Hoedspruit Safari Town Essentials: Where We Shop, Eat, and Unwind in Hoedspruit

One of the reasons I fell in love with Hoedspruit is its small-town 'safari" charm.  This is not the kind of place where you’ll find big malls or anonymous chain stores.  Instead, Hoedspruit is all about owner-run cafés, quirky little shops, local butchers who know you by name, and restaurants that feel more like friends’ homes than businesses.  It’s exactly the kind of town you want to base yourself in if you’re staying in a bush villa in Hoedspruit or looking at long-term safari villa rentals.

Here are some of our favourite spots.  The places we shop, eat, and unwind whenever we’re in town.

Coffee & Breakfast Spots

• Arugula Café:  A great place for breakfast.  The omelette is my favourite.  There is a massive viewing deck which overlooks the Drakensberg Mountains with the kind of view that makes you slow down and sip your coffee a little longer.

• Huegah Coffee:  A bespoke local roaster.  These guys put loads of effort into choosing their beans and getting their roasting spot on.  I have it on good authority that they also supply the cafés in Hoedspruit town.  If you’re serious coffee, this is your spot for a "grab-and-go".

• La Baguette:  A newer French-style bakery on the Zandspruit Valley boulevard, perfect for fresh breakfast croissants or a cheeky pain au chocolat.

  
  

  

  The panoramic view from Arugula's rooftop seating area.

Eating Out in Hoedspruit

• Thirsty Giraffe:  A little outside town, but worth the short drive.  Rustic setting, cold beers, and probably the best chicken pregos and espetadas you’ll ever taste.  Consistently good, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to meet their resident donkey.

• Hoedspruit Padel:  Not just a great place to play padel or pickleball (coming soon!).  They also have the best burgers in town.  They juicy, generous, and always spot-on.

• Sleepers Railway:  A Hoedspruit institution.  This old railway station turned pub serves hearty schnitzels and pub grub.  Lively in the evenings and great for a casual night out.

• Kalimambo:  Don’t be followed by the appearance, this place is the real deal.  Best curry in Hoedspruit.  Their chicken korma is our guilty pleasure.  We often grab a takeaway to enjoy back at Little Leadwood.

Braai (BBQ) Provisions

• Fat Frank’s Butchery:  Our number one stop when we arrive in town.  Their biltong and droëwors are legendary, and will not last long in your bushveld villa.  They also have top quality cuts of meat.

• Le Bamba:  The one and only.  A local grocery store known for its fresh produce. They supply many of the lodges, so you know the quality is good.

Places to Unwind

• Karuna Day Spa:  A beautiful day spa where you can book massages, facials, and treatments. They even offer in-villa spa sessions, which is such a treat.

• Africology Spa: Another favourite. Relaxed, welcoming, and brilliant therapists.

• Hoedspruit Farmers Market:  Held at the Farm House in Zandspruit Estate from 7:30am to 1:00pm on the first Saturday of every month.  Wonderful local produce, food, and curios.

Part of what makes Hoedspruit special is that it still feels personal.  When you stay in a villa in Hoedspruit (whether at Leadwood Estate or the more commercialised Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate),  you’re not just visiting a safari town.  You’re living like a local, getting your biltong from Fat Frank’s, your coffee from Huegah, and your Friday night curry from Kalimambo.

That’s why we think Hoedspruit is the perfect base for long-term safari villa rentals or a private safari villa stay.  It’s got everything you need, but it never loses that raw authenticity that makes life here so addictive.