23/09/2016
South Africans celebrate Heritage Day by remembering the heritage of our many cultures.
“It’s a fantastic thing, a very simple idea. Irrespective of your politics, of your culture, of your race, of your whatever, hierdie ding doen ons saam. Here is one thing that can unite us irrespective of all of the things that are trying to tear us apart.” – Desmond Tutu, patron saint of Braai Day
Baobabs, bushveld and the town that almost wasn’t
Hoedspruit, a home to lose your heart to
Sitting under a sapphire blanket of blinking stars round the crackle of orange flame and the giggles of the Spotted Hyenas teasing the King of the Jungle in the distance is not just an idea for a vacation for the residents of Hoedspruit – it is a daily reality. As South Africa readies itself to get the coals and wors ready for Heritage Day, let’s explore the rich and detailed tapestry that is the town of Hoedspruit that had it not been for fortune, might have been known as Berlin.
Where to start when detailing its rich smorgasboard of cultures, customs and community? Perhaps at the beginning. Traversing the border of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, although falling under the province of Limpopo, this town occupies a scenic spot where the escaprment greets the sky and you have the Blyde River Canyon, the world’s third largest canyon, in your neighbourhood. At any time the grasslands around the Blyde River Canyon consist of more than 1 000 flora species, some not found anywhere else in the world, and some rare or endangered and Hoedspruit is your home, this is where you hang up your hat. Not bad for a “small” town.
Hoedspruit was established when Origstad became over populated in the 19th Century and the Settlers decided the younger- and new settlers would have to set themselves up elsewhere. A number of them established farms between the Blyde River and the Zandspruit River. The original Hoedspruit farm was just one such settlement established by Dawid Johannes Joubert and it was an extensive and vast farm. When a border dispute erupted between the Republic of South Africa and Mozambique, then president Oom Paul Kruger commissioned land surveyors from Europe to come and mark and map the boundries not only between the two countries but to formalise those of the farms along the Drakensburg. Larger farms like Hoedspruit were divided into smaller farms albeit with the one farmer running them all. These surveyors gave the divided portions European names being that this is what they were familiar with. Land surveying done, the farms got on with establishing themselves. After the Anglo-Boer war in 1910, five farms were selected to host stations for the Selati Railway and Hoedspruit was one of the chosen. In a weird twist though the train operator misjudged his directions to drop the building material for the Hoedspruit Station at the the third bend by the large Knobthorn. The station was built on the spot, however it was on the farm Berlin, not Hoedspruit. With towns springing up around their local train stations in those days, Hoedspruit could be in a very different location today or we would be writing about Berlin.
Officially established in 1869, Hoedspruit remained a small community until recent years where visitors and tourists have lost their hearts to the bush and returned to call this town their home. Happy to share their streets with Warthogs in search of a graze while enjoying magnificent views of the Drakensberg Mountains. While the town continues to grow, it very much retains the sense of community lost in the sprawling mega-cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town. The theme song for the 1980’s hit series Cheers, “Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go, where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came,” could have been written for the local folk of Hoedspruit. The residents work hard to keep the town beautiful and have numerous projects on the go to improve the lifestyle for all. With its diverse natural fauna and flora, eco-tourism is vital to the town’s human and animal residents and there are many reserves, animal rehabilitation centers, lodges and holiday resorts to visit. In fact, Hoedspruit is in the center of the largest privately owned conservation area in the world and its residents all work together to keep the natural balance. Holidaymakers don’t have go far from the town (less than 1km) to be fully ensconced in a true African safari experience and rubbing shoulders with Africa’s Big-5 as well as plains game and an abundance of bird life. With many farms offering sectional or fractional title ownership, investors have the opportunity to carve out a slice of their own African dream without huge cost. Of course there are also huge tracts of reservations and farms that are sold too, but you will need a considerably larger budget to do this. Hoedspruit offers a real estate solution to suit anyone and everyone.
You can take full advantage of sundowners with a blazing orb sinking ever lower in the sky to the distinctive cry of the Nightjar. Taking in the cooler air while awaiting the emergence of the nocturnal day-sleepers for game viewing. Pack a tasty picnic and set off to the hide for some bird watching or have one under the Acacias that decorate the landscape and are favored spots for the Hornbill to watch you back. When we said Hoedspruit caters for all, we truly meant it. Some of the estates offer up dams and rivers where you can take on the local bass or trout.
If fishing is perhaps more active than you had planned on being, head off to one of the many, luxurious spa’s and pamper yourself in one of South Africa’s most idyllic locations. The town itself is also host to shopping centers, restaurants and any other amenity you may think you will miss from the “bigger” cities – even its own airport that offers daily flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
This wonderful town set amongst the Baobab and bush, with its rich complexity of true bushveld living combined with the subdued modernity of a city, presents a charm so authentic and unique, you will be hard pressed to leave it. If you do return home, you will be longing to hurry back to the little town that nearly wasn’t. We wish you a wonderful Heritage Day.
