The true joy of travelling in a car rental from Nelspruit Airport is when you can tap into the local culture.

When flying over Nelspruit airport you think for moment that you are about to land in the stretch of green African bush below. That is until you see the thin strip of runway of Nelspruit Airport.

This “olde worlde” African airport, with thatched awnings, is the gate way to the Kruger Park and surrounding reserves. There are some enthralling places to go, like Chimpanzee Eden, where dedicated individuals give love and care to injured primates or those removed from their natural habitat. The camp tries to rehabilitate them and integrate them into nature. Watching these remarkable apes get up to them antics scamper around the camp is a rewarding experience.

• Chimpanzee Eden Sanctuary:
  Tel:+27 79 777 1514 (Margi Brocklehurst)
  E-Mail: tours@chimpeden.com

  Directions:
  Get on the R22 from Johannesburg and the N4 from Pretoria towards Witbank. Continue through Witbank and Middelburg to Nelspruit. In Nelspruit, turn right at the third robot and use the R40 to Barberton, about 12km turn left at the '4x4 Land Rover Experience' sign. Once you in Umhloti Nature Reserve - follow the road for about 4km and you will find Umhloti Lodge

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There is also the largest reptile park in South Africa, the Croc River Enviro Park. The park has a wide range of interesting reptiles. You and the family can make a full day out of it, if you pack a hamper and sit at the shaded picnic areas.

The more adventurous tourist, can use a company called the Skyway Trails. They have unique enterprise that allows you virtually fly over the lush vegetation as you descend into the Sabie River valley. You simply strap on a harness and helmet, attach yourself to cables with the help of qualified crew and gently glide along over the tree tops. On the way you stop at raised platforms, to catch your breath and drink water. The views are awesome and offer a great a photo opportunity. You have nothing to fear and once you have acclimatised yourself to the harness the ride or rather virtual flying is exhilarating.

• Skyway Trails:
  Contact Details: Booking no: 082 825 0209
  Tel: (013) 737 8374 (Gecko Lodge),
  Fax: (013) 737 8375 (Gecko Lodge)
  Website: skywaytrails.com
  Email: info@skywaytrails.com
  Gecko Lodge: geckolodge.net

Should all the outdoor action leave you weak at the knees with hunger, South Africa has all the popular food-franchise brands when it comes to casual eateries and restaurants. While this is comforting, in its familiarity, why not let your palette have a holiday too. South African red meat is world class and our fruit and vegetables are of export quality. The best way of experiencing local cuisine, is finding an “out of the way” restaurant known only to the locals.

Such settings are usually an “owner /family managed” business, where you receive personalised service and made to feel like part of an extended family. The lack of slick marketing posters everywhere and uniform, stylised table settings with glaring logo’s, is most refreshing. Many of the more successful “family restaurants” have turned big, old houses into intimate and cosy eateries. The aroma of home baked bread and freshly ground coffee, greets you when you walk into these type places, which waft in from the kitchen area.

For those of you who are a bit more of a gastronomic adventurer there are speciality places. There are eateries that cater in wild game dishes, like ostrich or crocodile steaks for example. The line-fish and shellfish dishes in this country are also outstanding and most affordable for tourists with the favourable exchange rate. You could eat a whole plate of mussels or oysters for the same price it would cost you for a basic burger overseas.

The forestry towns of Graskop and Pilgrims Rest are near enough for you to make a round day trip and be back in time for supper. The locals are incredibly friendly and actually enjoy meeting travellers. Do remember when in Grasskop to stock up with lots of cold drinks, the getting in and out of the rented car to follow the tour trails can be thirsty work.

The God’s window attraction and Bourke’s Potholes are simply a must. The latter has large circular rock pools eroded overtime by the running water, leaving colourful bands of strata markings on the rocks. Visitors can safely walk on the constructed pathways and peer over the railings into the swirling potholes.

The entire region is a forested plantation and during the winter months can become exceedingly dry. Therefore you are asked not to make random braais or fires on the side of the road. There are plenty pleasure resorts and camp areas that do allow fires at their bricked braais emplacements.