Hazyview Hotel Numbi Garden Suites

Outdoor Facilities: What are the Lowveld and Highveld? Ask any South African where the Lowveld is and they’ll tell you, “It’s up North near Mozambique where the Kruger National Park is.” The Lowveld refers to the low-altitude subtropical terrain which makes up much of Mpumalanga, South Africa's eastern most province. It is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Nelspruit is the provincial capital and it serves as a gateway to the Lowveld. Tropical fruits, ginger, coffee, turmeric, and macadamia nuts are popular farming produce in the region. The Lowveld also stretches through parts of the province of Kwazulu-Natal and Swaziland. The Highveld is the part of the South African inland plateau which has an altitude above roughly 1500 metres but below 2100 metres. It straddles several South African provinces. The highest part of the Highveld is its north eastern well-defined boundary, where the plateau escarpment, the Mpumalanga Drakensberg, separates it from the Mpumalanga Lowveld. How far is the Kruger National Park from Hazyview? The closest entrance gate to the Kruger National Park is the Phabeni Gate. There are a myriad of ways to visit the Park. You can drive in yourself, take a guided tour, a night safari or an organised trek. It is possible to stay overnight in one of the Park’s official lodges. If you’re lucky enough you might even spot one of the rare, white lions of Timbavati. The Phabeni Gate is just 14km or 12 minute drive from the Hotel Numbi. What is Pilgrim’s Rest? This is a ‘museum town’ located on the Panorama Route. It is protected as a provincial heritage site. The town was home to those involved in the Transvaal goldrush in the late nineteenth century. Almost a hundred years on and the town hadn’t changed very much. By the 1970s it became a tourist destination. Pilgrim's Rest is about 56 km and an hour’s drive from the Hotel Numbi. Where is the Blyde River Canyon or Motlatse Canyon? This is one of the largest canyons on earth. It could even be the biggest ‘green’ canyon because of its lush subtropical foliage. It has some of the deepest precipitous cliffs of any canyon in the world. The highest point is almost 2,000 metres above sea level. It has a height of around 1,400 metres. This is 90 km and just under two hour’s drive from the Hotel Numbi. One of the best views in the whole of the Blyde River Canyon is of the ‘Three Rondavels.’ These are huge round rocks, thought to be reminiscent of the houses or huts of the indigenous people, known as rondavels. The canyon is part of the Panorama Route. This starts at the town of Graskop famed for its silk farms and includes God’s Window, the Pinnacle and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Where are the Bridal Veil Falls? This waterfall has a drop of 70 metres. The delicate spray of the fall is reminiscent of the gossamer veil worn by a bride. It is accessible by car, with a parking and picnic area available. From there an easy footpath runs through bush scenery for about 1 km or 15 minutes' walk and directly to the waterfall. There are in fact 8 waterfalls along the Sabie waterfall route, including this one, the Berlin Falls, Mac Mac Falls and the Lisbon Falls. The Bridal Veil Falls are just outside the little town on Sabie, about 43 minutes and 45 km from the Hotel Numbi. What is God’s Window? God’s window is located on the Drakensberg escarpment and is a feature of the Panorama route. When you look down from it, you start to see why it’s called ‘God’s Window. It boasts magnificent views of canyons, rock formations and waterfalls. God's Window is a small part of a 250 km long range of sheer cliffs. From it, it feels as if one can see forever. It is about a 48 minute or 50 km drive from the Hotel Numbi. Pinnacle Rock This is a giant quartzite rock that springs up from the earth’s surface and reaches 30 metres in height. It towers over the dense indigenous forest of Driekop. God’s Window and the town of Graskop are a short drive away. It is about a 45 minute or 45 km drive from the Hotel Numbi. Bourke’s Luck Potholes These iconic and amazing potholes are the result of centuries of swirling eddies of water where the Treur River meets the Blyde. This caused extensive water erosion over time. The result is a series of cylindrical rock sculptures that look as though they belong on the moon. They are on the Panorama Route and are named after a gold digger, Tom Burke. They’re just over an hour or 75 km from Hotel Numbi. Lowveld National Botanical Garden This lies just outside Nelspruit. There are 159 hectares of beautiful scenery here and thousands of plant species to spot. The Crocodile River gushes through a narrow, pot-holed solid rock gorge into the garden. The Nels River, cascades down a waterfall from the west. The two rivers merge in a gentle pool. The garden is home to around 650 species of tree. This attraction is around 50 minuets or 60 km from the Hotel Numbi. The Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail This known officially as the Barberton Makhonjwa (after the mountains behind Barberton) Geotrail It’s a self-drive route that takes in 38 km of ancient rock formations that date back more than three billion years ago. There are very few places on earth where rocks from this period are visible. The route is an hour and a half or 110 km from the Hotel Numbi. The wild horses of Kaapsehoop Around 200 horses roam freely around the small town of Kaapsehoop or Cape's hope. They come from a breed known as Boerperd or farm horse and meander through the misty hills in groups of three to a dozen. The pretty town of Kaapsehoop has a Bohemian feel. It’s a great place to eat, relax and take in the area of outstanding natural beauty. Kaapsehoop is around an hour and 20 minutes’ drive or 95km from the Hotel Numbi. Chimp Eden The Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Eden Sanctuary is a 2,500 acre game reserve and animal sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees. It’s the only one of its kind in South Africa. Part of the reserve is home to game animals such as giraffes, and zebras. Chimp Eden has rescued chimpanzees from Agola, Sudan, Mozambique, Italy and even Johannesburg zoo. Chimp Eden is just over an hour or 80 km from the Hotel Numbi. Shopping in Hazyview, at the Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, and Riverside and Ilanga Malls in Nelspruit Hazyview now has two huge modern shopping malls full of shops selling the latest fashions and foods. This includes the Hotel Numbi’s very Meat and Coffee Company outlet where there’s a butcher and deli as well as a lovely café. Hazyview’s upmarket Perry’s Bridge is home to a host of independent shops selling superb local artefacts. It’s also where our very own Pioneers and Topolino’s restaurants are located. The Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre is a collection of unique, quirky and independent shops. It features several outlets that specialise in artwork. It has tranquil gardens and a host of great cafes and restaurants. The centre is just outside the small town of White River. It’s just over half an hour’s drive or 46 km from the Hotel Numbi. Nelspruit has two wonderful shopping malls, the Riverside which is set in beautiful parkland and the newer Ilanga Mall. Both have superb clothing and homeware shops. Both are just under an hour or 65 km from the Hotel Numbi.