The River Runs Through It…

Few Mpumalanga bound visitors, travelling from Gauteng, will dispute that the Elands Valley sets the tone and creates the anticipation for the better known lowveld areas in and around the Kruger Park.

How To Get There

This excitement is experienced whether commuting by road, rail or indeed air. Two hours from Johannesburg (and 500m higher) one travels on the N4 past Belfast, Machadodorp and Waterval Boven, before passing through the NZASM tunnel (as visitors have been doing for over one hundred years). This is the Elands Valley!

What Makes The Valley Special

The Elands Falls, the 120 year old tunnel, the longest span of electricity cabling in the world, the imported, turn-of-the-century, dressed stone NZASM railway tunnel, and Five Arch bridge, imposing sheer red sandstone cliffs, and the Elands River all assail ones' senses within minutes of each other, the moment one descends into this very special valley from out of the tunnel.

On The Maputo Corridor

The Maputo Corridor in the form of the N4 national highway and the railway line neatly bisects the valley from east to west, providing easy and safe access to the region.

The Elands Valley is demarcated by the NZASM tunnel in the west, the Transvaal Drakensberg mountain ranges in the south and north, and the Montrose falls in the east.

The Valley Helped Shape South Africa 's History

The area is steeped in history with President Paul Kruger's last home situated neatly in the centre of the valley at Waterval Onder. His home is now a museum, worthy of a quiet 45 minutes or so. Rumours and treasure hunts continue, in anticipation of one day unearthing the fabled Kruger Millions.

Iron Crosses and Ghosts

Within a stones-throw of the Kruger Hof lie some 35 British soldiers under their hundred-year-old iron crosses. Several other worthwhile Anglo-Boer grave sites are located in the valley. The story of the British soldier who still meets his Afrikaans lover at Waterval Onder is well documented as one of South Africa's favourite ghost stories.

Several blockhouses, fortifications and the site of a Boer prisoner-of-war camp, endear the valley with wonderful stories encouraging exploratory visits, as too do the 300-year-old kraals that litter the hillsides of the Elands Valley.

Topography and Climate

Having a topography ranging in altitude from 2 000m (similar to Dullstroom's height) down to a distinctly lowveld 1100m, the valley is unique in its climate. Summers are made up of hot days and temperate evenings, due to the air flowing off the highveld. Winters have cool evenings with balmy days. The weather does not get much better than this. Importantly, there is no malaria in the Valley. Rainfall is higher than the lowveld with the influence of the mist on the edge of the escarpment. Whilst hiking, it is not uncommon to look down on your own personal cloud floating below you.

Birds, Bees, Trees and Animals

Due to the position on the escarpment the area is diverse in its fauna and flora. Typical trees worth seeking out whilst hiking the valley include the Karee, River Bush Willow, Mountain Cabbage Tree, White Stinkwood, Cape Ash, Marula, Red Leaved Rock Fig, and the Cape Fig.

Crested Louries, or Tauraco as they are now correctly named, and various raptors such as the Crowned Eagle, Martial Eagle, Snake Eagle Jackal Buzzard and Steppe Buzzard.

Various antelope, typical of the mountainous terrain are regularly sighted. These include Bush Buck, Mountain Reedbuck, Blesbuck, Grey Duiker, Red Duiker and Klipspringer.

Last summer a leopard was seen on the main road near Waterval Boven! More typical predators, often seen include Caracal, Serval, Civet Cat, Genet, Side Striped Jackal, Black Backed Jackal, Cape Fox, Brown Hyena and Aardwolf.

The River System

The Elands River (which supports fishing for Trout and a small scaled Yellow Fish endemic only to the Elands river), flows the length of the valley constrained by the mountain ranges on either side. Streams flowing from the mountains into the Elands River are Heysbrook, Schoonspruit, Swartkoppie, Rietspruit, Mashonamin and Ngodwana. Each of these tributaries hosts its own private collection of montane plants and animals.

Conservation Minded

All landowners within the Valley, and many residents of relevant towns, are active members of the Elands Valley Conservancy.

This enthusiastic group ensures the sustainability and management of the water resource, the responsible utilisation of the land, as well as fire prevention, crime prevention, promotion of tourism, and preservation of the overall ecology of the area.

What the Valley Offers

The Valley's collection of hotels, lodges, B&B's and self-catering cottages, offer a smorgasbord of hiking, fishing, historical sites, birding, and just good old fashioned relaxing - in dramatic and unique scenery within easy reach of major road and rail routes.

Just 90km from the international airport at Nelspruit and a comfortable two and a half hour road journey from Johannesburg, the Elands Valley justifiably can lay claim to being the Gateway to the Kruger Park. Well worth considering as a stop-off to the game reserves or Mozambique (Waterval Onder is exactly half way between Johannesburg and Maputo), the valley will surprise you with its charm and hospitality, easily justifying a visit in it's own right.

What To Do And Where To Stay

The Valley offers gentle activities such as birding, Anglo-Boer history touring, and fly-fishing. Enjoying the by-gone age of steam trains is a popular activity. For the more energetic mountain climbing, abseiling and bridge jumping, come to mind. Hiking on one of the seventeen organised trails is a perennial favourite of many visitors. Cycling and scrambling is possible at various locations.

Clay pigeon shooting, horse riding and archery are offered by some venues. Accommodation is available in various establishments ranging from five star lodges, to country hotels, to inexpensive good value self-catering cottages.

Consider the Valley as an overnight stop or better still stay awhile and experience the Elands Valley.

The river runs through it…

Drawings of some of the valley's historical buildings and scenery are by Elize Louw with her kind permission.