Chalet 6 The Oaks

The Oaks-chalet is a 4 bedroom unit, one with a double bed, and 3 rooms with 2 single beds each, one full bathroom, extra toilet, spacious diningr00m-lounge, traditional kitchen with coal stove, stoep with covered braai. Fully equipped with bedding, cooking and eating utensils. Electricity is supplied and the electrical appliances are available. Beautiful view of the valley and dams. Ideal family unit.

click here to make a booking

Hello Morne

Wil net BAIE dankie sê vir die awesome tyd wat die manne gehad het.

Hoop hulle het hulself gedra!!! (hee-hee)

Ou Tyron, shame, hy kan nie genoeg gesels oor hoe mooi die sterre was nie.

Al die mans praat net met lof oor die plek en natuurlik jou gasvryheid.

Hulle praat al van die volgende kamp, dit moet ‘n familie kamp wees. Ek sal net mooi moet gaan

sit en uitwerk jong. Ons het nog ‘n jeug kamp en ‘n huwelikskamp wat voorlê

Hoe lyk jul bookings vir einde November se kant? Ek moet net die budget dophou jong.

Ek is bly hulle het dit geniet en weet maar jy sien hulle weer.

Ek waardeer als wat jy gedoen het Morne, nogmaals,

BAIE DANKIE, mag die Here jou uit jou skoene bless!!!

Blessings

Cleme.

(2011/05/05-08)

Emakhazeni Highlands – The Heart of Mpumalanga

Emakhazeni Highlands May Events Calendar 2011

Every Friday Old Joe’s Kaia Friday Happy Hour         N4 Schoemanskloof (013)7333045/6

Please join a Happy Hour get-together every Friday evening between 17:00 and 19:00 when drinks will be at ‘happy hour’ prices and a good wholesome pub meal will only cost R35!

Every Sunday Critchley Hackle Lodge- Lunch Carvery             Dullstroom

Booking Essential for bookings please contact Debbie 071 408 9582 or Clive 073 764 9507

N4 Schoemanskloof

Friday to Sunday, 6-8 May 2011

Labyrinth Weekend

Walk as one at Old Joe’s Kia ‘ on Saturday to effect a rolling wave of peaceful energy as the world turns the labyrinth as a tool. All meals dedicated to gourmet vegan food. For more info please contact (013)7333045/6

Kwena Basin

Saturday, 14 May 2011

Verloorenkloof River Fishing Day

This mid May weekend, in the past, was always the date of a River Fishing Challenge to raise funds for the Farm Schools Support Project in the Kwena Basin, which has been doing wonderful work for 11 years. For this year we have decided to host it as a Verlorenkloof River Fishing Day. We plan a full day of great fishing, with demonstrations on the ecology of the river, and river fishing techniques. Faith’s scrumptious brunch will provide sustenance.

Cost per fisherman is R600, of which we hope to donate a good share to the Schools Project. So please make up a group and join us at Verlorenkloof for the day. We also have a few crofts to rent for the weekend, so you may want to make a proper outing of it! Remember – non fishing partners are ALWAYS welcome.

For more info please phone Heidi on 082 827 3372 or 013 256 9314

Belfast

Friday to Sunday, 20 – 22 May 2011

Belfast Ladies Fly Fishing Competition

Join us at the ladies fly fishing competition, first 40 paid entrants will receive a free goodie bag. Entry fee R450.00 includes Fishing Permit, Friday evening snacks, Saturday brunch and Prize Giving Dinner.

Partner meals: R150-00

Sunday couples entry fee: R100 per couple (Includes permits and brunch)

For more information feel free to call us (Magda- BFFA):  013 253 0748 OR Janet 083 654 4856

Kindest Regards,

Silvia Mahlangu
Tourism Officer

Emakhazeni Tourism Association
Cell: +27 (0)76 809 2952
Fax: +27 (0)86 610 8663
Email: silvia@emakhazenitourism.com
Web: www.emakhazenitourism.com
www.facebook.com/ Emakhazeni Tourism Association
http://www.facebook.com/silvia.mahlangu
skype: sylvia5133

Matthew 19:26 With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible

Fly fishing Tuition @ Treeferns Trout Lodge

I was introduced to fly fishing in 1989 by Willie Du Toit, former member of the ‘Windknot Club’ in the Potchefstroom/Klerksdorp region. This was also the first time I had the opportunity to fish with his favourite rod:  A ‘Tambuki Craft’ split cane. After a few lessons, I bought myself a 2-weight Pflueger Summit (which I still use!!) ….  By this time I was hooked on fly fishing.

