You are amazing, God !

“Indescribable,  uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky, and You know them by name; You are amazing, God. All-powerful; untamable; awestruck we stand as we humbly proclaim: You are amazing, God!”

What a wonderful experience!  Truly captivating  and  fulfilling with nature scenery that leaves one breathless and your soul feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

With the wonder and mystery of God’s  Creation revealing His majesty, you’ll be compelled to return for more. A great and  exciting hiking adventure and an incredible overall visit to Treeferns Trout Lodge.

Rialdi van der Merwe

10 November 2010.

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At last the day of departure arrived and excitement filled the air. After all, we’ve been looking forward to this trip for almost six months.

Upon arrival at Treeferns the reception was an immediate indication that this was going to be an experience of Low-veld hospitality at its best. I’ve visited the Low-veld a number of times and only once have we felt as welcome as we did upon arrival at Treeferns.

The rock style chalets were warm and welcoming with a rustic feel to it. Upon reflection I would say it was very befitting the environment and surroundings in every aspect. We occupied two of the chalets, Ribbok and Panorama, both had their own spectacular views and appeal. Fully equipped down to the most unexpected detail such as scales to weigh your quarry, a log book to capture the details of your victory among other details and necessities one normally take for granted – the clear sweet 100% natural spring water in the fridge was a real surprising highlight, especially considering it was December and the sun was a scorcher.

The only drawback found with the accommodation from my side was the fact that the shower was a bit narrow to my liking and the shower head was a bit low. I’m not the tallest of people standing at 1.68m and did not expect the shower to mainly spray against my neck. It’s not a real problem but as I said, just not what I expected. Another suggestion I have would be to roof the “braai” area at Ribbok chalet and maybe to install some shade netting on the sides of the patios that one can let down should the rain insist on blowing straight on to the patio where one is relaxing during the glorious thunderstorms should they occur.

The befitting patio blending seemingly into the rock structure provided a relaxing area to really kick back and admire our surroundings whilst enjoying each other’s company and a real “lekker braai” in the only fashion we South Africans know how. The abundant plant and bird life in the area combined with the awesome views of the veld, the gorge, dams and streams provided sweet eye candy for one and all and seem to have a soothing effect on all of us. Even the non fishing members of our group could not stop chattering and reflecting on their experience and the impact the environment had on them. This in itself was worth the planning long wait for our trip to Treeferns.

Now to get to the real reason us fisherman wanders out of our comfort zones.

We obscurely push away all technology to go hunting. Rod in hand, stalking ever illusive fish for hours on end and sometimes driven by pure obsession, will not quit till we feel the fast familiar tap on the line, the reaction instinctively follow, line tightening and instant reaction follow in the water. This is what it’s all about, the pure adrenaline rush one experience and the feeling of victory over your quarry.

Don’t be fooled, fishing at Treeferns is hard work and a load of patience is needed to accomplish the feeling of fulfillment and victory. You know you were spotted long before you spot the roaming trout in the crystal clear water. This only serves as a reminder that you’re now attempting to enter a realm where the trout is king and you’re the obvious suspicious outsider causing the fish to be even more weary and cautious.

We must have easily presented hundreds of different flies in different sizes and combinations before we found what seemed to be the closest pattern resembling the preferred source of food in size, color and imitation. To be truthful, there were three or four flies that did the trick for us, though all of them did not work every day. One could say it’s a “seasonal preference” on a daily basis such is the diversity of the flies preferred at the time.

Over the period of five days we caught a number of trout varying in size, releasing all but five to feed our taste buts. These included two wonderful trout, a hen of 1.54kg and a cock of 1.36kg (photo’s included). Curiously enough both were caught on the same day an hour apart with the same fly in almost the same spot. It took three days of meticulous elimination of flies and selection of sizes and combinations to hook in to these wonderful fish.

We know there are monsters lurking in the waters at Treeferns. Experience taught us an expensive lesson when we lost a number of flies, tippets and even a leader and a bit of fly line during our stay. These losses might be considered part of the game and acceptable under any circumstance; but let me reiterate, it hurts to feel and hear a monster tearing line off your real only to leave you in shame and without everything up to your fly line. Yes… flies, tippet and leader all gone in an instant. There we were, thinking our X4 tippet was strong enough to handle anything in the waters before us, just to be brought back to reality by a monster taking the leader as well.

All things considered, we were sad to leave when the time came and we really did not want to return to our dull daily lives and the so called “civilization” of which we are a part. Our first time visit to Treeferns will forever be imbedded in our hearts and minds and the wonderful time and experience will be with us for the rest of our days.

