WELCOME TO HIGHLAND RUN

Trout Fishing in a
Secluded Mountain Valley

Trout Fishing in a
Secluded Mountain Valley

Trout Fishing in a
Secluded Mountain Valley

Five kilometres of the Spekboom
River, two self-catering cottages
and a valley near Lydenburg that
takes a dirt road to reach.

Five kilometres of the Spekboom
River, two self-catering cottages
and a valley near Lydenburg that
takes a dirt road to reach.

Book Your Stay

SELF-CATERING COTTAGES

Three Cottages With Room
for the Whole Party

Two Cottages With Room for the Whole Party

Fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, braai facilities and
a wood-fired hot tub on the deck, with housekeepers
seeing to both cottages during your stay.

Fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, braai facilities and
a wood-fired hot tub on the deck, with housekeepers
seeing to both cottages during your stay.

View Accommodation

FIVE KILOMETRES OF TROUT WATER

Fish the Spekboom,
Beat by Beat

Rapids, riffles, runs, glides and pools hold rainbow and brown trout,
and a beat system gives every rod a turn at the whole stream.

Rapids, riffles, runs, glides and pools hold rainbow and brown trout, and a beat system gives every rod a turn at the whole stream.

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OUT IN THE RESERVE

Hike, Ride and
Watch for the
Wildlife

Hike, Ride and
Watch for the
Wildlife

Trails climb from the river into the Mount Anderson reserve,
where antelope graze the slopes and highveld birdlife keeps
you looking up.

Trails climb from the river into the Mount Anderson reserve,
where antelope graze the slopes and highveld birdlife keeps
you looking up.

Explore Activities

NO SIGNAL, PLENTY OF SKY

Evenings by the Fire
Under Real Dark Skies

Evenings by the Fire Under Real Dark Skies

With little to no mobile reception, nights at Highland Run
belong to the braai, the fireplace and a sky you will
not see from town.

With little to no mobile reception, nights at Highland Run belong to the braai, the fireplace and a sky you will not see from town.

Plan Your Stay

Book Your Stay

2 Adult, 0 Children
– +
– +
1 Room
– +

A HIDDEN VALLEY NEAR LYDENBURG

A Mountain Valley Built Around a Trout River

The road in tells you what kind of place this is. A dirt road runs deep into the Spekboom Valley, through the wild folds of the mountains in Mpumalanga, and by the time the last gate is behind you the noise of the week has gone quiet. Highland Run sits on the banks of the Spekboom River inside the Mount Anderson reserve, where the slopes close in on either side and the water does most of the talking.

The river is the reason most guests come. The Spekboom is one of the few streams in South Africa where trout breed freely, and five kilometres of it runs through the property in a series of rapids, riffles, runs, glides and pools. At the height of summer it comes down full and fast. Through the drier months it settles and runs gin clear, which is when it tests even the best fishermen.

Beyond the banks, the reserve is open to walk and ride. Antelope graze the slopes, more than a hundred highveld bird species work the valley, and the relics of the area’s gold-rush days are still there to come across. Guests can hike, bring bikes, keep an eye out for the leopard that nobody quite expects to see, or take the day off entirely and sit on the patio.

Accommodation is two large self-catering cottages, both fully appointed, both opening onto mountain views with a wood-fired hot tub on the deck. Highly trained housekeepers see to your comfort throughout, and clean linen and towels are provided. There is no mobile reception to speak of, which most guests count as part of the appeal.

TAKE A LOOK

Welcome to
Highland Run

MAKE A BOOKING

Three Cottages on the Spekboom

All our cottages are self-catering, eachh take a group, and each sit within walking distance of the water. Choose your dates to see what is available.

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iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House
iNsomi House

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iNsomi House

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The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage
The Cottage

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The Cottage

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The Lodge
The Lodge
The Lodge
The Lodge
The Lodge
The Lodge
The Lodge
The Lodge

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The Lodge

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THINGS TO DO

Adventure Along the Spekboom River

The fishing is the headline, and the reserve around it fills the rest of the day. Walk or ride the valley trails, watch for antelope and highveld birdlife on the slopes, and wait for the dark to bring out a sky worth staying up for.

