Dullstroom, also known as Emnothweni, is a small town situated along the R540 Regional Route in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa.
The town lies approximately 35 km north of Belfast and 53 km south-west of Lydenburg (Mashishing) on the R540 road. Dullstroom also lies about 55.7 km from the small agricultural town of Stoffberg via the R33 Provincial Route.
Dullstroom is part of Emakhazeni Local Municipality under the Nkangala District Municipality in Mpumalanga province. The town is home to the Black township of Sakhelwe.
The town features the highest railway station in South Africa at 2,077 metres (6,814 feet) above sea level, as well as at the foot of De Berg, the highest point in the province at 2,332 metres (7,651 feet). Dullstroom’s location on the Highveld plateau is the reason its climate differs significantly from that of the surrounding areas.
Given its altitude at 2100m above sea level, it is the highest village in South Africa and has become a very popular training base for top European athletes during the summer months.
This charming village nestled in the Mpumalanga Highlands is undeniably the most famous of all the Highlands Meander Towns. Dullstroom is a tourist mecca that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and is commonly referred to as ‘Scotland’s Only Outpost in Africa’.
Dullstroom is known for its crystal clear dams, perfect for trout fishing, and popular outdoor activities include not only fly-fishing but also hiking, mountain biking, and an array of other adventure sports. The town also boasts an Ernie Els-designed championship golf course.
Along with Underberg and Barkly East, Dullstroom is one of South Africa’s premier flyfishing destinations.
Culture is abundant here with true culinary experiences. Numerous excellent restaurants, coffee shops, craft-beer brewery, and a world-renowned whiskey bar and eclectic pubs all form part of this relaxed village.
Around a two-hour drive from both Gauteng and Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit), Dullstroom makes up the perfect long weekend retreat for people wanting to escape either the Lowveld heat or the noise and pollution of Gauteng.
Trout has had a huge part to play in this small town’s success. Proclaimed a town by Paul Kruger in 1892 and referred to as the ‘Place of Eternal Mist’ by the first Dutch settlers. Dullstroom had a volatile first few decades, caught in the crossfire between the Boers and the British during the Anglo-Boer war when the town was virtually razed to the ground. It was with the release of trout in 1916 and the further stocking of dams in 1927 that Dullstroom started to make a name for itself in the fishing world and people began to see it as more than just a sleepy village in the mist belt.
Yet it is the mist belt, the high-altitude setting that provides Dullstroom with the cool climate and clean air that make it both a tourist magnet and floral oasis. The town is rich in plant life, with many rare and endemic species being found here including numerous orchids and the exquisite golden Arum lily, as well as the only substantial populations of elm and beech trees. During the spring and summer months the grasslands surrounding the town come alive with an explosion of floral fireworks that turn the green hills into a rainbow of colour. It is also one of the few regions of South Africa where you will find all three species of endangered crane.
The cooler conditions make it a hiker’s paradise, whether you enjoy gentle strolls along the riverbanks or stretching jaunts up rocky escarpments, you will find the most breath-taking scenery while being immersed in the silence and tranquillity of this beautiful location. Dullstroom is a hiking haven no matter the season, or dare I say it the weather, as even during grey sky days when the mist curls its fingers around the landscape the place has its own special magical appeal.
The micro-climate found here also provide the perfect conditions for trout to thrive, making Dullstroom another corner of the ‘Trout Triangle’ and one of the ‘must-visit’ fishing hotspots in South Africa.
Yet there is so much more to Dullstroom than simply flowers and fish. There are the countless fireplaces that visitors find themselves relaxing in front of after a hard day of enjoying themselves. The incredible range of restaurants that will ensure even the fussiest of foodies is satisfied and huge array of artisan shops set in the town’s wonderful 19th and 20th century architecture, each unique, quirky and truly Dullstroom. With bird of prey shows, clay pigeon shooting, horse riding adventures, mountain bike and trail running routes, art galleries and health spas, you could stay a year in Dullstroom and still not run out of activities to do.
