LOCAL TRAVEL
BY BYRON LUKAS
Forget about chasing the crowds. Dullstroom, invites you to slow down, savour hearty local flavours, share meaningful conversations with friendly locals, and soak up breathtaking views of the countryside.
Just a few hours from Johannesburg and Pretoria, this charming Mpumalanga town is where South Africans go when they want to swap traffic for trout, city noise for birdsong, and takeaways for hearty country breakfasts. It is one of those rare places where wearing a beanie to breakfast is not just acceptable; it’ s practically compulsory.
The best way to explore Dullstroom? Slowly. Wander through quirky bookstores, browse local art galleries, sample handcrafted chocolates, or pop into one of the town’ s famous whisky bars, where you’ ll quickly discover that choosing a single dram is harder than picking your favourite Springbok.
Foodies are in for a treat. Think flaky pies, gourmet burgers, fresh trout, and cafés that somehow make every cappuccino taste better in the mountain air. It is comfort food at its finest.
If sitting still isn’ t your thing, lace up your hiking boots, cast a line, or saddle up for a horse ride through rolling grasslands. And don’ t be surprised if you find yourself stopping every few minutes to take another photograph. The scenery is simply that good.
What makes Dullstroom so special? It’ s the small things: crackling fireplaces, generous country food, locals who welcome you as though you have been coming for years, and that unmistakable feeling of slowing down without even trying.
Whether you’ re escaping for a romantic weekend, planning a mates’ road trip, or simply chasing South Africa’ s cosiest winter destination, Dullstroom proves that sometimes the best adventures begin with one simple question:“ Who’ s packing the Ouma rusks?” IB
28 INBOUND SA / AUGUST 2026