First Light
26 August 2025
We are a community newspaper based in Hoedspruit, South Africa, that has its bias towards wildlife and conservation. We aim to have local, original, and relevant content that is both thought provoking and educational. We also strive to maintain a high standard of journalism.
We are in the centre of the UNESCO officially ratified, Kruger to Canyons Biosphere. Hoedspruit is generally considered to be the ‘safari capital’ of South Africa, within close proximity to the renowned and famous Kruger National Park, the Blyde River Canyon, the Timbavati, Klaserie and many other private game farms and reserves. Some of Africa’s most luxurious game lodges are also close by.
We invite you to read our publication, access previous editions, provide feedback should you wish, and hopefully we will get you to subscribe. We publish monthly, and generally release our editions on the last Friday of every month.
We hope you enjoy the read and we look forward to welcoming you to Hoedspruit, our community, and our world of wildlife and conservation.
In the heart of Limpopo’s lowveld, where the rhythms of the bushveld meet the pulse of one of South Africa’s most dynamic rural towns, something extraordinary is taking shape. Hoedspruit Private Hospital, a 72-bed state-of-the-art facility, has opened its doors with one clear mission: to transform the standard of healthcare in the region while positioning Hoedspruit as a medical destination of choice in southern Africa.
The dust rose in golden swirls as the convoy of vehicles wound through the warm embrace of the bushveld, sunlight bathing the bush in gold. It was as if nature itself was rejoicing. The air was alive with the sound of rhythmic drumming and joyful voices. Against a crisp blue sky, over 100 guests arrived to celebrate a long-awaited milestone in conservation: the grand reopening of the newly renovated Koru Camp.
The Safari Guide of the Year – an annual event powered by the Field Guides Association of southern Africa (FGASA) – was held recently at Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. This was the first time the event has been held in that province, and it acknowledges and confirms the strides FGASA has made as the golden standard in nature guiding in southern Africa and beyond, more particularly the progress made in the Eastern Cape.
A bold new solution for Africa’s safari industry has arrived. Born in the heart of the bushveld, WildHire is a game-changing platform connecting lodges and tour operators with freelance professionals across Southern Africa – fast, directly, and seamlessly.
Nestled on a mountain top, 1500m above sea level in Chile, the latest great Earth-based telescope system recently captured its first photographs of the cosmos. Astronomers call this First Light.
Who says the bush is only for game drives, bush walks and game viewing? No ways, the Hlokomela Bush Party brings the party to the bush in the most epic way ever.
The Hoedspruit Concerned Rate Payers Association (HCRPA) was formally registered with the CIPC on 4 June 2024 to give ratepayers in Hoedspruit a united voice. And barely a year later, that voice is being tested on multiple fronts – from illegal land occupation to sewage spills, flawed development plans, and failing public transport.
Low-cost carrier FlySafair is excited to announce the launch of a new route connecting Cape Town and Hoedspruit, enhancing access to the central Kruger region and neighbouring Limpopo province. This new service complements the airline’s existing route to Mbombela, offering travellers more options to explore South Africa’s iconic safari destinations.
August is Women’s Month – so let us all take a moment to admire, thank and be grateful for all the wonderful women in our lives. They are the mothers of the earth and without them the world would be a dismal place. Happy Women’s Month to all you women out there.
The dust rose in golden swirls as the convoy of vehicles wound through the warm embrace of the bushveld, sunlight bathing the bush in gold. It was as if nature itself was rejoicing. The air was alive with the sound of rhythmic drumming and joyful voices. Against a crisp blue sky, over 100 guests arrived to celebrate a long-awaited milestone in conservation: the grand reopening of the newly renovated Koru Camp.
Nestled on a mountain top, 1500m above sea level in Chile, the latest great Earth-based telescope system recently captured its first photographs of the cosmos. Astronomers call this First Light.
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