Plans are already under way to revisit this heaven and relive our experiences and create new ones… why does next year suddenly sound so far away? We just can’t wait to return for the next round.

Written by Douw O’Kelly as a reflection of experiences in December 2009.

Wel… Dis Maandag en hier is ons by Treeferns. Dikbek, moeg en voetseer.  Nee, ek is genadiglik nie halfpad afgelaai en moes maar loop nie, maar kom ek begin by die begin.  Die mense wat weet sê mos ‘n storie moet ‘n begin en ‘n einde hê.

‘n Week gelede begin manlief karring hy wil kom visvang. Ons was al voorheen by Treeferns, maar ek steek viervoet vas.  Visvang en dit begin koud word!! Bid jou dit nou aan. Hoekom sou ek wil saamkom – ek hou nie van visvang nie en ek wil niks weet nie.  Die huweliksvlammetjie begin laag brand en ten einde laaste kom ons tot ‘n vergelyk – 4 dae vang hy vis en vier dae gaan ons wildtuin toe.  Siedaar, altwee is tevrede en huweliksvrede vier weer hooggety. Die gemors is net dat ek 6 weke terug my enkel gebreek het. Ek glo nie ek is te kleinserig nie, maar seer bly seer en as seer nog by ‘n befoeterde vrou gevoeg word is dit ‘n resep vir ‘n totale gemors. Dus… dikbek, moeg en voetseer kom ons toe 5 uur die middag by Treeferns aan.

Een troos, vier dae en dan kan ek vakansie hou… Pas afgepak en siedaar, Manlief storm reguit water toe. Is dit nou die dank wat ek kry nadat ek besluit het om saam te kom? Dikbek het pas ‘n nuwe betekenis gekry! Sommer binne die eerste halfuur is daar twee visse gevang. Manlief is seker dat gaan ‘n goeie week wees ,maar ek nie.  Net so seker as wat ek weet ‘n mot het tande, so seker is ek dat vis se kind my met beskuldigende oë aankyk as hy geslag moet word. Ek vra myself die vraag af of ek dan nou geslag word elke keer wat ek ‘n stukkie sjokolade vaslê? Nee… en hier steek ek viervoet vas – geen vis sal geslag word nie. Later die aand gaan slaap ek maar, koud en moeg… maar manlief moet nou eers die vliegies en brommers en sprinkane en die joos weet wat nog uitpak en bekyk. Het ek genoem dat dikbek pas ‘n nuwe betekenis gekry het?

Dinsdag oggend en kwart voor 6 vlieg hy uit die bed om die visse te gaan ontmoet. Vir wat? ‘n Geheime vergadering waarvan ek niks mag weet nie?  Dit is ‘n onmoontlike uur van die dag!!! Wel, die een vis na die ander word gevang, maar genadiglik weer terug gesit in die water.  Sonder ‘n sweempie simpatie vir my seer voet en baie eensaam gaan sit ek maar op die stoep (om te broei oor my omstandighede sien?). Maar algaande raak ek kalmer, begin die koppies voor my ‘n vreemde bekoring kry.  Sien ek daar ver tussen die wolkies engeltjies wat lag en speel? Is dit ‘n silwer rantjie wat ek daar aan die westekant sien? Skielik hoor ek die voëls wat opgewonde kwetter, die vreugde in manlief se oë wanneer hy ‘n vis vang kry nuwe betekenis, die eende en selfs die kat wat kom kos soek, is ‘n plesier.  Ek wonder (net soms) wat aangaan, ek is nie meer ongelukkig omdat ons moet kom visvang nie, ek kan inteendeel nie meer wag vir die onmoontlike uur soggens nie.

Toe… gebeur dit wat almal wat my ken nie sal glo nie.  Manlief draai sy rug en ek gryp ‘n visstok en laat nael af water toe. Eers slaan ek amper my arm af in ‘n poging om die lyn in die water te kry.  Komaan, hoe moeilik kan dit nou wees?  Dit lyk dan so maklik.  Dan foeter ek amper in die dam, maar haal diep asem en probeer onthou hoe hy dit doen. Uiteindelik is die vliegie of was dit nou ‘

Wel, dis donderdag en agtien visse later. Ek het my eie persoonlike vis gevang (die foto is hiermee saam vir bewys edelagbare!). Ek het vrede in my hart, my voet is baie beter en ek het viskoors!!  Niemand gaan dit glo nie – die minste van almal ek!  Dikbek begin ek die tasse vir die volgende 4 dae van ons beplande vakansie pak. Wie se simpel idée was die wildtuin anyway?

