Middelpunt, perhaps Mpumalanga's best kept secret

Hennie Viljoen

Title written by First Second Name Photos: other name Middelpunt, perhaps Mpumalanga's best kept secret Middelpunt in winter. Photo: Tyrone Pearce

Middelpunt was established as a trout fishing venue back in 1973. Since then, its angling waters have expanded to seven dams, including a trophy dam, comprising some 20 hectares of water which is regularly stocked with both rainbows and browns. There is more than enough space for both bank and float tubing on the Middelpunt waters. All the dams are within easy walking distance of the accommodation.

Middelpunt is the home waters for the Transvaal Fly Fishers Club (TFFC). Beyond

Lovely Dam 3

offering perhaps the best fly-fishing in the Dullstroom area, Middelpunt has built a reputation for being a great place for the whole family to relax, either for a weekend or a longer stretch of time. The TFFC offers ample accommodation with its eightbedroom farmhouse, a rondawel and a selfcatering chalet, all kitted out with necessities such as fridges, freezers, washing machines, microwave and great braai facilities. For the individual or family who wish to visit on a regular basis none of this costs a fortune.

Photo: Tyrone Pearce

What attracts most of the TFFC members to Middelpunt are its peaceful surroundings amid 840 hectares of pristine veld and wetlands. Middelpunt is the centre piece of the award winning Greater Lakenvlei Protected Environment, which was declared a protected area in April 2017 and totals some 14,000 hectares. The northern and more remote part of the Middelpunt farm includes the wetland breeding site of the critically endangered white winged flufftail, an area which is now managed by BirdLife SA.

BirdLife South Africa, Middelpunt Wetland Trust and the BirdLife partner in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society, are raising the profile of the ‘Critically Endangered’ White-winged Flufftail and are mapping out a conservation plan for the species.

Beyond great fly fishing, Middelpunt has plenty to offer those that enjoy bird watching, walking, mountain biking and wildflowers. A nearby farm offers horse riding and Dullstroom is some 20 minutes away where you can visit the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Centre or shop and dine in the village. And beyond Dullstroom is the Veloren Valei provincial reserve, a Ramsar site and one of the wildflower and birding hot spots of the country.

Middelpunt is without a doubt my favourite Mpumalanga stillwater trout fly fishing venue as the quality of the fish and the fishing itself is really top class. Dam 1 & 3 are some of the best trout stillwaters that I have fished in Mpumalanga as they both offer size, depth, weed growth and various other forms of structure which are all key elements to ensure an adequate environment for trout to flourish in.

For more information on Middelpunt or the TFFC, visit www.tffc.co.za

Youngsters fishing on Dam 7