Explore All Activities

Fly Fishing

The farm has over five kilometres of some of the finest river fishing in South Africa. A beat system divides the stream in two, with four or five rods on each beat, and parties change over at midday so everyone fishes the whole water. Rainbows predominate in the upper beat, browns in the lower.
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Birding

Highveld avifauna work the valley in numbers, among them the brilliant malachite sunbird, the Cape vulture and the fish eagle. Walk the river line at first light or take the slopes above the cottages, where the open ground gives you the longer view.
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Wildlife Watching

Herds of Africa's less famous antelope are likely to be seen, including eland, black wildebeest, blesbuck, mountain reedbuck and the very uncommon oribi. Look out too for brief glimpses of leopard, jackal or caracal, and for the wide-ranging brown hyena that visits often.
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Hiking

The valley and the mountains surrounding the cottages will give family and friends hours of walking, through a reserve alive with antelope, birdlife and the hidden traces of the area's gold-rush past.
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Mountain Biking

Bring your own bikes, as none are available on the property. The same valley and mountain ground that carries the walking is open to riders, with the Spekboom below you and the reserve stretching away on either side.
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Stargazing

The remoteness of the destination allows for star-filled skies rarely seen and a night silence rarely encountered. With little to no mobile reception, the hours after the fishing are spent at the fire, and they are the ones most guests talk about afterwards.
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360 VIEW

Get A Closer Look

FAQ

The hotel is at 16 Minor Road in the heart of the Franschhoek Valley, Western Cape, in South Africa’s gourmet capital. It is just under an hour’s scenic drive from Cape Town, and about 75km from Cape Town International Airport.

There are 61 en-suite rooms and suites, made up of Classic, Classic Family and Deluxe rooms, Suites and Family Suites, along with self-catering one- and two-bedroom villas and a Deluxe Two Bedroom Villa.

Sauvage serves seasonal evening dining paired with an award-winning wine list, La Pavillion offers breakfast and light meals in a bright, airy setting, and the Terrace Bar and Lounge pours Cape wines, cocktails and artisan coffees. A High Tea runs on weekends.

Yes. Camelot Spa offers both traditional and contemporary treatments, with an outdoor massage garden, a flotation room, colour therapy, a fragrant herbal sauna and a steamy Swiss shower. Every visit begins with a wellness assessment.

Yes. Five fully equipped, air-conditioned venues with garden or mountain views host meetings, workshops and multi-day gatherings, supported by a dedicated on-site conference coordinator.

Yes. There is secure on-site parking and unlimited Wi-Fi throughout, along with a complimentary shuttle into the village, a concierge and a travel desk.

A comfortable stay

What Comes With the Cottage

What Comes With the Cottage

View Our Facilities
  • Fully equipped kitchen
  • Stove with oven
  • Microwave
  • Fridge and freezer
  • Cutlery and crockery
  • Open-plan lounge and dining
  • Fireplace, wood supplied
  • Braai facilities
  • Wood-fired hot tub
  • Furnished patio
  • Ceiling fans
  • Heaters
  • Linen and bath towels
  • Daily housekeeping
  • DSTV, selected channels
  • Wi-Fi
  • Covered carport
  • Private entrance

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Dining Shaped by the Region

Sauvage Restaurant

Sauvage

Creating magic with Chef Kyle & his team

When it is time to dine, guests can step into Sauvage, where the notes of a grand piano set the tone for an evening of inspired cuisine. The menu celebrates the region with seasonal dishes crafted from locally sourced produce, thoughtfully paired with local wines.

