A Countryside Meander 4 Star (3 Days) COU002

Three hours from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport, and situated in South Africa’s beautiful Mpumalanga Province, is a place deep within a magnificent forest commonly referred to as ‘Scotland’s Only Outpost in Africa’ or ‘the Place of Eternal Mist’. On the map, it’s called Dullstroom. Despite its widespread appeal, the quaint village of Dullstroom still has its own calm, distinctive, and singular atmosphere. The area is known for its excellent fishing opportunities. In fact, the town is the unofficial capital of the piscatorial sport in South Africa. It’s taken so seriously that bait fishing and spinning is not allowed. Dullstroom marks the source of the Crocodile River and is home to other major tributaries providing excellent river and still water fishing as their streams and dams are stocked with both rainbow and brown trout. If fishing isn’t your thing, some dams, thankfully, allow float tubes.

The area’s sub-alpine climate, abundant wildflowers, rare mammals and 3 endangered crane species, not to mention its fresh country air, make hiking through the surrounding areas an unforgettable experience. The three most popular trails are the Ama Poot-Poot, the Num Num and the Elangeni Hiking Trail. The Verloren Valei, a closed reserve north-east of Dullstroom, is the source of 4 rivers making it a wetland of international importance. Because it is so special it can only be visited by appointment or on one of the Friends of Verloren Valei field trips.

If staying in town is more your scene, exploring the original architecture, quaint stores, artisan shops, art galleries and spas which line Dullstroom’s main street is a delightful way to spend a day.

At 6,814 feet above sea level, Dullstroom has the highest railway station in South Africa. Two festivals you may enjoy are the Ducktobeer Beer Fest and the Dullstroom Winter Festival in July. Dullstroom serves as a convenient stopover for visitors on the way to or from the Lowveld and Kruger Park.

It’s a passion born from the time spent waiting for a fish to bite, a love fed by spending days alone outdoors and the sense of satisfaction that arises when reeling in a record-breaking trout.

Whether you’re a beginner learning how to tie a Royal Coachman or a long-time fisherman perfecting your dry fly-fishing technique, you’ll enjoy Dunkeld Country & Equestrian’s high-quality fly-fishing environment.

Dullstroom is recognised as South Africa’s premier fly-fishing destination and Dunkeld – with its 19 well-stocked still water dams – gives visitors the chance to experience this for themselves. Trout were introduced into the area in the 1900s because the cool waters and climate provided ideal conditions. Stocked with Rainbow Trout, Dunkeld offers enthusiasts the chance to spend time in pursuit of the perfect catch.

Our trail centre horses are well trained and trustworthy, giving even the most novice rider the confidence to enjoy a ride in the Dullstroom countryside. Our Equestrian Centre is a popular destination for short weekend riding workshops for the more experienced rider.

Learn more about this exciting operation that keeps our dams stocked and supplies the northern hemisphere with 60 million live trout eggs!

Overview
Meet the five giants ambling towards you in the cool of the early morning. The elephants know they’re in for a treat as you’ll get to share their favourite cubes with them and then indulge them with a brush down. It’s during times like these that you’ll really see how deep the relationship between these amazing creatures and their handlers goes. Meander with the elephants as they enjoy their breakfast ramble and meal. End the morning as five of the gentlest creatures you’ll ever meet enjoy a swim in the dam and will have plenty of incredible photo-ops.

About Elephant Whispers
There is no other place for African elephants except the wild, and Elephant Whispers is no exception. The five elephants which make up the small herd at Elephant Whispers each have their own individual quirks and distinctive personalities and the incredible bond between each other, and the team of humans who have dedicated their lives to caring for them, is incredibly moving and humbling. This amazing place is called Elephant Whispers because of its founder, one of the world’s truly unique people, Zimbabwean Rory Hensman. When he acquired two young orphaned elephants, Jumbo and Miss Ellie, he soon realized elephants are incredibly intelligent and responsive to human interaction. Soon those who were critical of his unique methods which proved African Elephant didn’t need to be tamed by means of submission were stunned. His patience, trust and respect earned Rory the title of ‘Elephant Whisperer’. As a result of his loving care, which he taught to the team, the elephants at Elephant Whispers now feel so safe and cared for that they generously extend their warmth towards guests. As they have only ever been shown kindness and love, all five elephants are completely safe for humans of all ages and even disabilities. The largest and oldest elephant in the herd is 34-year-old Tembo. Standing over 11 feet high, this gentle giant, and protector of his herd, towers over humans and the other elephants. The youngest member of the herd is 17-year-old Lindiwe who stands nearly 9 feet tall.

The Code of Ethics at Elephant Whispers
Elephant Whispers runs on a strict code of ethics. The welfare and emotional health of the elephants is of paramount importance to the team. Elephant Whispers’ goal is their safety, health and contentment. As a result, the animals’ gentle nature is respected as is the dynamics of the herd. And method of interaction which involves ‘breaking the animals’ spirit is considered animal brutality at its worst and is not engaged in at all. Instead a bi-lateral ‘ask and reward’ technique, based on mutual respect, is the only approved way of working with the elephants at Elephant Whispers. The elephants are never chained. Their movement is not restricted in any way. In fact, if the elephants wanted to wander off into the bush and not return, they can. The elephants stay at Elephant Whispers out of choice. Their dignity is respected at all times and will never be trained to behave in undignified or ‘theatrical’ ways. Time spent with guests is limited. Roaming freely, feeding and interacting with each other is most important. Breeding isn’t undertaken at Elephant Whispers and the male, Tembo, is given a six-monthly GNRH vaccine to prevent pregnancies.