Maar ek betrap myself dat ek uitsien na die volgende visvang sessie, want ek het geleer om vis te vang is om skoon te maak binne, die blink water is God se manier om jou te leer dat die lewe soms woes is, maar as jy lank genoeg stilstaan, sal alles in jou tot ruste kom. Ek beny my man die lewensles wat hy voor my geleer het. Die natuur is so wyd soos die Heer se genade en net so groot, jy moet net hoor waar om te soek…Skielik maak die woorde van George Washington Carver vir my sin:

Ek dink aan die natuur as radioseine sonder grense;

Waardeur God elke uur met ons praat -;

as ons net op sy golflengte wil inskakel om te luister.

George Washington Carver

Eers dan besef ek, met die Vader aan die stuur, het Treeferns meer as net my voet gesond gemaak…

Nikki Wilken

HHi Morne

On behalf of the Dullstroom Fly Fishers and anglers that took part in the event I would like to thank you very much for the use of your fishing waters. Anglers left Dullstroom with a great experience of some of the best waters Dullstroom has to offer. Many did and are indicating they will be back to spend some leisure time with their families and will be back with more mates for next year’s event.

Congratulation on having your waters selected by the majority of the anglers that fished Treeferns as the best waters, Dullstroom Fly Fishers will be presenting you with a certificate of recognition for this prestigious achievement.  Well done.

Once again thank you.

Kind regards

Greg Horn

Tel: 013 254 0908

Cell: 083 654 1367

Fax: 086 671 9834

e-mail: greghorn@mweb.co.za

♣

“We have been visiting Treeferns on and off for the past 10 years or more. We are keen flyfishers and have seen some of the best and a lot of very bad venues. Some of the most expensive resorts hardly stock more than twice a year. There are a lot of fish in the dams at Treeferns due to the monthly stocking policy.It is a pleasure to know for sure that there will always be good fishing and a warm welcome at this place.We will be back as usual.”

(Dave and Felicity van den Berg,15 August 2008)

♣

To: Chairman, Secretary and Committee members of FOSAF.

I write this thank you letter as a very proud and happy fly angler.  Some time back I was the lucky member to be the runner up in your monthly draw. The prize being a mid-week break at Treeferns Trout Lodge.

Chris Labuschagne, the owner, went out of his way to make our week memorable and more.  He was so accommodating that he even allowed us to postpone the trip.  Regretfully my wife changed jobs and was unable to accompany us which left dad with his two boys, Jason (9) and Matthew (4).

This was a  true  experience  of the reality of  farm life, and boy, did  we love it.  The boys’ highlight to the end of each day was comparing scratches in the bath. They found farm friends and ended up playing from morning to night with a bit of fishing in between.

That is where the proud father comes in. Jason was able to cast a wet line with a green caddis and retrieve it slowly like a little worm moving on the bottom. In a matter of one hour, he managed to catch two beautiful fish, both which we were able to release.  Just to put the fishing in perspective, it took me a day and a half to land my first fish.

The accommodation is comfortable, chalets consist of all  the basic requirements of an avid fisherman or a quiet family retreat. The one we stayed in had a kitchen, dining room and lounge, 2 bathrooms, three bedrooms, one with a double bed.

There are 12 dams, so most fisherman would be well accommodated for. All dams are within a fair walking distance but refreshments for the walk would be advisable. Alternatively you could take the easy route and drive. They are all well maintained and the farm does accommodate some cattle.

My love for fishing without compromising my family time proved this Lodge to be the ideal place to be at peace with both. Being totally child friendly, I definitely intend to return with my whole family and enjoy a quite week in this beautiful surroundings with its history waiting to be told.

Again thank you very very much.

Another happy member.

Lionel Ford.

3 October 2008

♣

“ My first time at Treeferns, all I can say it was great, Oom Chris and his team do a wonderful job in making you feel welcome. The fishing was great 4 days and 25 mint condition trout later. I’ll be back for sure.”
Christopher Barnard, Botswana,  7 – 11 July 2008

♣

3 November 2008

Mnr Chris Labuschagne

Treeferns Trout Lodge

Tel/Faks: 012 664 2394

e-mail: info@treeferns.co.za

Beste Mnr Labusch

agne

CON AMORE KERSMARK 2008

Die heerlike fonteinwater was ‘n groot lafenis tydens ons Kersmark op 30 en 31 Oktober en

1 November. Dit was drie besondere warm dae. U wonderlike skenking het vir ons ‘n groot

besparing mee gebring. Ons het sowat 80 werkers op ‘n skof binne die mark en in die Kosmark

is daar 8  gemeentes wat vir ons ‘n groot diens lewer. Almal het gebaat by Treeferns se

heerlike water.

