Hazyview travel guide

Hazyview lies on the banks of the Sabie River in the hot Lowveld country on the south- western border of Kruger, surrounded by banana plantations. The town is a convenient stop on the way to Kruger, and is only 16 km to Numbi Gate and 10 km to Phabeni Gate. There is a wide range of accommodation from caravan parks to luxury private game reserves, useful if you’d rather not stay in the park itself. Information is available from Big 5 Reservations Perry’s Bridge Trading Post, Main Rd, T013-737 8191, www.big5 country.co.za, Mon-Sat 0800-1700, Sun 0800-1300, which acts as an agent for a range of tour operators and safari lodges in the region.

Elephant Sanctuary Hazyview on the R536, 5km from Hazyview towards Sabie, T013-737 6609, http://www.elephantsanctuary.co.za, 0800-1700, elephant walks R450, children (4-14) R225, walks and elephant-back riding R750, children (8-14) R375, is run by the same outfit that established the elephant sanctuaries on the Garden Route and Hartbeespoort Dam . It recently opened here with two elephants, though they may add to this number. Pre-booking is advised as activities start at certain times. The Trunk-in-Hand experience is a 1½-hour interaction with the elephants, including a walk through the bush holding on to their trunks, an informative talk on African elephants and an optional 20-minute elephant ride. Visitors can also brush down the elephants and accompany them to their stables at the end of the day. Check out the website for the programmes and times.

The Shangana family that lives in the Shangana Cultural Village on the R535, 5km from Hazyview towards Graskop, T013-737 5805, http://www.shangana.co.za, 0900-1600, tea garden, 1-hr tour, R90, tour and lunch R195, evening festival R310, children (under 12) ½-price, are descendents of Chief Shoshangana, an important tribal leader in the early 19th century. This is not a typical ‘tribal village’ experience as the family are keen to preserve their traditional lifestyles. One hour tours take place throughout the day and follow a path from the Marula Market (a cut-above-the-rest curio market) to the village, and a guide explains traditional practices such as farming, food preparation, hut building and clothing, and there is plenty opportunity to interact with the family members. On the midday tour a traditional lunch is included, and in the evening a festival dinner is served and the history of the Shanganas is presented by singers and dancers, which begins with drumming and a procession of flaming torches. The food is quite delicious; crocodile in groundnut sauce, baked vegetables, salads, venison and oxtail stews and fresh fruit....read more