Fetch your luggage, exit the arrivals hall at Hoedspruit Airport (HDS), and pick up your rental car. Which one you hop into depends on where you’re going. If you’ll be mostly driving in downtown Phalaborwa, around 31 miles from the terminal, choose something zippy and small. A compact car that’s fuel-efficient will be ideal for those busy streets. But with loads of things to see, like the splendid desert landscapes of the surrounding region, you’ll probably be clocking up a few miles. A larger vehicle, like an SUV or a full-size car, will make lengthier road trips a pleasure.