Limpopo has become a sought-after tourist destination for its big game, exceptional birding, untamed bush landscapes and an ancient African kingdom, the centre of which was located at Mapungubwe National Park. It is also the northern gateway to the Kruger National Park.
Location
AboutLimpopo
Wildlife and Wilderness Area
Of the 1 000ha estate, 650ha remains as a natural wilderness area.
Zandspruit is not a Big 5 reserve.
The Acacia Combretum bushveld reserve is stocked with free roaming African plains game such as: giraffe; kudu; wildebeest; waterbuck; duiker; bushbuck; impala; zebra; nyala; warthog and reedbuck.
The reserve has a number of dams, a bird hide, walking, cycling and horse riding trails, viewing points and sundowner spots.
The area is rich in bird life, including waxbills, eagles, vultures and owls.
Game count 2016Animals on the estate
27Blue Wildebeest
10Bushbuck
4Bush Pig
1Caracal
15Duiker
16Giraffe
367Impala
12Kudu
27Nyala
3Reedbuck
2Steenbuck
20Warthog
8Wild dogs
11Waterbuck
31Zebra
20Blue Vervet Monkeys
20Baboons
Location and Access
Zandspruit Estate has direct tar road access from Gauteng, Nelspruit and Phalaborwa, and is approximately 450 km north east of Johannesburg, 170 km north of Nelspruit, and 2 km west of Hoedspruit.
There are direct South African Express Airways flights to Eastgate Airport – twice daily from O. R. Tambo International Airport and 7 times weekly from Cape Town International Airport.
CemAir also operates flights 5 times weekly form Cape Town International Airport and 6 times weekly from O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Eastgate Airport (FAHS) is 15 km from Zandspruit Estate.
Owner pilots can make use of the 1 000 m paved Zandspruit runway.
Zandspruit is 30 km from the Blyde River Canyon and 70 km from Kruger National Parks’ Orpen Gate.
Airport Meet & Greet
Arriving in Hoedspruit, you will be met at Eastgate Airport.
If you are driving on your own you will be met by the concierge of Villa Kudu at the entrance of the Zandspruit Estate, where all the necessary entry permits will be arranged with the Estate Security.
This will allow you to gain access to the Estate for the duration of your stay.
Your concierge will then escort you to Villa Kudu where you will receive the keys to the front door and the gate, and give you a full explanation of the facilities of the villa and the Zandspruit Estate.
Learn more about Hoedspruit & surroundings
Hoedspruit is the closest town to Zandspruit Estates and is a mere 2km away. The town, although small, offers all the needed facilities of major retail stores, doctors, butchers, chemists as well as a choice of excellent restaurants. Many of South Africa’s best fruit farmers surround the town which gives you the opportunity to enjoy excellent fruit and vegetables from neighbouring farmers.
Bordering on the Kruger National Park, Hoedspruit lies in the heart of the central Lowveld and is conveniently situated to explore the many game lodges, game reserves and other attractions in the vicinity.
Here towering cliffs meet endless expanses of bushveld, where vast plains of marula, acacia, combretum and mopane woodlands accommodate a wealth of wildlife and stretch as far as the eye can see. It is said that Hoedspruit (‘hat creek’) acquired its name when, after a long and tedious trek over the mountains and into the heat of the Lowveld, one of the pioneers removed his hat and threw it into the cool waters of the Sandspruit River, declaring his decision to settle there.
Climate
Limpopo is an all-year-round destination due to its sub-tropical climate. Summer (October to February) can get very hot.
Hoedspruit normally receives about 410mm of rain per year, with most rainfall occuring mainly during mid summer. It receives the lowest rainfall (0mm) in July and the highest (84mm) in December. The monthly distribution of average daily maximum temperatures shows that the average midday temperatures for Hoedspruit range from 23.3°C in June to 30.2°C in January. The region is the coldest during July when the mercury drops to 7.1°C on average during the night.
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