Stone Rooms on a Trout Lake in Dullstroom Village

Critchley Hackle is a stone-built lodge beside a private trout lake in the Mpumalanga Highlands, run with easygoing hospitality. Rooms have fireplaces, the lake is there for fly-fishing, and the outdoor pool cools things off before dinner in the restaurant overlooking the water. Dullstroom’s restaurants, shops and highland trails are close by, and it makes a relaxed halfway stop between Johannesburg and Kruger as well as a weekend away in its own right.

Critchley Hackle Lodge is located on the outskirts of Dullstroom, South Africa’s fly-fishing capital for trout. Overlooking a peaceful pond, the lodge has a distinct Scottish feel, complemented by friendly, helpful staff and a relaxed country atmosphere.

- Mary-Anne Finlay - Tour Guide Since 2006 (THETA Registration No: GP 2432)

Price Per Person Sharing From:

USD 84 - 102

Bedroom interior featuring lighted bedside lamps, a padded brown headboard, and a patterned quilt.

Highlights & What to Expect

Lakeside setting with a private trout lake for fly-fishing.
Stone cottages and rooms with cozy fireplaces and patios.
Outdoor swimming pool and gardens for relaxed afternoons.
Restaurant overlooking the lake, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Easy access to Dullstroom’s eateries, shops, and whisky bars.
Highland activities nearby: hiking, birding, biking, horseback riding.
Convenient stopover between Johannesburg and Kruger.
Garden cottages sleeping four.

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Overview of Critchley Hackle Lodge

At the edge of Dullstroom, the lodge sits on its own trout lake and faces rolling highland grasslands and stone-walled gardens.

Location & Setting

The highland air is crisp, the skies are open, and the village’s artisan shops, cafés and whisky bars are minutes away. It feels rural but is easy to reach, a scenic drive from Johannesburg on the road down to the Kruger Lowveld, with waterfalls, nature reserves and viewpoints within a day trip.

Rooms

Eleven units make up the lodge. Five Lakeview Rooms and three Tower Rooms sleep two each, while two Garden Cottages and the two-story Royal B sleep four. Rooms have fireplaces for cold highland nights, and the interiors are spacious and individually styled.

Facilities

Bring a fly rod: the lake is stocked with trout, and there is an outdoor pool for summer afternoons. The restaurant overlooks the water and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, mixing fusion dishes with traditional ones, and it is open to day visitors as well as residents. Wi-Fi is free. Dullstroom’s shops, pubs and fly-fishing outfitters are on the doorstep, and the drive from Gauteng takes about two and a half hours.

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