Hoedspruit, gateway to the various game lodges, the Timbavati Game Reserve and the Kruger Nationl Park , was laid out in 1869.
Hoedspruit is one of the countrys premier eco-tourist destinations for visitors to game lodges and private reserves. Abutting the Kruger National Park, the town is unsurprisingly surrounded by beautiful, game-rich countryside and is imbued with a distinctive rural charm.
Tourism facilities centre around Game Lodges, Safaris and other "Big 5" activities as well as birding, hikes, and safaris.
The Lowveld, world-famous for its big game, is also home to considerably more than half of the total species of southern African birds.
Hoedspruit is the junction where the 60km branch railway line from the mining town of Phalaborwa joins the Kaapmuiden-Soekmekaar line. The airforce base near Hoedspruit was transformed to the civilian Eastgate Airport to provide quick access to the various game reserves.
