Nelspruit

Nelspruit is a city in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, and serves as the provincial capital. The city was officially renamed Mbombela in 2009, though the name Nelspruit remains in common use. It is situated in the fertile Crocodile River valley in the north-eastern part of the country, approximately 110 km west of the Mozambique border and 330 km east of Johannesburg. Nelspruit has a population of about 110,000 in the city proper, with the greater municipal area exceeding 600,000 residents. The city functions as an important commercial and agricultural hub for the Lowveld region, with industries including citrus farming, subtropical fruit production, forestry and tourism. Its strategic location makes it a gateway to the Kruger National Park and neighbouring countries including Mozambique and Eswatini. Nelspruit is home to the Mbombela Stadium, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and serves as a transport hub with road and rail links to major centres. The city's economy benefits from its role as a service centre for surrounding mining, agriculture and tourism operations. Nelspruit was founded in 1895 by three brothers who established a farm on the banks of the Crocodile River, and it developed rapidly as a trading post and administrative centre for the eastern Transvaal.