have never visited before. Dull- that provided help to victims of stroom is known for trout fish- the . ing – fly fishermen can enjoy The town was actually found- excellent fishing on a number of ed to resettle Dutch immigrants. private properties. This high The town’s official proclamation lying part of our country, called took place on 9 October 1893 the , fortunately also and the word “stroom” (which offers good hunting as I have means stream in ) re- found out early in 2019. fers to the Crocodile River that For those who don’t know passes close to the town. Dullstroom let me give you bit Another interesting fact is of back ground info. This tran- that Dullstroom is the highest Dullstroom is known for trout fishing. It is one of the most popular quil little town lies 35km north town above sea level in South trout fishing venues in . of Belfast on one of the routes to Africa. It lies on the Steen- the Kruger National Park. kampsberg Plateau at an alti- unters are somewhat these places offer. However, by Together with Underberg in Kwa- tude of 2076m. The highest conservative when it doing that we starve ourselves Zulu-Natal it is one of our most point in the area, at an altitude comes to hunting des- of unique places where the popular fly fishing destinations. of 2332m, is called De Berg tinations. Many return hunting opportunities might be Dullstroom was founded in (The Mountain). This area has a Hyear after year to their old hunt- equally or even more enjoyable. 1883 and named after a Dutch typical subtropical highland cli- ing grounds because they enjoy The area around Dullstroom businessman, Wolterus Dull, the mate with an average annual it there and they know what in is one that I then chairman of a committee rain fall of 820mm. DULLSTROOM IS NOT DULL By KOOS BARNARD

INSET: Tranquil Dullstroom. Main photo: Elandskloof, the property where I hunted the black wildebeest. A Peregrine falcon, one of the birds at the raptor centre just outside of Dullstroom.

