(16-19 January 2015)
When
planning a weekend getaway or a week-long family vacation, many of us city
slickers tend to look for something far from the city, close to nature with
stunning scenery and solitude. Dunkeld Country Estate in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga
has it all. It simply can’t get any better than that! Offering 25 dams for
fly-fishing, numerous other activities, 3-5 star accommodation options that is
only a 2½ - 3 hour drive from Johannesburg- could you ask for something better?
Dunkeld Country Estate is
run by the Go Touch Down resort group who manage
a number of other resorts around the country. Peacefully situated on the
outskirts of Dullstroom, Dunkeld is the epitome of tranquillity and solitude.
Dunkeld offers 2-sleeper rooms at the lodge- a bed & breakfast experience
for the businessman passing through, or the lone-fisherman planning a weekend
full of trout fishing. For couples and family groups whether looking for an
adventurous or relaxing holiday, the self-catering chalets are perfect. Dunkeld
also books out units to The Holiday Club members, so if you have some unused
Holiday Club points- you know what to do (or rather, where to go)!
The
estate has recently expanded onto the neighbouring property- a development now
known as the Dunkeld Equestrian & Spa. This new development offers 5-star
cottages with panoramic views of the paddocks and stable. The equestrian centre
also boasts a new restaurant- The Sporting Horse and is home to number of thoroughbred
and warm-blooded stud horses. Guests can look forward to a world-class spa
facility that is soon to be built at the equestrian centre.
For the
adventurous holiday-makers, the activities at Dunkeld are endless! From
fly-fishing, hiking and mountain bike trails, bicycle rentals, tennis, beginner
and advance horse rides and archery to pony rides and feeding the horses,
jungle gym and jumping castles for the kids. The entertainment centre boasts a
lovely indoor heated pool to be enjoyed by all, as well as adventure putt-putt,
a pool table and table tennis. For guests seeking relaxation, a stop at the
Serenity Spa for a massage or facial is a must! They also offer a number of
wraps, manicures and pedicures. The Jazz Bar is open seven days a week as well
as The Black Swan and Sporting Horse restaurants for an afternoon cappuccino
and a lovely cooked breakfast, lunch or dinner.
As if
that isn’t enough to keep you busy, the town of Dullstroom offers plenty of
shopping opportunity- whether it is cheese, handcrafted chocolates or some arts
and crafts you are looking for- you are sure to find it. Best not forget to
stop in at the famous Harrie’s Pancakes for a bite to eat.
My
family and I spent a weekend at Dunkeld recently, and I was seriously impressed
to say the least! The staff were absolutely amazing- by far the friendliest
staff I have ever encountered at a holiday resort.
We were
fortunate enough to have our reservation upgraded from one of the self-catering
chalets on the main estate to a luxury cottage on the Equestrian Estate. It was
exquisite! The panoramic views of nature and the paddocks were breath-taking!
The combination of white fences, rolling hills and beautiful horses made the
5-star accommodation just that much better. Could I go so far as to call it
6-star?
At
Dunkeld I felt as if I could have been dreaming. From the eerie feel of the
forest as you enter to property to the tranquillity one can feel at the dam’s
edge to the vast open land on the Equestrian Estate- it is simply magical! The
Serenity Spa provided me with a much-needed relaxing massage that I would
highly recommend to anyone looking for pure relaxation. We stopped in at the
Black Swan restaurant for breakfast before we hit the road to go home- all I
can say is their cappuccinos are to die for and the French toast was the best I
have had in a very long time.
I was
slightly disappointed that I wasn’t able to experience everything at Dunkeld on
our weekend getaway. Maybe a full week stay sometime soon is in order?
My
advice for visiting Dullstroom:
Regardless of the season, pack clothing for all seasons. The Dullstroom climate
is somewhat temperamental and you could experience all four seasons in the
space of a few hours.
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| Our luxury cottage and beautiful view of the paddock and Equestrian centre |
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| The Happy Fisherman |
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