Hoedspruit Transportation

Hoedspruit is a lovely spot, but is not the most readily accessible place from the large urban centres of South Africa, especially if you're going for a short period (such as a weekend). In order to avoid a long car journey from Johannesburg (at least 5 hours each way), we have done quite a lot of experimentation over the years to find a transport solution that is both convenient and cost effective.

First prize is to fly into Hoedspruit itself. This is possible on SA Airlink, but it is usually hellishly expensive and relatively inflexible, with only a few flights a week.

Another obvious option is to fly into Nelspruit (soon to be Mbombela), which looks close on the map. The advantage of Nelspruit is that it is a major regional centre, so there are a fair number of flights (and thus competition) on the route, resulting in greater flexibility and lower costs. However, be warned that the car journey from Nelspruit to Hoedspruit will take you longer than you expect (allow two hours) as the road passes through many built up areas, where speed restrictions and hazards such as pedestrians and livestock will slow down your progress. I would certainly not like to drive this road after dark.

The best option that we have found is to fly with Airlink into Phalaborwa, a mining town on the fringe of the Kruger Park. Although the costs are higher than for the Nelspruit option, they tend to be considerably lower than the cost of flights to Hoedspruit, and there are more flights per week. The drive from Phalaborwa to Hoedspruit thereafter only takes an hour along a good, fast tar road.

I would add that the tiny Phalaborwa airport is a charming and friendly place, with a thatched roof, whimsical wildlife sculptures and animal footprints imprinted onto the cement floor of the terminal building. I always feel as though my holiday has begun when I land there, and in my experience, it's rare that you can describe any airport in such glowing terms!

Driver’s licences.

Any valid drivers licence is accepted provided it is in English, bears a photo of the holder and their signature. A temporary international drivers licence will also do.

Filling up

A variety of fuel stations are situated along major routes and in all towns countrywide. Most are open 24/7. these stations can be a considerable distance from one another, so fill up before it is too late.

All fuel stations have attendants that will top up the tank, oil, tyres and more. There are no self-service stations in South Africa. A tip is not essential but can be appreciated.