From there, it's a short and easy drive to some of the finest private game reserves in the country and Orpen Gate to the Kruger National Park. Nelspruit Fruit put Nelspruit on the map in the 1890s, and fruit has always played a vital role in the town's development. The fertile Crocodile River Valley, in which the town lies, is also notable for its tobacco and timber industries. Nelspruit today is the capital of Mpumalanga, the commercial and administrative hub of the lowveld, and the centre of a vast citrus-growing region. The streets of this large, modern town are lined with jacaranda and flamboyant trees and impeccably tended suburban gardens abound, flaunting flowering subtropical plants and shrubs.
All modern amenities are available, including excellent sports facilities.
From Nelspruit, good roads radiate to many of the most beautiful and interesting parts of the lowveld, including game sanctuaries, mountains and historic towns. Curio shops and wayside stalls offer excellent hand-woven rugs, carvings, leather goods and fresh farm produce. Hotels and caravan parks in town and the vicinity are convenient for stopovers, and several days can be profitably spent exploring the surrounding countryside. Hiking trails crisscross this scenic area in every direction. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa.