[imagesource: YouTube / On Safari with the Owtrams at Antares Bush Camp]

Hoedspruit is still enjoying the presence of Tom Cruise, who has been in South Africa for about two weeks now.

He has been in the small bush town shooting scenes for his next film, Mission: Impossible 8, and has been flying his helicopter in and out to his film location every day with his crew.

Adorably, the local residents have created a little daily routine, waving the Hollywood star off in the morning and welcoming him back after his long day at work.

African Wildlife Adventures shot this video of him arriving after work on February 18, waving happily to his fans, before being escorted back to his lodgings:

That’s a serious crowd gathered there.

Antares Bush Camp and Safaris owner, Mel Owtram, explained more on the situation via Channel24:

“Every morning Tom arrives in a car with his security and film director where he is met by a helicopter…

“Then anytime between 16:30 and 18:30 he returns and lands in the same spot … The people of Hoedspruit gather in anticipation, waiting for his arrival, and the security guards are extremely friendly and chat and even take selfies with the kids.”

Besides being a gracious guest, Tom also seems to have been thoroughly enjoying his Saffa stint.

When he was asked by his adoring Hoedspruit fans if he would live in South Africa, he said he “would love to” adding that “it would be nice to live here permanently”.

Then, when a local teen drew his name surrounded by a heart in the sand, he remarked on how “beautiful” it was and thanked her with his hand to his heart:

After his stint in Hoedspruit, Cruise is apparently set to come to Cape Town to continue filming.

At this point, we all know he will fall even more in love with our country.

[source:channel24]