Ons waardeer die moeite en koste wat u gehad het om die water te bottel, te vervoer en so

meer. Ons is bly ons kon on

s weldoener ontmoet.

Weereens ‘n groot dankie vir u ondersteuning en mooi gesindheid teenoor ons skool. Sonder

die gemeenskap se ondersteuning sal ons moeilik die skool kan bedryf.

Vriendelike Groete

Kumi Gieselbach

Hi Chris , thanks for a great weekend in Panorama . We will definitely be booking another weekend soon in the new year .

REGARD

S

Brian (7 December 2008)

“Come to Treeferns Farm and become one with nature, find your inner child, find a resting place, find peace, be filled with joy, stand in awe while you observe the mind blowing scenery, and get all the rest you need! Return home refeshed and treasure us in your hearts ! Once experience it, you come back time after time. and again.”

Jurie and Christa Lombard. (18 January 2009)

For the romantics at heart…Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Treeferns Trout Farm would make an ideal getaway and is very cost effective – give us a shout and we’ll organize you a fantastic weekend away.

Rina Jackson
uShamwari Safaris & Adventures
072-867 7052 / 011-802 3230
rina@ushamwari.co.za
www.ushamwari

.co.za

♣

Chris

Weereens baie dankie vir al jou gasvryheid.  Ek en Dena en die kinders het ons twee dae daar by julle op Treeferns Lodge terdee geniet.  Die uitleg van die huisies is ideaal en verseker elkeen se privaatheid en die geriewe is van hoogstaande gehalte.  Verder was die hengel uitdagend maar suksesvol.  Baie dankie vir die moeite wat julle almal doen om dit vir ons ‘n aangename ervaring te maak-van George en Amanda tot die skoonmakers en ou Sprinkaan!

Groete uit Centurion

Leon, Dena, Zander e

n Bernard

(1 – 3 April 2009)

Dr Leon Lategan

Senior Lecturer: Biokinetics

Department of Sport and Movement Studies

Faculty of Health Sciences

♣

Naand Oom Chris

Eerstens net dankie dat ons weer van oom se fasiliteite kan gebruik maak , dit is voorwaar  vir my n besonderse plek , m.b.t. verblyf , hengel , oom se vriendellikheid en bedagsaamheid , die ongelooflikke natuurskoon, hengel , ag oom Chris , dis sommer net lekker daar .

Dit is met groot afwagting waarna ons uitsien na die naweek .

Mag oom ryklik geseen word, in elke dag .

Groete

Evert

♣

Dear Chris

A really good performance all round.

The weekend was excellent, the guys all had a great time, you really have a lovely farm.

It seems that the popular vote is to go back to Treeferns next year, if you will allow us, and we may well make use of the catering option for at least one of the meals. I will let you have dates in due course.

Kind regards

Lloyd

2009/09/18

Baie dankie vir die foto’s en vir ‘n wonderlike week wat ons by Treeferns kon spandeer. Ek praat namens ons almal as ek sê dit was seker die beste en lekkerste week gewees wat ons in ‘n lang tyd geniet het en nogmaals dankie vir die gasvryheid en die gesellige ondervinding. Almal op die plaas was beleefd, gasvry en hulpvaardig. Dit was nou wragtig soos die engelsman sal sê ‘n “awesome” tyd gewees.

Ek weet oom wil graag terugvoer hê wat op die web geplaas kan word en ek besef ook die mees algemene kommunikasie taal van die web is in Engels. Dus skryf ek die volgende in Engels juis oor die rede en oom is vry om dit te publiseer op Treeferns se “web site”. Ek sluit ook ‘n foto of twee in as inspirasie en getuie ter stawing van wat ek hier skryf.

Douw O’Kelley, 16 – 20 Desember 2009

Goeie  dag Oom Chris

Nogmaals dankie vir ‘n wonderlike lodge. Ek sluit foto van my groot trout in. Oom kan dit maar op website sit. Ek gee nie om nie. As oom vir my ‘n posadres kan gee sale k al my fotos op ‘n cd sit en pos.

Groete en nogmaal dankie vir ‘n wonderlike plek.