Badplaas is a tiny resort town situated between Machadodorp and Carolina on the grasslands of Mpumalanga. There is a hot sulphur spring right next to this town at the foot of the Ndlumudlumu hill range. Ndlumudlumu means ‘Place of Much Thunder' in Swazi. The spring near Badplaas was earlier known as Emanzana or healing waters. At present it bubbles out of the ground giving out 30,000 litres of water an hour. It is said that the area around the spring belonged to a Swazi chief who gave it away to Jacob de Clercq in 1876. Jacob de Clercq then built a trading store here.

Belfast is one of the most picturesque locations in South Africa. It is an ideal place for someone who loves being amidst nature and enjoys the outdoors. Situated around 210 kilometres east of Pretoria and near the Drakensberg escarpment it is a popular tourist destination filled with hiking trails, tulip nursery, monuments and lovely gardens.

It is also the perfect place to indulge in fishing and attracts enthusiastic anglers from all over the country as well as the world. The fishing opportunities here are due to the cold rivers, streams and six well stocked dams filled with trout and bass.

Apart from fishing Belfast is also famous for its cattle, dairy and sheep farming and has one of the oldest blue gum plantations in the country, but the most palpable thing you will encounter here is the warmth of the people. Belfast is one of the coldest places in South Africa and yet it exudes a warm and homely atmosphere. This feeling is pervasive in the accommodation available all across the town. You can choose from a variety of options - from well-established self-catering types to guest houses - all of excellent quality.

Belfast is a town with a beautiful locale and also doubles up as a major fishing spot. These two factors make this a great place for families to visit. The quaint architecture and the many monuments also give it an old world feel. With so much beauty all around you're bound to feel fascinated and completely entertained in this perfect holiday destination.

The Bird Of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre is a place promoting a unique and good cause. The Bird Of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre provides knowledge and understanding about the raptor species and highlights their endangered status. This centre, established in 1917, requires public support for their cause and also offers photographic days and flight displays so just drop in and be part of a worthy cause.

Dullstroom is a quaint town with something for every tourist; it promises to be a great romantic getaway, a relaxing family holiday destination as well as the perfect place for a fishing holiday. This place has all the trappings of a perfect holiday - lovely landscape, charming architecture, lots of activities and warm, hospitable people. Dullstroom is a well deserving Mpumalanga Highlands highlight.

The rivers here are filled with trout and attract eager anglers from all corners of the world. These rivers were originally stocked in 1916 from hatcheries in the mountains of the Cape Winelands. The hatchlings were a success and today the rivers are filled with plenty of fish and attract lots of fishermen. Notwithstanding the cold climes here, these rivers are also an important place for breeding trout.

If you are interested in fishing then you can visit the guest farms, which provide the necessary equipment to catch fish, and you can book for a tailored fishing holiday as well.

Dullstroom too has it share of Boer War memories, and as history shows this town was completely destroyed and the women and children were taken to a British concentration camp. There is a stone memorial and a garden of remembrance here, for all those who died fighting and others who died in detention. Many tourists come to pay their respects as well as to learn about the town's history.

Lodging is not a problem as you can choose from different kinds of accommodation available here. These range from family style accommodations to plush self-catering ones. They are all available at reasonable prices.

Gustav Klingbiel Reserve is a nature reserve, which gives sanctuary to some 320 species of birds. Apart from the birds the reserve and its surrounding areas also have many game species like impala, bushbuck, kudu, grey rhebuck, zebra, eland and steenbok.

The reserve is spread across an area of 2200 hectares and is among the most scenic spots in the world. It is a mountainous area with the river Klipgatspruit cutting through it to form a deep valley. In the tributaries of the Klipgatspruit River are the ravines where small, secluded forests can be found. On the low-lying side the main habitats include thornveld and bushveld; on the hillsides and plateaus are the montane grasslands; and higher up are the protea woodland.

To get a fantastic view, you must view the reserve from the Long Tom Pass. From here you can see along the road small areas with the silver protea. You can also see large concentrations of the common sugar-bush on the mountain plateaus and the montane grassland all across the mountainous gorges and cliffs.

There is a museum on the Long Tom Pass at the entrance of the reserve with an auditorium for conferences, a curio shop and an open exhibition. An interesting display inside the museum gives you plenty of information on the archaeological Stone Age sites and the history of the town.

This reserve, The Gustav Klingbiel Reserve, is definitely a must see on a visit to South Africa. It is among the most picturesque holiday destinations and offers great sights and at the same time gives you a good opportunity to unwind and relax.

The Long Tom Pass is named after the Long Tom cannons used during the Anglo-Boer war. In the earlier days it was the route used to transport goods from Mozambique to Lyndenburg and daring wagon drivers used it - daring because this route was quite a dangerous one. Frightening drops and steep hairpin bends characterized the Long Tom Pass. The road ran across the area known as the Devil's Knuckles, a terrifying zone, where many wagons were lost.

The journey on this wild stretch used to be truly difficult because apart from the road conditions drivers also had to deal with wild animals that would roam around here. To top it all, this place was plagued with mosquitoes, making it a challenge even for the most daring.

The new road, however, is very safe and both sides are covered for a great distance with rich vegetation of eucalyptus and pine trees. In the distance you can see the peaks of Mount Anderson and Mauchsberg, making the drive truly memorable. As you move along the newly tarred road you can still see the old road and the dangerous course it used to take.

