South Africa’s wild Lowveld region sees flocks of visitors throughout the year, as the country’s world renowned Kruger National Park draws a huge audience to its phenomenal grounds. There is no denying Kruger’s appeal, but what is often less talked about is the magnificent rolling hills and boulder koppies that characterise the Mpumalanga region on the border of the national park. In these ancient and historic rises and valleys lies the Panorama Route, which is famous for scenic vistas, clear waterfalls, and unique fauna and flora. It ties in beautifully to a safari in the Greater Kruger area, and at one of Mpumalanga’s highest peaks, Mala Mala’s Michael Rattray has spearheaded conservation and founded the picturesque Mount Anderson Water Reserve.
After years of watching the lack of environmental preservation change the nature of Kruger’s largest river systems, Rattray set his mind to confronting the problem at the source: high up in the Mpumalanga mountains, which feed the Kruger and Blyde rivers – Mount Anderson. At over 2000m above sea level, this famous hiking peak is the source of clean water and needed to be taken care of. Rattray combined his passion for nature and the environment, and his knowledge of the ecology of the region and put together a plan to buy and conserve the area for the good of clean, sustainable water. This was all almost 30 years ago, and since then, Mount Anderson Water Reserve has been thriving as an outstanding trout fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing destination, and the health of the ecosystem has been completely reinvented.
Major bush clearing removed all the alien plant species, allowing all the indigenous vegetation to grow, inviting natural bird and animal life back to their original home in the reserve. The eradication of overgrazing by removing all exotic livestock and introducing natural grazers and browsers effectively ended erosion, which was negatively impacting the water quality, which ultimately fed the human and animal populations of the whole area. Bird species have returned to the area with the regrowth of natural plants and flowers, bringing the quality of birdwatching back to the area. One very special feature is the presence of the critcally endangered Cape Vulture; while white-eyes, sunbirds, sugarbirds, swifts, swallows, and a host of other birds also find their homes at Mount Anderson.
There are numerous exquisite hiking, walking, and mountain biking trails on the 8000 hectare expanse of mountains and valleys, while crystal clear mountain pools and lakes offer some invigorating natural swimming and trout fishing spots. Picnics and sundowners out in this sublime portion of protected nature are one way to end a day of revitalising exploring. Visitors keen on horse riding will thrive in this remarkably beautiful region on horseback, and surrounded by the incredible wildlife species, which include oribi, eland, black wildebeest, rhebok, mountain reedbuck, zebra… the list goes on! Leopard, jackal, and caracal are the famous predators in the area, while unique species such as vlei rat, two types of otters, and water mongoose.
When it comes to accommodation at Mount Anderson, Michael Rattray has pulled out all the stops with an elegant manor ‘cottage’, called Golden Cottage, which is grand and classically opulent, with 5 en suite bedrooms, 2 lounges, a snooker room, dining room, and verandah with outdoor braai/barbeque area. 12 Guests can be accommodated in total through an exclusive booking, and guests will be very well catered for and looked after by the professional staff, guides, and hosts, Trent and Monica Sinclair. There is no scrimping on luxury, and every element of the Mount Anderson experience is bound to be nothing less than impressive.
Coming from one of the private Kruger reserve’s greatest icons, Mount Anderson was born from years of experience in the field of hospitality in beautiful nature, and there is something undeniably special about this Mpumalanga retreat.
