Lakeside With Lassie
go! - South Africa|August 2020
With close to 300 pans in a 20 km radius, the wetlands surrounding the town of Chrissiesmeer in Mpumalanga are some of the most important in South Africa. Here are five waterside and pet-friendly farm stays, tucked away in our very own “Lake District”.
Mia Louw
Lakeside With Lassie

You can see why Scotsman Alexander McCorkindale decided to settle in Chrissiesmeer – the glittering network of lakes and Highveld summer greenery must have reminded him of home.

In 1866, McCorkindale convinced the government to sell off 200 farms and establish a settlement that would service the trade route to Delagoa Bay, in what was then Portuguese East Africa (now Mozambique). He changed the name of the largest of the lakes, from Groot Zeekoepan to Lake Chrissie, paying tribute to the daughter of the president of the South African Republic, Marthinus Pretorius.

Today, Chrissiesmeer remains one of our most important wetland areas. Four rivers have their sources in the area – the Vaal, Komati, Olifants and Usutu – and birdlife is prolific. Flowers and frogs are just as plentiful. Indeed, the area is also known as Matotoland, after maxoxo, the siSwati word for frog. During summer, there are tours on offer to find these tiny treasures hiding in the grass.

But even if you’re not into birds, flowers and frogs, the lakeshore is a perfectly peaceful place to escape the hustle and bustle of Gauteng for a weekend. And even better if you can take your pooch along! Here are five great places to stay.

1 THE BOAT HOUSE

There’s no need to share the shore at The Boat House, which is hidden in a secluded cove west of Lake Chrissie. The elevated cabin is built against a bushy outcrop and the waterscape view stretches to the faint blue horizon. And yes, there is a boat!

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