Lekker in the Lowveld!

Driving from Johannesburg to Mbombela (Nelspruit), you know you’ve said farewell to the Highveld as soon as you pass through the tunnel near Emgwenya (Waterval Boven). The tunnel is the passageway from the chilly escarpment down into the balmy Lowveld.

Or, swap the N4 for the R539 and enter the Slowveld (as it’s fondly known) via Schoemanskloof, where you are welcomed by mountains, rivers and citrus trees galore.

Most people think of Mbombela as the last city stop before hitting the Kruger Park or Mozambique, a place to do some grocery shopping, exchange currency, grab a takeaway meal or sit down for a cup of coffee.

But next time, rather make Mbombela and surrounds your end destination. There’s so much to do, from horse riding in Kaapsehoop and paddling on Da Gama Dam, to yoga in a bamboo forest.

Here are five great places to stay, all within 45 minutes of the city.

1 SCHOEMANSKLOOF RETREAT

Precious few travellers think of Schoemanskloof as a destination, and what a pity that is. Most people rush through the kloof, making a pit stop at the Joubert en Seuns Padstal if time allows. But 3,6 km before the farm stall (coming from Gauteng), there’s a turn-off to your left, over the Crocodile River, to Falls Fish Farm.

Schoemanskloof Retreat is based here, where Myron Cort and Dee Malcomess run a 40-year-old family business farming with ornamental fish (goldfish and koi) and tilapia. The operations are at the bottom of the 184 ha property, with the accommodation