More on Dullstroom

I just had to say more about Dullstroom. Have you booked yet? Let me give you more reasons to do so!

We stayed in the elegant Critchley Hackle hotel. It overlooks dream inspiring trout filled lakes with a truly relaxed, rustic atmosphere. Spoil yourself - book one of the tower rooms! Double bed large enough even for me with a fireplace in the bedroom. You even get a private patio although admittedly in winter the fireplace is THE place to be. Dullstroom isn't the coldest town in South Africa for nothing you know.

Tried my hand at a spot of the old fly fishing, both at Critchley hackle and at Elandskloof, about 15 km out of town on the way to Machadodorp. It normally doesn't take very long before you find yourself immersed in an epic battle with a rainbow. Ahh, the sound of a screaming reel, the splash as it jumps, how much more fun could you possibly ask for.

The hotel itself serves delicious meals. Mouthwatering to the point where you might just start looking really foolish. Do try it. No, not the mouth water part, the food! Or put on your warmest jacket and brave the cold for the world's best pancakes! Yes, Harry's Pancakes draws crowds from near and far. It is just so mouthwateringly good. Do you prefer it flat, sweet or filled with something savoury? You'll get it here! When in Dullstroom, you need to spoil yourself at least once. Or twice. Or a lot of times!

Feeling adventurous? Take a 7km drive out of Dullstroom on the Kruisfontein road to Valleispruit. Here you can test your clay pigeon and trap shooting skills or play modern day Robin Hood with a bow. Great fun! Even better if one can actually hit something of course! Well, there's always good wine afterwards. After a couple, the misses become hits, the hits become bullseye's and suddenly you are the BEST shot ever, with only your level of intoxication between you and an olympic gold medal.

Spend some time talking to the locals. Meet them in the Dullstroom Inn. An interesting lot indeed! Enjoy a hearty meal and a draught beer or some fine wine in front of a roaring fireplace. What a nice way to spend an evening.

If you are interested in architecture, you will find many delights in Dullstroom. An interesting mix of 19th and 20th century designs to keep you busy.

It also offers a host of different shops for the browsers amongst us. From linenware, gifts and bathroom items, to REAL mampoer if you're brave enough, to trout pies and hand painted glassware and beautiful art pieces.

And the best part of it all is that it is only a 2 hour drive from Pretoria and Johannesburg. Ideal for a weekend breakaway or even just a day trip to enjoy Dullstroom's delights. Try it and get hooked.

Till next time, keep travelling!

Dullstroom Delights

Well friends and fellow travellers, here I am back in the rat race. Just back from a long weekend in that wonderful, relaxed little hamlet called Dullstroom. Correction -that wonderful, relaxed, COLD little hamlet called Dullstroom! Is it just me, or does normal winter woolies seem to be less effective when confronted with real cold?

Now here's a lesson for you - if you are going to Dullstroom in the winter, be sure to take lots of warm clothes. And lots of red wine. Trust me, you will need it. The other side of the coin is of course a lot more positive. All the good things that keeps calling me back to Dullstroom. The first, and in winter, most important one, is that the accommodation all boasts either heaters or in most cases, real fireplaces!

So, let's have a look at what makes this trip worth every single penny. Quite a couple of things to be entirely honest. The local inhabitants are for the most part, friendly and nice and strive to make you feel right at home. Having stayed in quite a couple of different accommodations in the past, I have yet to encounter one that I would not recommend. However, I dont want to waste time talking about accommodation per se, rather to give you my personal opinion of why you should make time to go to Dullstroom! You should, however, make your reservations soon! So, on to the good things.

Dullstroom is very relaxed and laid back, especially in the week. Over the past couple of years it has really exploded into a very popular destination and stop-over for local visitors and tourists alike, so on weekends, be prepared to have to go outside to change your mind. They are everywhere, exactly like the bad guys in a really bad Jean-Claude van Damme movie. Not that I can blame them, but admittedly it was better - for me in any case - BEFORE the rush started and everybody and his dog became Dullstroom Junkies.

Still, you don't go there to run around! You go there to unwind, to relax. You go there to sleep in, to eat good food, to fly fish if so inclined, and to sit quietly and read a good book. Something wise maybe, by Khalil Gibran. And to have good conversations and share a few laughs.

And of course, Dullstroom is for lovers. For romantics. You can't help it, it just brings it out in you. Imagine sharing a spot in front of the fireplace with your loved one, enjoying the soft glow of a crackling log fire, relaxing in it's soothing heat whilst enjoying each other's closeness and company, sharing a quiet giggle. Bliss!

Maybe you are a lover of good wine to boot? So you could be treating yourself to something really good, like a 2002 Pessac-Leognan from Chateau Seguin in France's Bordeaux region. Such a remarkable red wine, smooth and well built with a good fruit complex, even if it is still just a little bit closed. Given 3 or so years, it will leave a great deal of fruit as the tannins fade. Order some, you will love it. Just make sure you have some handy for your next Dullstroom trip.

See you there soon!

Travel Information on various South African hot spots

I am the wanderer - visiting and wandering all over South Africa in order to bring info on various hot spots in this beautiful sunny country.

As I continue moving through all the nice places, I will keep you updated on what's happening where and where to stay, what to do, where to eat (how much you eat is up to you) and so forth.

So, without further ado, I am on my way to warm and sunny climates and beautiful settings - watch this space for updates.

Till next time