Not many people really consider Hazyview as a key holiday destination, but we think that should change! Why? Well, here are our Top 5 reasons why anyone should include a night or two here.
The Kruger National Park – need I say any more? Hazyview is a mere 15 minute drive from the Phalabeni Gate into the Park, or about an hour tops to the main Paul Kruger Gate, so ideally placed for a day visit on a self-drive safari in this famous Park.
The Kruger National Park is the premier self-drive safari destination in South Africa, with an unbeatable variety of wildlife and habitats to explore, an excellent infrastructure of roads and accommodation, and a feeling of huge, wide-open spaces. Self-drive in Kruger is a wonderful experience – the thrill of driving along a road by yourself and coming across a pride of lions basking under a nearby tree, or waiting at a peaceful waterhole and having a sighting all to yourself is hard to beat. Inside the Park, there is an excellent infrastructure of roads, some of which are tarred, others gravel. Good, clear signposts help to make the driving experience easy and enjoyable.
Panarama Route – the highly promoted ‘Panorama Route‘ is a self-drive route, which can be done from Hazyview in a day, and this route takes in many of the scenic sights, which include:
The Blyde River Canyon – estimated to be 60 million years old, and is over 25 km long and up to 800m wide in places. The Reserve is a spectacularly beautiful area, with many waterfalls, lush forest areas, and fascinating geological formations sculptured by years of erosion.
Bourke’s Luck Potholes – spectacular smooth sided cylindrical potholes have been carved naturally into the rock bed of the river, some of which are 30m (100ft) deep.
The Three Rondavels – an impressive and much-photographed rock formation, which rise out of the canyon.
God’s Window – offering stunning panoramic views over the Lowveld as far as the Kruger National Park.
The traditional villages of Shangana – home to families who invite guests to experience their culture and way of life.
Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre – a sanctuary for injured, abandoned and poisoned birds and other wildlife, and a must for anyone interested in raptors and birds of prey. Wildlife is brought to the centre from all corners of South Africa, and once healthy enough are re-introduced into their natural environments. Animals who cannot be returned to the wild for any reason are cared for at the centre.
Hoedspruit Endangered Species Foundation – this is a unique project that conducts essential research on endangered species, and provides visitors with the opportunity to view animals, such as wild dog and cheetah, that have found a home here within natural surroundings. The tours are an educational experience, but as well also emphasise the important role that everyone has to play in the conservation of South Africa’s wildlife.
And finally, you need a place to stay, so our recommendation is Rissington Inn – a great guest house, that we have worked with now since we very first started Travel Butlers. Just on the outskirts of Hazyview, Rissington is the perfect place to base yourself to explore the area.