Flyfishing in the Southern Drakensberg of South Africa

The Kwazulu-Natal Southern Drakensberg affords more flyfishing opportunities than any other district in South Africa. The area abounds with many rivers and dams most suitable for trout. The rivers; Umzimkulu, Pholela and Umkomazi, the Ngagwana and Ndwana, the Umzimkulwana and Nkomosana are all clear,cool waters, rising deep within the Drakensberg. It is in the shadow the majestic Drakensberg peaks and deep ravines that these fabled waters abound. Wild-spawned fish of up to 3.5kg are often taken and from the dams one could bag a fish of 4.5kg and more.

The Underberg-Himeville Trout Fishing Club, formed in 1954 by landowners to provide public access to quality flyfishing, has as many as 1 000 members, has grown to become the largest flyfishing club in the country. The Club holds the fishing rights to more than 160 kilometers of river, as well as 54 dams with a surface area of more than 400 hectares. For many years the excellence of these waters in the Southern Drakensberg was a closely guarded secret, but recent seasons have seen steadily increasing streams of visiting fly-anglers in search of trophy trout, for nowhere else in South Africa are so many heavy-flanked fish caught in such unspoiled surroundings. The cost of a days fishing on the trout waters in the Southern Drakensberg may range between R35 and R250 and generally, you get what you pay for. Copious accommodation and resort facilities are available, ranging from NPB hutted camps, to rustic farm cottages, to three star resort hotels with their picturesque golf courses set in the foothill approaches to the mountain wilderness. Many farms in the district have visitor accommodation, with access to better than average flyfishing, offering river or dam and sometimes both.

Flyfishing infrastructures range from the casual, as for instance at the large resorts which offer flyfishing simply as one of a number of recreational opportunities, to the dedicated and highly specialised flyfishing resorts which exist only to provide flyfishing. The full spectrum of flyfishing opportunities include both stew-pond Put ´n Take, charged for by the kilo, right through to wild-spawning self sustaining systems such as the lake at Giants Cup Wilderness Reserve, and Lake Curragh on the Ndwana River. And should a body tire of the endless opportunities on bank, boat and river, one might undertake a day or overnight excursion up the renowned Sani Pass, where the switchback track offers the only vehicular access into the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. But don't forget to bring your flyrod, for here too the rivers hold a head of wild-spawned fish; the progeny of stockings undertaken arduous years ago, when the pass was no more than a pony track. The pass is still only accessible to four wheel drive vehicles, but for the angler not equipped with the latest twincab wimp-wagon, excursions are offered by a number of local tour operators and the Tsani river, just over the top, is full of rainbow trout.

The character of the countryside and fishing undergoes a great deal of seasonal change. During summer, with its afternoon thundershowers, the fish are often most active at first light, though the larger, deeper lakes can fish well throughout the day. Dragonflies, caddis, trico and baetid mayflies, and many midges species are all common. In winter, when waters are generally gin-clear, small flies between 16-22 are often the only producers. Intermediate lines and very slow retrieves are popular with many of the more successful anglers.