If it’s an action-packed holiday you want, look no further than Nelspruit. With a heap of activities to choose from this will be a vacation you won’t soon forget. Travel at your own pace in your rented car from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and explore Nelspruit these three ways: by air, land and water.

Nothing beats seeing the beautiful lush Lowveld from the air. Get a bird’s-eye view over canyons and forests when you choose between helicopter flips, microlight flights, hot air balloon rides, hang-gliding, paragliding and chartered planes. Hot air balloon flights take place at dawn and you get to float over breath-taking views in utter quiet. Chartered flights offer trips up to the famous Blyde River Canyon, Pilgrim’s Rest, God’s Window and the Three Rondavels. For the adrenaline junkie you can zip along Africa’s longest aerial cable trail, which is 1.2km long, while looking down at the forest floor, or there is a terrifying gorge swing at Graskop.

If you like your feet on solid ground you can choose from a variety of hiking trails in and around Nelspruit. Head to the Sudwala Caves, believed to be the oldest cavern system in the world at 3 000 million years old, or hike in Kaapsehoop for spectacular scenery and a glimpse of the wild horses. The Botanical Gardens are one of the biggest attractions in Nelspruit, boasting the first man-made rainforest and a rare collection of plant species, and with two rivers running through it, it’s a unique experience in a peaceful, charming setting.

You can get your feet wet going fishing in the local Sabie and Crocodile Rivers and further afield at the Mozambique border are the Tigerfish-rich waters of the Komatipoort. Enjoy a boat cruise on the Blydepoort Dam where you might see crocodiles or hippos. Tackle the Sabie River rapids to get your adrenaline pumping and if fear is not a factor for you then try your hand at kloofing. Sign up for river rafting, canoeing or swimming down the Sabie, Blyde, Olifants or Crocodile Rivers.