IF YOU GO . . .

WHERE IT IS: On the banks of the Komati River, near Carolina in Mpumalanga’s grasslands and wetlands region.

WHY GO THERE: To walk, read, fish, sleep, watch the river or take your pet on holiday.

WHAT IT HAS: Simple, comfortable chalets with great bathrooms and fireplaces in the main area. You can also stay in a room in the hotel, which has a big bar-restaurant. There’s no cellphone reception, but there are big skies, silver trout dams and horses.

WHAT IT’S LIKE: Big enough to feel wild and free and small enough to feel safe and cosy.

AND THE FOOD: Take your own delicious weekend-away fare.

RATES: Self-catering houses from R1 500 per night for two bedrooms up to R3 990 for four bedrooms; hotel rooms from R795 per person sharing, including a two-course dinner.

GETTING THERE: Komati Gorge Lodge is four hours from Johannesburg along the N4. There is a short cut to Carolina near where the old road from Middelburg joins the N4, or you can carry on to Belfast or Machadodorp and take the R33 or R36 respectively from there. The lodge is another half hour or so from Carolina.

WHAT THERE IS TO SEE ON THE WAY: Botshabelo — “the place of refuge” — is the German-style fort and national heritage site 15km north of Middelburg. The fort and mission station were built by Alexander Merensky of the Berlin Missionary Society to harbour converted Bapedi refugees who were on the run from Sekhukhune, their chief.

CONTACTS: Visit komatigorge.co.za, e-mail komatigorge@telkomsa.net, or phone 014 843 3920. LOCAL ATTRACTION: The trout pies from the famous Milly’s Star Stop at Machadodorp.