The quaint town of Hoedspruit is small enough to explore on foot, and public transport in the town is very limited. You can also take a guided walking safari through Kruger National Park and there are many places in the surrounding area to take scenic walks and go hiking. 

Kruger National Park is accessible via 4×4 safaris, self-drive safaris, and guided walking safaris.  

The nearest gate to Hoedspruit is the Orpen Gate. The gate is located about 19 miles before town on the R531. Most visitors use this gate to access Kruger National Park from Hoedspruit, and this is where visitors pay their entrance fees. 

The Kruger Park Gates open at 05:30 am from October to March and at 06:00 am from May to September. The gates close at 6:30 pm October to March, and 5:30 May to September. 

The entrance fees to Kruger National Park for non-South African residents is R486 per adult, and R243 per child per day. The entrance fees are paid at the entrance gate you use. 

Hoedspruit is considered a very safe destination to visit with a very low crime rate. Take the necessary precautions when sightseeing, use common sense, and keep your valuables out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas like markets, and tourist attractions. At night stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers. 

There are a few shopping options in and around Hazyview with local souvenir shops, curios, gift shops, shopping centers, malls, and markets to choose from. The Lowveld Shopping Mall is located near the conjunction of R40 and R536 along with a few smaller stores. Lowveld Shopping Mall is the largest shopping center in Mpumalanga boasting over 200 stores that include local and international brands as well as a food court. Hazyview Junction is a lifestyle center nearby that offers visitors retail opportunities, coffee shops, internet cafes, restaurants, a nursery, and a reptile park. 

The official language spoken in Hoedspruit is English, which is widely spoken, especially in the service industry, it is taught in schools and used in government, business, and the media. Many people speak fluent English, especially in hotels and restaurants. There are officially eleven languages in South Africa with Afrikaans being one of the most popular along with English and nine ethnic languages, of which Zulu and Xhosa are the most widely spoken. We recommend getting a good English/African guidebook and learning the basic questions like please, thank you, and numbers 1-10.

Hoedsprit boasts a temperate savanna climate with two main seasons; the wet and the dry seasons. The dry season from May to September is considered the ideal time to visit the area for wildlife viewing when the animals gather around watering holes. The temperatures will be warm during this season with dry, sunny conditions, this time of year is busy with higher prices and high tourist traffic. October and November are transitional periods with mixed weather conditions, it is a quieter and cheaper time of year. The summer runs from October to April with hot, rainy days that are ideal for exploring the bush landscapes and birdwatching activities. 

The currency of Hoedspruit is the South African Rand (ZAR). US dollars are also widely accepted. You will need to exchange your currency for the Shilling, which can be done upon arrival at the airport currency exchange desks or banks and specialized stores called Foreign Exchange Bureaus. ATMs can be found in the city, tipping is discretionary and appreciated, and cash is usually preferred. 

The majority of restaurants in Hoedspruit serve both traditional South African cuisine and European/International dishes. Hoedspruit boasts a diverse range of restaurants in town where visitors can enjoy global cuisine and a fun dining experience. Many restaurants are found on-site at hotels, or camps, and there are some great picnic areas found within the Kruger National Park. The town has plenty to offer when it comes to dining out with everything from upmarket restaurants, to fast food, cozy family-style restaurants, authentic pubs, and cute cafes all serving up delicious food. 

The nightlife in Hoedspruit is pretty low-key, there are a few restaurants, pubs, and bars to enjoy dinner and drinks, but there isn’t much as far as late-night activities.