Adopt an Elephant
What a precious gift, for yourself or for someone else – being part of one elephant’s life for a year! Adopt one, or more of the herd, contribute to their care, and get access to your elephant’s Facebook page, an adoption certificate and profile, regular updates on your elephant as well as a voucher for 2 to visit Elephant Whispers.

Community Involvement
Elephant Whispers is also very involved with the community. Entokozweni Crèche, Alexandria Lower Primary School and Rindzani High School as well as the Hosanna Community Projects and Hospice have all benefitted from the generosity of Elephant Whispers in one way or another and continue to do so. Children with cancer have, thanks to the Rotary Club’s Camp Quality have had an encounter with the herd which brings a measure of joy to their lives. Then there are those people who have been blind from birth and have no ‘picture’ in their mind of the sheer size, power, and distinctive physical characteristics of the majestic African Elephant. A guided ‘touch experience’ with the elephants opens up a whole new word for them.

Research for Elephant Health and Safety
Dr Kruger with students from the University of Western Kentucky in the USA is conducting ways to help local communities live with wild elephants, especially when it comes to crop safety, and the herd at Elephant Whispers is part of his research team. Another part of his research is the vital role elephants play in seed dispersal.

Taking the ‘Panorama Route’ in South Africa means falling head long into an immersive adventure. The Panorama Route is steeped in history, famous natural land formations, incredible waterfalls, caves and canyons. Set deep in the Mpumalanga Province, it is centred around the Blyde River Canyon. There is no other canyon like it in the world and is uniquely African. It is the third largest canyon in the world and is exceptional for being the largest forested canyon in the world. The views from the rim are spectacular. They seem to stretch forever filled with waterfalls, wildlife and of course the indigenous forest nearly 3000 feet below. The forest is home to an enormous diversity of wildlife, from fish and other water inhabitants such as crocodiles and hippos, antelope species and every primate species South Africa has. Among the many species of birds found here is the beautiful and much sought Narina trogon, a bird named after the mistress of French ornithologist François Levaillant. And when you hear the haunting cry of the African fish eagle, you’ll have heard the heart of Africa.

The area was once home to mysterious civilizations whose presence is only felt through the hollow terracotta sculptures dating back to 500AD which they left behind. These are known as the Lydenburg Heads. Many of the small towns found along the route, such as Pilgrim’s Rest- a small museum town, was created as a result of the gold rush of the late 1880s. The village holds the National Gold Panning Championships every year.

Famous for its many mountain passes, the panorama route has a number of viewing spots revealing the different faces of this amazing location. Among them are the views to God’s Window, the Lowveld Viewpoint, the Pinnacle Rock view, and the view of the Three Rondavels.

Famous for its many mountain passes, the panorama route has a number of viewing spots revealing the different faces of this amazing location. Among them are the views from the Lowveld Viewpoint, the Pinnacle Rock view, the Three Rondavels, and of course, God’s Window.

A steep footpath cum stairway leads heaven-ward from the car park. At the edge of the escarpment a boardwalk meanders through the peaceful rainforest. Moss covered trees, little streams, and boulders lead the way to the highest and most inspiring viewpoint, appropriately called God’s Window. From here you will gaze down across the largest green canyon in the world, the 2nd largest canyon in Africa and the 3rd largest on earth. Sheer cliffs plunge over 3000 feet into canyons that seemingly stretch forever laced with plunging waterfalls, and thick indigenous forest nearly 3000 feet below. The Blyde River Canyon has some of the deepest precipitous cliffs of any canyon on the planet. From God’s Window, this nearly 250km long unbroken rampart of cliffs, it feels as if one can see forever on a clear day. When there are no clouds to obscure the view, you can see over the Kruger National Park towards the Lebombo Mountains on the border with Mozambique. And on an exceptionally fine day, you can see as far as the Indian Ocean 215 miles away.

Lisbon Falls, the highest in this Province are at the centre of Mpumalanga’s Waterfall heart. There are more waterfalls in this region than anywhere else in Southern Africa, and all of them are both beautiful and dramatic. The Lisbon’s crystal-clear waters cascade 300 feet into the canyon below. And they are especially dramatic when see from the footpath where this tributary of the Blyde River crashes to the ground, splitting into two and disappearing into the lush subtropical foliage. Tree ferns, cycads, orchids, lilies and proteas all nestling under the shade of the green canopy of trees, line the banks of the rivers.

In the late 1800s, when gold was discovered in the region, people from all over the world flocked to South Africa. Gold panners from Portugal flocked to the Mpumalanga region. These falls were named after the Portuguese capital.