The undulating hills comprise only one that is home to both mostly of grass veld although the mahem (grey-crowned wattle trees are also found and it crane) and the wattled crane. Gerhard Delport with a bushpig that he hunted on Elandskloof. The rifle is the only place in South Africa This area is also home to one of is a Sauer in .308 Win. where beech wood and elm trees my favourite birds, the bokmak- grow together. These were plant- ierie (a kind of bush shrike). ed by the Dutch settlers. Just outside of town is a rap- Dullstroom is one of Mpuma- tor centre which is home a vari- langa’s popular tourist attrac- ety of birds of prey. This centre tions. Visitors like the many not only educates the public on curio shops and restaurants and raptors through bird shows and the town is very popular with info but also acts as a rehabilita- bikers going on weekend rides tion centre for raptors. I was and breakfast runs. Because of again astounded by the size and its high altitude Dullstroom is wingspan of the black eagle one of the coldest towns in (Verreaux’s eagle). South Africa. Fog and drizzling My visit to Dullstroom, where rains are common in the area. professional hunter and field It is, however, not only fly guide Gerhard Delport was my fishermen that will feel wel- host, was indeed an interesting come in Dullstroom. Close to one. I really enjoyed the two town is one of the most beauti- days that we’ve spent there. The ful golf courses in South Africa town and surrounding areas en the Dullstroom area is the are not only ideal for family » The black wildebeest bull I hunted. Notice the quality of the trophy. » activities but also offer a lot There is no shooting range on rocky outcrops, gulleys and ridg- then set off at a run but he ran to hunters. Elandskloof so we had to go to es provide excellent cover and is out of steam after covering Although the Highveld can a nearby quarry to see if my Bla- ideal for walk and stalk hunting. about 50m or so. be cold, foggy and wet many ser Professional R8 in .270 Win The first game we spotted When I knelt beside him, I antelope species thrive in its was still sighted in correctly. I were a number of blesbuck. We noticed that he was an old war- high altitude. It is home to bles- used Norma factory ammo for quickly checked them out, then rior with a beautiful set of horns buck, black wildebeest, vaal rhe- this hunt – loaded with the continued. The next moment a that would qualify for the Row- buck, mountain reedbuck, excellent 150gr Oryx bullet. black wildebeest bull came into land Ward record book. warthog, bushpig and fallow Muzzle velocity of this bullet view. He was bedded down and Those of us who live in cities deer. During my visit I was struck out of my rifle is about 2700fps. unaware of us. Fortunately the often travel unnecessarily far to by the large numbers of blesbuck I didn’t sleep well and wasn’t terrain was in our favour, so we get to hunting venues while we spotted on many properties. very steady, so my grouping slipped downhill and out of view, there are good places to hunt Our base for the two days over the shooting sticks was not then circled towards the spot right on our door steps. Dull- was Elandskloof Trout Farm, up to my normal standards but where we had spotted the bull. stroom is less than 300km from the oldest trout farm in Mpuma- I had confidence in my rifle and On our way towards the the /Pretoria langa, started in 1960 by Dolf being an old hand at hunting, it black wildebeest we spotted a metropolis and offers plenty of and Kitty Combrink. The cur- did not bother me too much. fallow deer stag on the crest of hunting opportunities. Gerhard rent owner is Kobus (Dolf’s son) As it often happens in the a nearby rise. Our presence did Delport, who grew up in this and his wife Dimpels. Kobus’ Dullstroom area, the morning of not seem to bother him though Highveld region, has hunting oldest daughter, Celeste, and the hunt dawned cool and over- and he casually moved off. and fishing concessions on a her husband (also Kobus) farms cast. Immediately after our Using the lie of the land to avoid number of private properties with them. shooting session at the quarry it detection we continued towards and he is a very good guide. Elandskloof is a beautiful started to drizzle. That did not a rocky outcrop... one that During the Anglo Boer War a place with a number of dams bother me because we were would bring us within easy number of skirmishes took place that house trout. Visitors can dressed for wet weather and the shooting range of the black wil- around Dullstroom and with book accommodation (over- Blaser doesn’t mind wet weath- debeest bull. Gerhard’s excellent knowledge of night, weekend or longer holi- er either. On my first hunt with Arriving at the jumble of the history of this area he is able days) in one of several chalets this particular rifle (a year ear- rocks we moved slightly to the to entertain his clients on war located at the edge of a big dam. lier) I got drenched and during left and then spotted a second and other interesting stories. This property, on which Ger- a gong shooting competition wildebeest. Gerhard looked I visited the Dullstroom hard has a hunting concession, near Verkykerskop in 2018 we them over and told me to shoot region in autumn when the veld is also home to good numbers had to shoot in pouring rain. the bull on the left, the one we was still green. During winter of blesbuck, black wildebeest, The Blaser never missed a beat. spotted first. I crawled forward the undulating, grassy hills are fallow deer, bushpigs and other Following a winding road, slowly to get into shooting posi- covered in different hues of game. Something that stock Gerhard drove us up a number tion. Gerhard whispered that brown with evergreen trees dot- farmers won’t like, but what I of hills to a point where we the bull was exactly 100m away. ting the landscape, standing out rather enjoyed, was that we would leave his Land Cruiser The bull spotted us, jumped like markers. It is indeed a could hear the melancholic calls and continue on foot. It was still to his feet, but being unawares pleasant and interesting area to of black-backed jackals every drizzling when we left the vehi- of what exactly we were, he visit. This is a place that I am night. Unfortunately these pred- cle but a few minutes later the stood dead still, facing us at an happy to recommend as a hunt- ators and stock farming do not rain stopped. angle. I settled the crosshair at ing or tourist destination. go well together, but there is According to Gerhard we the junction of his neck and For more details on hunting something so Africa, so prime- were on our way to a spot shoulder and squeezed the trig- and other activities contact val in their calls that I always where some of the black wilde- ger. A fraction of a second later Gerhard Delport on 083-622- feel welcome wherever I hear beest bulls like to hang out. The the 150gr Oryx bullet hit with a 4961 or e-mail him at gerhard@ these little hunters call. undulating terrain with its many loud “dup”. The bull bucked, fffsafaris.co.za

The area in which I hunted the black wildebeest.