New wave of explorers moving to the Hoedspruit

We explore “downshifting” and compare it to the early explorers.

Why should a man who could earn a steady £200 a year (which was satisfactory money in 1890) in the more civilized districts of the “Transvaal” want to risk death from malaria or blackwater fever in an area where the climate was almost unbearably hot in summer and where there were no amenities whatever?

The early settlers who moved to the Lowveld, “below the berg” were men who were tough and adventurous with stout-hearted wives. Most of those who answered the call were sturdy individuals, many of them what we would call “characters”. They took the hardships of their lives, the frequent illnesses and the encounters with wild animals as part of the price they had to pay for a measure of independence.

Had these men been content to sit at desks earning a monthly salary? Not on your life! They had taken their courage in both hands and gone into the wilds, braved all sorts of hardships in order to achieve wealth and a better life, following in the footsteps of people like Cecil Rhodes, Herman Eckstein, J.B Philips, Lionel Phillips and Carl Hanau. Some came for gold, others for a farm, a wagon and a gun – this was what all the young men needed to live a care-free life. They could combine the growing of cash crops with hunting and prospecting and call no man their master. Well, at least that’s what most of them thought.

Because of their comparative isolation and the real hardships they had to endure they had become almost a race apart, a band of pioneers whose courage has never been questioned. It is true to say of those who had come there with the intention of making their homes below the berg that, once they had settled down, they learnt to love the Lowveld. Few of them were ever to leave it in later years.

Today we find a new round of explorers coming to live “in the bush”. Conditions are somewhat easier. Malaria and Blackwater Fever are the exception and not the norm. Roads, shops, airports and air-cons have made life easier. However these explorers are still courageous, giving up corporate careers behind an office desk to follow a dream. They have the challenge of making a living and unlike the early explorers when land was cheap, large tracks of land are expensive. For some it means running a game lodge, for others it’s photography, film-making or art. The early band of explorers were tough and physical, while the new band is intelligent, educated and entrepreneurial. For a lucky few they have made their fortunes and are looking for a better lifestyle. Once here they see opportunities where others have overlooked them. For many others coming to the Lowveld, that are looking to make a living, Hoedspruit has grown quickly over ten years and the signs are good that it will continue. This band of modern explorers are bringing with them new ideas and knowledge and that is being translated into new economic opportunities. The internet has opened up many new opportunities that means people can live in the bush and earn an income. Others commute between places of work and their homes, like those who work in oil & gas or airline pilots.

As estate agents of the area we get to meet a lot of people coming into the area. Many people are looking to move to Hoedspruit. So what makes it so desirable?

Well the weather is warm. There is nothing better than sitting and enjoying an ice cold beer in a pair of shorts on your private deck under a large Marula tree, listening to the shriek of a woodlands kingfisher in the late afternoon. You can meet friends when you feel social and find peace and quiet when you want to. There is no traffic. With three stop streets on the main road you could almost miss the town if you blink. The nearest township is 30km away, crime is almost non existent. Most home owners on Raptors View (where I live) don’t even lock their doors when they go to town. Sometimes when I phone a property seller in order to set up a viewing, a response that is not uncommon is, “the front door is open” and when it’s a farm, “the key is under a rock at the front gate”.

To live in the bush with all its wildlife is an absolute privilege. Two nights ago, my family and I witnessed wild dogs on a hunt around the house. In the mornings you can awake to a giraffe eating acacia leaves next to the house. There are good schools and Southern Cross Schools located on a Wildlife Estate is the only one of its kind, teaching children respect for the environment, sustainability and with an added emphasis on nature.

So why do I liken the early explorers to the people moving into the town today? Well, the new “immigrants” are here because they want to be here. Many of them could be anywhere in the world, but they have chosen to live here. Things may be tough to start off. Some have started businesses, some have bought businesses. Some have changed careers and some have gone back to old past careers. We have foreigners and locals alike who have moved for a better life. While the early explorers were intrepid the new wave of explores are often down-shifters looking for a better life.
Downshifting is a social behaviour or trend in which individuals live simpler lives to escape from the rat race of obsessive materialism and to reduce the “stress, overtime, and psychological expense that may accompany it.” It emphasizes finding an improved balance between leisure and work and focusing life goals on personal fulfillment and relationship building instead of the all-consuming pursuit of economic success.
Downshifting, as a concept, shares many characteristics with Simple living, but is distinguished, as an alternative form, by its focus on moderate change and concentration on an individual comfort level, a “dip your toes in gently” approach. In the 1990's this new form of Simple living began appearing in the mainstream media and has continually grown in popularity among populations living in industrial societies especially the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.
In Hoedspruit terms, these “down shifters” have the benefit of being closer to nature by living on a wildlife estate, a game reserve or farm with wild animals. We get to enjoy the natural beauty of the area and explore some of its wonders such as the KrugerNatationalPark, BlydeCanyon ,Mariepskop, Olifants and BlydeRiver. We are a day trip away from the forests of Tzaneen and Hazyview, or the Pot Holes of Bourkes Luck. There are lots of hiking trails and outdoor activities that can be enjoyed. These include interactions with animals, hot air ballooning, elephant back safaris, and birding. While the major food retailers are here, we still buy our meat from the Butcher, cut on request and hand pick our vegetables at the grocer, which are grown in the Lowveld. Since we are living in game country and there are less predators across the area than historically, there is a regular supply of sustainable venison. We don’t use the words “organic” as would be regarded as redundancy. The fertile, moist foothills around Tzaneen bring with it a wide array of fresh fruit and vegetables all within an hours drive, that are delivered to our grocer.

The physical dangers and sweat energy needed by the early explorers to the Lowveld, may be thing of the past. This has been replaced by those that have the courage to earn a living in the Lowveld and break away for the modern traps of city living. But despite these challenges more and more people are willing to make these changes. This has resulted in a town that is diverse with people from across South Africa and indeed across the world. However, despite these differences, there runs a common thread. It is the desire to be in better surroundings, build more meaningful relationships and bring more meaning to ones life. And like the early explorers the rewards will be for the brave, the adventurous and those that are able to seize the opportunities.

So, if you think you have the potential to be an explorer or Down Shifter come to Hoedspruit and lets have a chat. Tell us your story. We may be able to put you in contact with the right person, know about an opportunity or be able to find you your dream home!