Before the gold rush of the late 1800s, Tom Burke found himself in the Mpumalanga region of South Africa. He had a feeling the land was rich in gold, so he staked a claim. Although he was right about the region as a whole, his claim, as luck would have it, came up empty. It’s after this unfortunate prospector that Bourke’s Luck Potholes are named. These bizarre natural water features, hewn by centuries of swirling, rushing water and the sand and debris they carried, mark the start of the Blyde River Canyon. Tom Burke might have enjoyed the irony that although he was unsuccessful, the rock formations named in his honour now glisten with ‘gold’ – coins tossed in by others using the huge, cylindrical Holes as natural wishing wells. The Bourke’s Luck Potholes are otherworldly and dramatic. So much so that Frommer's 500 describe them as one of the places your kids should see before they grow up. Sitting at the confluence of the Treur, ‘the river of sorrow’ and Blyde, ‘the river of joy’, this abstract art of a geological phenomenon is famous for its giant’s kettles, potholes, smooth-sided cylinders, intricate network of tunnels, lines, rock layers and dark plunge pools. It’s a 700m walk to the potholes. A walk consisting of a network of pathways and metal footbridges which take you right above the potholes. Other walkways that go around the ridges open out different views of one of the most popular natural attractions in South Africa. They mark the start of the Panorama Route around the Blyde River Canyon.

Depending on which way you travel the Panorama Route, the Three Rondavels either start or end your journey. Together with God's Window and Bourkes Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels are three of the most famous natural wonders of the largest green canyon in the world. Over millennia, the softer stone around the more resistant quartzite and shale sections have been eroded away, leaving these three towers behind. There are actually 4 sections of free-standing quartzite and shale, but only 3 have the iconic conical tops. Together these formations with their forested summits are also known as the Chief and His Three Wives. The Chief, the flat topped peak next to the rondavels is called Mapjaneng. It is named after the Chief who opposed invading forces from Swaziland in a battle still remembered to this day. His wives, Magabolle, Mogoladikwe and Maseroto after whom the three other formations are named, were troublesome women to say the least. So, why are they known as the Three Rondavels? A rondavel is a traditional circular African dwelling with a conical thatched roof - which is exactly what they resemble. It may also be to avoid confusion with another trio of rock formations far to the South in the Northern Cape known as the Three Sisters.

From the lookout point, the view of the Blyde River Canyon across the Three Rondavels is breath-taking and is widely considered the best in South Africa. The fact that it looks like a Lost World may have something to do with it.

If you were looking for a lost world, the Blyde River Canyon would be a perfect fit. The 35-mile long, 30 000 hectare, Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is the largest green canyon in the world, the 2nd largest canyon in Africa and the 3rd largest on earth. It has some of the deepest precipitous cliffs of any canyon on the planet. Sheer cliffs plunge over 3000 feet to the valley below. From this nearly unbroken rampart of cliffs it feels as if one can see forever. It’s not surprising then that one of the most famous views is called God’s Window. It’s possible to see over the Kruger National Park towards the Lebombo Mountains on the border with Mozambique. On a clear day, you can see as far as the Indian Ocean 215 miles away.

The canyon hosts the world’s highest cable gorge swing - freefalling 230 feet at 87 mph in under 3 seconds. Once in the valley, it’s 400 steps back to the top, but for a moment you’d be forgiven for thinking you could hear angels!

There are a number of iconic landforms in the canyon, from the Three Rondavels, the Weeping Face of Nature, Bourke’s Luck Potholes to Pinnacle Rock, not to mention the highest concentration of waterfalls in the regions, one of which is Lisbon Falls.

Its southerly position is what gives the canyon its green fame. Among the lush subtropical foliage, a large diversity of life dwells in and under the canopy, and in its rivers, including numerous fish, antelope species, hippos and crocodiles. Every species of primate in South Africa calls this place home.

Numerous species of birds, from black eagles to rock kestrels, bald ibis to white-faced owls, golden-tailed woodpeckers to malachite sunbirds enjoy the forested landscape and the vast open skies above the canyon floor.

If you have an adventurous spirit, a love of nature or are a keen photographer, Blyde River Canyon will be a feast of joy

It’s a passion born from the time spent waiting for a fish to bite, a love fed by spending days alone outdoors and the sense of satisfaction that arises when reeling in a record-breaking trout.

Whether you’re a beginner learning how to tie a Royal Coachman or a long-time fisherman perfecting your dry fly-fishing technique, you’ll enjoy Dunkeld Country & Equestrian’s high-quality fly-fishing environment.

Dullstroom is recognised as South Africa’s premier fly-fishing destination and Dunkeld – with its 19 well-stocked still water dams – gives visitors the chance to experience this for themselves. Trout were introduced into the area in the 1900s because the cool waters and climate provided ideal conditions. Stocked with Rainbow Trout, Dunkeld offers enthusiasts the chance to spend time in pursuit of the perfect catch.

Our trail centre horses are well trained and trustworthy, giving even the most novice rider the confidence to enjoy a ride in the Dullstroom countryside. Our Equestrian Centre is a popular destination for short weekend riding workshops for the more experienced rider.

Learn more about this exciting operation that keeps our dams stocked and supplies the northern hemisphere with 60 million live trout eggs!