Winter is around the corner, and with the cold temperature comes the need to get away for a weekend. The perfect place to visit for a winter break? Dullstroom.
From Johannesburg, Dullstroom is only a two-hour drive away in the province of Mpumalanga. If you live in Joburg, we suggest leaving for Dullstroom after work on Friday and arriving in time for supper.
Here are five things to do in Dullstroom:
Eat dinner at Mrs Simpsons
Just off the main road, Mrs Simpsons will entice you with delicious aromas of lamb shank, oxtail and Thai curry. The decor is eccentric, the service is outstanding and the food is quite spectacular. Wines are on display on an old barrel and a wood fire burns in the corner. Look out for Willis the cat, who keeps a friendly eye on all those who visit.
A photo posted by Linelle (@linelle_watermeyer) on
Wallis joined us for dinner! #mrssimpsons #wallis #wallisthecat #dullstroomweekend #dullstroom A photo posted by Tanya De Ville (@tanyadeville) on
Stay in bed a little longer
Especially when it’s raining, there’s no need to rush out of bed in the morning. Snuggle under your puffy down duvet and settle down for a few more hours.
Go fly-fishing
Trout dams are numerous in the Dullstroom area. Pop into the fishing shop, The Village Angler, on the main road in town to buy flies (or a fishing rod) and to find out where to fish. Permits can be bought here, too.
Learning to fish? The kind shop owners will give you a lesson or help you with your technique. Once you’re ready, don gumboots and spend a few hours silently enjoying the peace and quiet of a local dam. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a fish.
Window-shop
Dullstroom’s main street is lined with shops and restaurants. Start at one end of the street and spend a few hours looking at the various wares on display. Shops include a clock shop, a chocolate shop, a sweet shop, various antique shops, craft shops, art galleries and, of course, fashion boutiques. Stop along the way to refuel at the coffee roastery, where you can sip on a cappuccino or select freshly roasted coffee beans to take home.
Do a whisky tasting
At Wild About Whisky, a cozy little whisky bar on Dullstroom’s main road, you can taste whiskies from the largest whisky menu in the Southern Hemisphere. The whiskies decorate the walls of the bar and come from all over the world. Patrons can either select their whisky of choice from the selection displayed, or they can order a tasting selection from the menu. This arrives with a tasting card containing a descriptor of each drink, and six glasses. Both educational and warming!
By Gail Cameron