Situated on the Long Tom Pass, spread on an area of 280 hectares, is the South African Natural Heritage Site of Misty Mountain. This place is strategically set in the mountainous countryside with great views across the escarpment all the way to the lowveld. You can start exploring the Kruger Park and the Mpumalanga escarpment from here, and this makes it one of the choicest locations for accommodation for visitors to Mpumalanga.

The magical area around the Long Tom Pass has dams and weirs where you can indulge in trout fishing. To do so you can hire the necessary equipment. Other activities here include guided quad biking excursions.

The Long Tom Pass and its adjoining areas is a remarkable tourist spot filled with majestic mountains each with a tale of its own. It is a great place to visit with your family if you enjoy outdoor activities. Comfortable accommodation is plentiful too in this truly amazing vacation destination.

For a weekend break head to Machadodorp. Machadodorp is situated near Pretoria and Johannesburg and is a well-reputed fly fishing destination. It is a small town on top of the escarpment in South Africa's Mpumalanga province. Akin to the other towns here, the popularity of this place is linked to its beautiful landscape and of course fly-fishing. Fly fishing is a major draw here and tourists drop in all through the year to be a part of this outdoor activity.

The village here organizes a festival, with the highlight of the festival being the Laerskool Machado Potjiekos Competitions. This festival showcases the charming village and the abundant beauty surrounding it and, of course, the great Potjiekos. At the heart of the festival is the Machadodorp Fly Fishing Park and Camp Site, where the Fly Fishing and Potjiekos Competitions are held. The market is also nearby so you can entertain yourself browsing through the many different locally made items for sale.

The other important attraction in this village is the magical Elands River. This river is famous worldwide for its natural radioactive spring, known to have healing qualities.

The village offers self-catering cottages and farm cottages like Misty Valley Lodge. These are welcoming and pleasant places and offer a good night's rest after you have spent the majority of your time exploring your surroundings.

The landscape of Mpumalanga is so diverse that all kinds of outdoor and leisure activities are conducted here. The range of activities here include fishing, hang gliding, mountain climbing, hot-air ballooning or elephant-back safaris. The endless opportunities here can confuse you and each one of them provides an experience worth remembering.

The Steenkampsberg Nature Reserve, home to the uncommon Wattled Crane, is located in Mpumalanga in the outskirts of the town of Dullstroom. This nature reserve is a major Mpumalanga Highlands tourist atraction and you can view the rare Wattled Crane, a South African bird that is wetland dependent - a must for any bird watcher. So if bird watching is your passion and hobby don't miss an opportunity to drop in at the reserve to get a glimpse of this wondrous bird. Apart from this splendid sight, the nature reserve has much to offer in terms of abundant protea, other wonderful plant life, and lots of opportunities to see rare and beautiful birds.

The town of Dullstroom is an interesting place as well and provides good trout fishing locations, and an annual trout festival is held here in October that brings many visitors to the Steenkampsberg Nature Reserve.

You can take short, easy, pleasant treks through the reserve and go across to the Suikerboskop Mountain. There are war graves and old British blockhouses from the Second Anglo-Boer War on the eastern side. Another pleasant and undemanding walk on a gravel road can lead you to the public dam above Ambassador Lodge one of the many fine hotels in the Mpumalanga Highlands. Remember to carry sun protection and warm clothing with you as the sub-alpine weather here can change quickly.

Waterval Boven is Dutch for the phrase ‘Above Waterfall' and is named after a waterfall in the Elands River.  In 1898 it was established as a railway depot, and is now a village located at the foot of the South Hills, on the side of the escarpment in the Drakensberg Mountains. The beautiful Elands River Waterfall can be seen from the mouth of the old Railway Tunnel.

The village is replete with proclaimed national monuments, all historical buildings and sites. These include the old Tunnel and Five Arch Bridge and the official residence of President Paul Kruger's - he lived here till 1900, before going into exile in Europe.

There are a number of trekking paths, the most noted among them being the Elkandskrans Trail. This hiking trail also includes a train ride of 30 minutes between Waterval Boven and Waterval Onder.

While here, you can participate in outdoor activities like horse riding and trout fishing, which are quite popular. For the fly fishing aficionado there are plenty of fishing dams and rivers, all belonging to the Waterval Boven Trout Association, and to get the necessary equipment head to the Elands River Fly Shop. They not only provide you with the equipment but will also happily guide you in how to catch the bigger fish.

If you like the extreme challenges posed by nature, then there are some famous rock climbing cliffs to test you. For a more relaxed experience you can go hiking or even swimming in the many mountain swimming holes that are to be found here. To stay at Waterval Boven you can choose from budget and backpacker accommodations to bed and breakfasts and trendy guesthouses. There is plenty of choice to suit all budgets and all are warm and welcoming.

Waterval Onder is Dutch for the phrase ‘Below the Waterfall' and is below a wonderful waterfall of 228 metres. It is a village on the banks of the Elands River and is located at the base of the escarpment. Unlike Waterval Boven there has not been much development here; yet, it's a popular spot in South Africa and attracts a lot of tourists.

To stay here you can choose from bed and breakfasts, houses, self-catering cottages, chalets and guest houses. Accommodation will obviously not be a problem as you have plenty to choose from.

However, the best places to stay are the holiday farms, with their hospitable and knowledgeable hosts. The hosts not only give you information about the best places to see in the area but also offer horseback riding along mountain trails -undoubtedly the best way to explore the region.

A local legend

There is a mysterious tree here known as the "ghost tree" and there is a legend attached to it. The story goes that long ago there were two lovers who got separated after meeting under the tree for over six decades and then one of them died.... To know more you have to visit this village. Visitors come to this place to learn more about this fascinating tree and its equally fascinating story.