Highlands Meander, Mpumalanga
The Highlands Meander Region of Mpumalanga is situated between the grasslands of the northern section of the Highveld & Cosmos Region and the edge of the escarpment or Panorama Route and Lowveld Regions. It is a scenic area with a number of natural attractions and historic towns, and offers tourists many good reasons to book in for a few days – particularly hikers and fly-fishermen.
Things that come immediately to mind when referring to the Highland Meander Region of Mpumalanga include Long Tom Pass and Trout Fishing in the Belfast, Lydenberg and Dullstroom areas but there are also great hiking trails such as the Num Num Trail, and rock climbing and abseiling at the magnificent Elands River Falls, where you will find the delightfully named hamlets of Waterval Boven (above the waterfall) and Waterval Onder (beneath the waterfall).
The Highlands Meander is known as the Trout Fishing Mecca of South Africa, and many farms and accommodation establishments base their offerings on trout fishing. Dams and rivers are well stocked with Rainbow Trout, which thrive in the area.
This area is at high elevation, and despite being hot and rainy in summer, it is known for its very cold, dry winters. It is also distinguished through some rather odd name parings – for example, there is a trout fishing destination called ‘Lakenvlei’ near the town of ‘Belfast’…and the indigenous name for Waterval Boven is Emgwenya – or ‘Place of the Crocodile’.
Take a cue from the name of the area, and even if you just driving through from Gauteng on your way to the Kruger National Park, give yourself some time to ‘meander’.
Related Articles
