Nelspruit |
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Nelspruit Nelspruit, whose streets are lined with vibrant jacaranda and purple bougainvillea, lies on the banks of the Crocodile River, and is the capital city of the Mpumalanga Province. It was named after the brothers Nel, who owned the farm on which the town was built. The city is a major stopover point for visitors wishing to travel to the Kruger National Park and Mozambique, and forms the gateway into Mpumalanga. Nelspruit has an excellent botanical garden with a unique tropical atmosphere. The gardens play host to a multitude of rare plant species as well as one of the first man-made rain forests in the world. The Crocodile River flows through these gardens, culminating in the breathtaking Nelspruit Falls, a beautiful waterfall which flows into a serene pool. Near to Nelspruit lie The Sudwala Caves. They are the oldest caves on earth, believed to be 240 million years old. They're steeped in history, having once provided shelter to retreating Swazis and, in later years, being used as a storehouse for the Boer Long Tom guns during the Anglo-Boer War. Urban legend states that the caves mark the location of Paul Kruger's lost millions, but treasure seekers are not encouraged to test this theory. Visitors can view amazing calcium structures with such unusual names as 'Lowveldt Rocket' and 'Screaming Monster'. The adjacent dinosaur park is a popular attraction for young and old alike. A short distance away above Nelspruit is the gold mining town of Kaapsehoop, where mist drifts amongst strange sandstone formations giving the town an eerie atmosphere. The rich folklore and local ghost stories add to the otherworldly experience attached to the town. There is a herd of magnificent wild horses that have made the surrounding grasslands of Kaapsehoop their home, and who gallop gracefully through the misty evenings providing a treat for visitors. Nelspruit has planned a new soccer stadium for the 2010 Football World Cup which will hold a capacity of forty thousand eager fans. |