crown Street. The
best place for lunch is ‘Ragamuffins’, a purple painted restaurant just behind the
main square.
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Local Restaurants
For eating out, this area provides many alternative choices. Most of the resturants
are on private farms or other local resorts in the area.
The Kruger Park Lodge has a good restaurant on site. (Of course the best way to
enjoy the atmosphere is to make your own Braai (barbeque) at the villa).
1. The Ant & Elephant Telephone 737-8172
2. Rissington Inn & Restaurant Telephone 737-7700
3. Tree Tops Telephone 737-8294
4. Digbys Telephone 737-6957
5. Hippo Hollow Telephone 737-7752
If you enjoy steak and you have never experienced a ‘Hot Rock’ you must go to a
‘Spur’ steakhouse to try their very reasonably priced fillet steaks. There
are ‘Spur’ restaurants in the ‘Riverside Mall’ shopping centre in Nelspruit, one
in Sabie and one in Whiteriver.
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