What to do in Dullstroom
Dullstroom is just 2.5 hours away from Johannesburg, making it a popular weekend destination for weary Johannesburg city folk. It’s easy to see why the town is so popular. There are plenty of activities and so many restaurants to choose from. Even though the town is small, you should plan on what to do in Dullstroom before you visit!
The Dullstroom Vibe
Wilhelm took me to Dullstroom for my 30th birthday weekend get-away. WOW. The town is so cute and our accommodation was super romantic. You can easily have a lazy, foodie weekend or pack it full of activities. As usual, we did a little bit of both.
The main strip of town is filled with accommodation, shops, and restaurants in a friendly, walkable setting. Compared to other small towns we’ve visited, the walkability was a huge plus for us. We enjoyed leaving the car at our Airbnb and slowly puttering around.
Fun Facts about Dullstroom
Dullstroom is one of the highest towns in South Africa. At 2100m above sea level, it’s also one of the coldest, with temperatures getting as low as -7°C. It also is home to the highest railway station in the country.
The town was named for its founder, a Dutchman named Wolterus Dull. Although the town was founded in 1883, it was practically destroyed during the second Boer War (1899-1902) and most of Dullstroom’s settlers returned to the Netherlands.
Dullstroom’s famed trout industry began in the 1900s when a nearby resident caught a fish that looked like a trout. From then on, the steams around Dullstroom were stocked with trout. Trout continued to be stocked and were also introduced into the town’s dams in 1927 and 1965. Since these times, farmers have built several small dams to continue the trout industry. P.s. the trout is delicious!
Hiking in Dullstroom
Ama Poot Poot— There are 2 circular trail options (13km and 6km) to reach the Ama Poot Poot Waterfall. Just 20 minutes outside of Dullstroom, this is a great day-hike option. Read my Ama Poot Poot Hiking guide for all the info. The trail is not well marked, and I’ve included some tips to help you stay on track. R80/pp
Dullstroom on the Dam—Take a walk around the Dullstroom dam (30 minutes) or hike up into the hillside. See if you can spot the friendly horses and miniature pony while on your hike around the dam. The horses were curious and came up to us while we were walking. Such a wonderful experience! Dullstroom on the Dam also has braai areas and is a caravan park with cottages and fly fishing. Hiking and day visitors enter free of charge. It’s also pet-friendly.
Activities in Dullstroom
Fly fishing— You can bring your own gear or buy it in town at The Village Angler. Some top recommended spots for fly-fishing are Dullstroom on the Dam, Birds of Prey Trophy Dam, and Dunkeld Country and Equestrian Estate.
Horseback riding— Instead of hiking around Dullstroom’s dam, why not take a horse ride? We ran into the horses while on our walk and they were SO cute and friendly! Little ones can ride the miniature ponies.
Mountain biking—There are tons of trails for mountain biking enthusiasts. Many range in the 40-70km distance (read more here). The Dullstroom-Tonteldoos Loop is a popular trail. Check out the map and read more about it here.
Places to visit
The Clock Shop—With the largest collection of clocks in the Southern Hemisphere, you’ll be blown away by the clocks inside!
Birds of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre— Visit the center for daily flight demonstrations at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm (weather permitting) and interactions with the birds. R70/pp for adults and R40 for children.
The Smokey Owl—A cute bookshop with international and local titles.
Where to Eat and Drink in Dullstroom
There are so many options for such a small town! Google Maps doesn’t do the town justice. Many of the places are so close together, that you don’t realize the options on Google. Walk up and down the main strip of the town (and some side streets!) to get the full picture.
Restaurants
I was so obsessed with all the food options in Dullstroom, I wrote a whole separate post for it. Check out my post on the best restaurants in Dullstroom, including where to get the best trout dishes. My top favorites are Mrs. Simpson’s and the Mad Hatter Cafe.
Cafes
Cafe de la Stroom— A cafe in a container with breakfasts, lunch, and of course, coffee.
Beans about Coffee—This chain coffee spot has a variety of coffee in a cozy setting.
Blacksmith Roastery—Located in the same space as Anvil Ale Brewery, visit for breakfast and coffee in a lovely garden setting at the end of town.