Learn more about Dining

OUR LATEST AND UPCOMING EVENTS

What's Happening at Highland Run

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September

2026

  • No events this month
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October

2026

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PACKAGED EXPERIENCES

It All Starts With A Dream

Dream Hotels and Resorts puts together stays that pair a cottage with the things people come to Mpumalanga for. Browse what is running across the group, or see what is currently loaded for Highland Run.

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Family Moments

Cap Classique & Champagne Wine Festival Package

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa

Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa

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INCLUDED

This Champagne Festival package includes:

  • 1 night's stay in the beautiful winelands, including breakfast for two
  • 2x entry to the Champagne Festival Saturday / Sunday.
  • Complimentary bottle of wine and fruit platter on arrival to start the sparkling weekend. Use of Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa's facilities:
  • Shuttle service is complimentary to Franschhoek Town
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Romantic Moments

Romantic Date night in the Winelands

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa

Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa

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INCLUDED

This Explore Franschhoek package includes:

  • 1-night stay in the beautiful winelands including breakfast for two
  • 2-course Dinner for 2 including a glass of wine each.
  • Wine Tasting at Holden Manz Wine Estate
  • Special Romantic Turndown with bubbly complimentary Use of Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa's faclilities:
View Package

TESTIMONIALS

What Our Guests Say

Testimonials

As a wife of a fly fisherman, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Highland Run. The unit is well laid out & equipped. The open plan kitchen, dinning room & lounge with a fire place has a warm & welcoming atmosphere. The perfect place to stay over as a family or with friends. A beautiful setting among the mountains and clear river to totally relax & unwind. 

Alice De Beer

Recently Stayed at Highland Run

Testimonials

I will definitely return to Highland Run Lodge. For the fly fisherman there are approximately 33 weirs in the beautiful Spekboom River that offers amazing trout fishing. Between the weirs, there are fast flowing streams for the more experienced fly fisherman to enjoy. The setting is stunning with mountains and cliffs all around. The perfect place for tranquility and getting back in touch with nature.

Charles De Beer

Recently Stayed at Highland Run

Testimonials

Beautiful place with comfortable accommodation and great trout fishing. Great place to unwind and enjoy with family and friends.

John Guy Taylor

Recently Stayed at Highland Run

Testimonials

This was our second stay at Highland Run, and what a stunning Christmas it was. The Cottage is a perfect place for large groups with more than enough space to relax, braai and socialize.  Linen is perfectly clean and crisp, kitchen and common areas are always cleaned. And there are more than enough bathrooms for 10-12 people. The fishing was also excellent.

T Sto

Recently Stayed at Highland Run

Testimonials

Amazing time at iNsomi House. Beautiful accommodation and excellent service from Doris. Even a dog bed for our Jack Russell. Recommend to anyone looking for a peaceful time away from the rush of life.

Daleen Farmer

Recently Stayed at Highland Run

THE REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

Travellers' Reviews

Good to Know

FAQ

Highland Run sits in the Spekboom Valley inside the Mount Anderson reserve, near Mashishing (Lydenburg) in Mpumalanga. The last stretch is gravel road through the reserve, so allow extra time and bring a vehicle with good ground clearance.

There is no cellphone reception on the property. Wi-Fi is available in both cottages, and the gate at the Mount Anderson reserve can be opened remotely by phone if you arrive and cannot raise anyone.

Two large self-catering cottages, The Cottage and iNsomi House, each with a fully equipped kitchen, an open-plan living area with a fireplace, braai facilities and a wood-fired hot tub. Housekeepers service both during your stay.

No. The five kilometres of Spekboom River are the main draw, but the surrounding Mount Anderson reserve is open for hiking, mountain biking on your own bikes, birding and wildlife watching, and the valley is a good place to do very little.

Yes. Children of all ages are welcome and the two cottages take up to ten and eight guests respectively, which suits families and small groups booking a whole cottage. Both are self-catering, so bring your own food and drinking water.

No pets are permitted anywhere on the property, and a no-smoking policy applies in the cottages. Highland Run sits inside a working nature reserve in Mpumalanga, which is the reason for both rules.

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