T

he village of Waterval Boven is nestled in the Drakensberg Mountains on the fringe of the escarpment, at the foot of the southern hills. It is rich with historical sites and buildings, which belonged to the old NZASM and are now proclaim national monuments.

There is also the old ZASM Tunnel and Five Arch Bridge, as well as President Paul Kruger’s official residence where he resided in 1900 before going into exile in Europe. The Elands River Waterfall is visible from the mouth of the old Railway Tunnel.

Waterval Boven has always been a railway town. The Nederlandsche Zuid Afrikaansche Spoorweg Maatschappij railway line reached Waterval Boven in 1894, opening up a direct line from Pretoria to the port of Lourenco Marques, known as the “Easternline” or “Oosterlijn”.

Today the Oosterlijn Steam Company has preserved this dramatic piece of history in the operation of class 15F and 25NC steam locomotives, as well as the “JAN WINTERVOGEL” the last remaining NZASM steam locomotive. Vintage rail safaris run through the lush semi tropical lowveld following the course of the Elands River or up through the Mpumalanga highlands into trout country covering some of the most scenic and adventurous steam locomotive routes in Africa.

Accommodation in the town ranging from budget and backpacker to upmarket fraternity chalets.There are numerous fly fishing dams and rivers of the Waterval Boven Trout Association for the fly fishing enthusiast.

For the more adventurous the world-renowned rock climbing cliffs offer challenges to the outdoor enthusiast.

Visit us for accommodation, fun, flyfishing, bird watching, rock climbing and other adventures in the Western Middleveld!