Dranks
Wild About Whiskey— I’ve never seen a whiskey bar like this before! That is to say, I have never gone searching for whiskey but this place looks really cool. You can get whiskey tasting as well as a variety of other drinks. Most popular is the whiskey and chocolate pairing.
Dullstroom Cultour Co. Wine Club—get wine and cheese pairings while swinging on the egg chairs.
Anvil Ale Brewery—Also listed on my best restaurants in Dullstroom guide, visit for beer tasting and lunch!
Grocery shopping
YES. Get some local groceries to take back with you to Joburg. Don’t worry if you don’t have a cool pack for any fish you’re transporting back to Joburg. It’ll survive and you and pop it back into the freezer when you arrive home.
84 on Main— This space is home to several small shops, including the Wine Club. Visit Bergen Cheese for an excellent selection of cheeses for your toasties and stop in Pasta Dullicoius for homemade pasta made from carrots, tomatoes, and beets.
I brought back all these goodies to Joburg!
The Deli Stroom—I loved the friendly, family-forward service! Purchase trout from the local trout dams, sourdough, and a variety of jams and preserves. They also serve Foakes coffee (for my Joburg peeps missing First Sundays at Victory Yards!) They are also art distributors, and you can purchase artwork from them directly.
I bought some light lunch items to eat back at our Airbnb one day.
Milly’s Trout Stall—get local trout (smoked, pate, and frozen varieties), jams, honey, and bread.
Where to Stay in Dullstroom
Check out Airbnb for super cute accommodations in Dullstroom. There are plenty of resort-style lodgings around but where is the fun in that? You gotta go for something unique to make your Dullstroom trip unforgettable.
Matianine Guest Cottage— We stayed at the beautiful cottage by a pond. The location was perfect to walk to all the restaurants in town. A light breakfast of toast, croissants, and jam with coffee is provided. There is no kitchen but with so many places to eat in town, you don’t need self-catering anyway.
Best for a couple.
Just look at Matianine Guest Cottage. It’s a dream!
Dullstroom Forest Cabin— This cabin looks like it belongs in a Scandinavian forest. Best for a couple or 4 close friends.
3-bedroom home with great views – Perfect for a family, this Airbnb can accommodate 7 guests. There is even a ping-pong table!
Dullstroom Weekend Itinerary Suggestion
Suggestions based on our own adventures!
Friday
Start with lunch at Mad Hatters. Then, walk across the street into the Clock Shop and wander around. Next, walk up and down the main strip of town and head into some of the shops as you go. Eventually, walk back to your lodging and then drive to dinner at Mrs. Simpsons. Although it’s easy enough to walk during daylight, there are no streetlights so you should drive in the evening.
Saturday
Begin your day with a hike at Ama Poot Poot. Try to start early as it gets hot and there is no shade cover. (We hiked between 9am-1pm). I bought snacks from Joburg and we supplemented with a take-away sandwich from Rose’s Cottage. However, for you, I would suggest getting takeaway sandwiches from The Coachman because theirs sounded better than ours tasted… When you’re done your hike, stop for a cold drink at any of the restaurants or at Anvil Brewery.
Plan to have a chill day back in Dullstroom with wine or whiskey tasting or enjoying your accommodation. We were thinking of going wine tasting but we also wanted to enjoy our cute Airbnb… We settled on staying in the Airbnb. I ran to the Deli Stroom to pick up some smoked trout and bread for a light lunch and we ate by our little pond. End your day with dinner at the Vine Wine Bar.
Sunday
Head to Harries Pancakes (always a visitor favorite though I haven’t been yet) or one of the cute cafes I mentioned above for breakfast. If you’re up to the hike, walk from your accommodation to the Dullstroom Dam and then take the loop around the dam. You can also drive there and either do the dam walk or the hike into the hillside. Have lunch at Anvil Brewery before heading back to Joburg. Don’t forget to stop in the shops and buy some groceries on your way out of town!
Bonus: Tonteldoos
What is a “Tonteldoos”? That’s the first question I asked myself after reading this name… Tondeldoos is actually a town 30km from Dullstroom. The quirky name is just so great. There are three notable restaurants and lodging options in this town. I’d want to visit just to say I’ve been there, but it didn’t fit into our weekend. Next time!