Nelspruit (Mbombela) was one of the nine host cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The city is situated is situated in Mpumalanga Province. In my humble opinion it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the country. It’s actually bigger than you think…
Here are 17 Interesting facts about Nelspruit (Mbombela)
1. Nelspruit was proclaimed as a town in 1905 by three brothers of the Nel family who grazed their cattle around the site during the winter months.
2. According to a 2022 census Nelsparta has a population of over 818,000 people.
3. The city has 2 airports, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to the North East and the general aviation Nelspruit Airport to the South West. Kruger Mpumalanga is used for scheduled flights to Johannesburg and less frequently to Cape Town and other cities.
4. During the Boer War (1899 – 1902) the then town served briefly as the seat of government for the South African Republic (Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek).
5. The Mbombela Stadium was newly built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament is situated 6 km from the city and has seating capacity for 43,500 people.
6. In 1884, railway engineers met the Nel brothers and named the stream where they met “Nel’s Spruit”. The brothers also helped dispel tsetse fly myths about the area, which influenced where the railway went.
7. The city is a major stopover point for tourists traveling to the Kruger National Park and to Mozambique.
8. The Lowveld botanical gardens just outside the city boasts a rare collection of plant species and the first man-made rain forest.
9. The Sudwala Caves (near Nelspruit) is a system of caves over 30 kilometres in length of which only 600 metres is accessible. The caves are carved into dolomite rock that’s around 2.5 to 3 billion years old,
10. Nelspruit is part of the Mbombela local municipality. The city was actually renamed to Mbombela in 2009. Mbombela means “lots of people together in a small place”.
11. The city serves as an agricultural hub, producing citrus fruits, bananas, and subtropical fruits like avocados and mangos. It’s also important for its timber industry due to the nearby plantations.
12. Nelspruit has a subtropical climate, with hot summers (average high of 29°C) and mild winters (average high of 23°C). The area experiences significant rainfall during the summer months.
13. After the 2009 rename, the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism approached the High Court to challenge the decision. During the World Cup, the city’s marketing manager said “Nelspruit” would still be used.
14. Of the five new 2010 stadiums, Mbombela was the only one wholly South African designed and had the lowest cost per seat. Its roof is giraffe-inspired, and 94% of seats are under roof.
15. The city is the birthplace of two 2019 Rugby World Cup winners, Faf de Klerk and Duane Vermeulen.
16. Homo habilis sheltered there about 1.8 million years ago, and the Boers stored ammunition there during the South African War, with a legend of hidden gold that was never found. The main chamber, P.R. Owen Hall, is about 70 m across and 37 m high, and no one has found the source of the fresh air that keeps it at a constant 17°C.
17. Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport began operations in October 2002.
Well, there you have it, 17 facts that you might not have known about Nelspruit. If you learned something today, feel free to share this article with your friends.
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