Nelspruit: the gateway to the Kruger National Park

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Nelspruit (Mbombela) is a small town of almost sixty thousand inhabitants in the South African province of Mpumalanga. This town is located near the Mozambique border and is often a stop for those visiting Kruger Park and the Blyde River Canyon. The majority of the city’s inhabitants speak Afrikaans (40%) and are white (49%). The metropolitan area of Nelspruit (Mbombela) reaches two hundred thousand inhabitants. The city is the capital of the province of Mpumalanga and is located at 660 meters above sea level in the fertile valley of the Crocodile River. In 2014 the city of Nelspruit changed its name to that of Mbombela.

AN ACCESS GATE FOR THE KRUGER PARK

Founded in the early twentieth century by the Boers, Nelpruit (Mbombela) is an important mining town in the Mpumalanga. The city is located in the center of a rich agricultural area where citrus and tropical fruits are grown. The city is also located along the important communication route that leads from Johannesburg to Mozambique and the port of Maputo in the Indian ocean. To the northeast of the city is the Kruger Mpumalanga international airport. This airport has flights to other cities in the country and is often used by visitors to Kruger Park, South Africa’s most popular park.

Nelspruit (Mbombela) is a beautiful city surrounded by hills and characterized by tree-lined streets. The city has an interesting botanical garden which has a large collection of plants which includes most of the flora found in the Mpumalanga region. From the tourist point of view, the city is a base for tourists who head to Kruger National Park, the Blyde River Canyon, Swaziland and Mozambique. Located about 330 km from Johannesburg and only 100 km from the Mozambique border. The spectacular Kruger Park is only an hour’s drive from the city.

The climate of Nelspruit.