Shandon Lodge is one of the jewels in the crown of guesthouses in Nelspruit. Intimate and situated in the picturesque Lowveld in Mpumalanga Province, the picturesque lodge and B&B in Nelspruit offers a gateway for visitors to a host of attractions, including the Kruger National Park, Nelspruit Botanical Gardens, Sudwala Caves, Jane Goodall Institute South Africa, the Queen Rose Hiking Trail, and Chimp Eden Sanctuary. Located on the fringe of Nelspruit, with outstanding views across the Crocodile River Gorge, as a Nelspruit accommodation or Nelspruit Lodge option, Shandon Lodge also offers quick and convenient access to shopping centres and the central business district, so if you have things to do in Nelspruit, this lodge is perfectly situated.

The family-owned Shandon Lodge has established itself as the epitome of warmth and hospitality in the Lowveld over the last 25 years. Under the guidance of its owners the lodge guarantees a steadfast commitment to quality and a true home-away- from- home experience. The establishment boasts various awards from Afristay and Booking.com, but also holds the claim of being the first guest house in Nelspruit as of 1992, opening its doors to the public in 1993.

The property’s style has evolved to blend its original French charm with a fresh, modern twist under new ownership. This unique blend of old and new creates a captivating atmosphere, reminiscent of a quaint European village. Guests are greeted with refined finishes, where classic elegance meets contemporary comfort and hospitality. The serene ambiance and impeccable gardens make it an ideal haven for both business and leisure travellers, who often find themselves returning to experience the tranquillity again. The decorative climbing vines cascading up the walls and trellis of the guest house add to the air of tranquillity.

Shandon Lodge offers 10 luxurious rooms spread across the property, each with their own en-suite bathroom for privacy and convenience. The guest house is split-level, with various rooms enjoying their own quaint private garden and others offering a spectacular scenic view of the surrounding landscape. All rooms are designed to ensure a comfortable stay for all guests, from the discerning businessman to small and large families.

The covered outdoor restaurant area invites guests to soak up peaceful scenery or host business meetings, offering enough space for several groups while still preserving individual privacy. Meals are served until 8 pm, ensuring you can dine at your leisure. Adjacent to the restaurant is a large, beautiful mosaicked open-air swimming pool– perfect for enjoying those warm Lowveld summer days.

The food at Shandon Lodge has risen to that of acclaimed status, with various past guests expressing how impressed they were with the food provided. Shandon Lodge also boasts an impressive wine cellar with a wide variety of select wines for the wine connoisseur in all of us to enjoy with their dinner.

Shandon Lodge is a captivating guest house that has been designed to provide the personal attention to detail that guests expect and deserve. That same attention to detail is the reason why this unique guest house, in the heart of the Lowveld, has stood the test of time.

Whether you are travelling to our small town on business or if you are visiting on holiday, when you choose Nelspruit as your destination, you can look forward to an intriguing experience.

Nelspruit is the capital of Mpumalanga. But that was not always the case. Originally, Nelspruit was a farming community.

Named after the Nel Brothers, who would bring their cattle to the warm Lowveld during the cold winter months, Nelspruit was once the smallest town in the area, a place where travellers would stop only to stock up on a few essentials before passing through to their actual destination.

By the end of the 19th Century, things began to pick up in the town, as the Netherlands-South African Railway Company decided to build what would be called the Eastern Railway. For the first time, Nelspruit started becoming a powerful trade point, what with it being halfway between Johannesburg and the port in Mozambique.

This meant new business opportunities began to flourish, and people started viewing the town as more than just a place to stop off. Nelspruit was starting its new life as a business hub and once gold was found in the area, there was no stopping the growth.

Today, Nelspruit is home to a little over 800,000 people. Those who choose Nelspruit as their home, just as those who choose to have a holiday here, often do so because they have a close connection to nature. A lot of the surrounding areas are still quite wild, and with private game reserves and the Kruger National Park being less than an hour away, it is easy to see why the area is so enchanting.

Although most living and working in the town don’t give much thought to the name, Nelspruit was rebranded not all that long ago.

When looking for Nelspruit accommodation, you might well end up viewing a page that displays Mbombela accommodation, and wonder if you are in the right town. That is because, despite some public disapproval, the town was renamed in 2009.

Even though Nelspruit is now Mbombela, most people still call the town by its old name simply because the name is deeply ingrained in the people. And although businesses and entrepreneurs were concerned that the town might drop out of memory, given its new name, business has carried on as usual.

Mbombela has the distinct honour of being one of the few towns in South Africa that is both a bustling business destination and a tourist hotspot. Its unique location, close to the bush and all the wonders of Africa’s wildlife, while also close to historical towns, makes Mbombela the perfect place to stay if you are looking for a one-of-a-kind holiday.

It is true to say that most people who come to Mbombela, on holiday that is, aren’t exactly hoping to only see Mbombela. This is because, on its own, Mbombela doesn’t really have enough to keep you entertained. But it is a great starting point, because when staying in the town, all sorts of fantastic attractions are just a stone’s throw away.

When staying at our Mbombela guesthouse, there is so much to see and do both in and around the town.

Whether it is a delightful bushveld hike or an afternoon spent exploring an old town or village, most of the best nearby attractions, like these 4 popular places, are no more than a 30-minute drive away.

• Kaapsehoop

With its bohemian vibe and its real village feel, guests travelling to the mountain settlement of Kaapsehoop rarely leave it without at least a small part of themselves being left behind. The mountain is the perfect place for a walk.