I grew up in Viljoenskroon:  A small town in the North western Free state, only 30km from the Vaal River. Each and every weekend I fished the Vaal. I’ve also started to get involved in quite a few competitions.  My first competition was in the early 90’s where I went to KZN on one of the Bell’s Classics.  At this competition I won my first prize for a fly I’ve tied called the ‘MYK’ (morne’s yellow fish killer!). This specific fly caught me quite a bunch of yellows!  In 2003 I moved to Mpumalanga and for the past 2 years I am fishing trout at least 8 x per week.

I won’t call myself a ‘Pro’, but I think of myself as a Fly Fisherman who wants to promote the sport and someone who really appreciate what nature has to offer…and this is fly fishing.

I will not only  teach you how to try and catch your first fish, I’ll give you something to enjoy:  ‘Nature!’…and when you enjoy and appreciate nature, you’ll be rewarded with that big fish!!…and after 22 years of fly fishing, you start to enjoy nature more than to catch a fish!

Here at Treeferns, we offer you that personal attention, 12 dams well stocked with trout, clean water and very good fishing!

We offer tuition for groups up to 10 persons p/day. We supply you with your rod, flies and and guided sessions on the dams.

Session includes a DVD presentation about Fly Fishing at Treeferns, practical casting instructions and the basics on knots, flies, lines, rods and reels.

Price:  R300-00 per person (4 hour session).

(Catering for groups can be arranged)

For bookings, please e-mail us on :

Welcome to fly fishing!

The slide show hi-lites only some of the basics :

Chalet 1 EROS

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This is so new ……..stunning !

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Eros is the old farm cottage dated from 1865, quaintly restored to a fully  furnished stone chalet with one spacious bedroom with double bed – ideal for couples and specifically honeymoon couples – or people who desire a second or third or further honeymoon. Eros also features an open-plan dining-room/kitchenette with old fashioned coal stove, spacious bathroom/shower, entrance-lounge with built-in braai, carport. Furnishing and equipment are comfortable complete with electric stove, fridge, microwave, bedding, towels – everything you need for an unforgettable stay. Very popular. Electricity is supplied by ESKOM.

Click here to make a booking

We want to thank you for your subscription to our Treeferns Trout Lodge Newsletter.

We will send you a newsletter once in a while to let you know what is happening at Treeferns Trout Lodge. The newsletter will include items such as what is happening at the Lodge, how the weather is influencing our fishing and availability of accommodation.

I trust you will enjoy the information snippets.

You can check our accommodation by clicking here.

Thank you gain,

Chris

At Treeferns Trout Lodge, apart from rendering an excellent service,  we also believe in staying visible in the market through advertising of our products, viz. accommodation and flyfishing. The measurement of our “sales” or success is occupancy and bed nights or use of the facilities, which accounts for  most of our revenue. The advertising media most often used are :

•  internet

• Google adwords

•  advertising in magazines

•  radio

•  agencies

•  word of mouth

•  notice boards

•  sponsorships

Of these word of mouth, the internet, our web site, and advertising in TCFF proved to be the most effective.

INTERNET

We have a very extended and dynamic web site, www.treeferns.co.za soliciting a large amount of traffic focussed on trout fishing – as shown by the February 2012 results  :

Average hits  per day- 130

Average unique visitors per day – 50

ADVERTISING

The magazine mostly contracted to advertise in, is TCFF. The response is always very positive, and compare favourably with the Internet. The quality is of a high standard as can be seen from the picture below.

RADIO

We also advertise on Radio Pulpit by means of a sponsorship :

and Radio Pretoria in the programme  “Hengel Parade” on Saturdays.

WORD of MOUTH

By far the most bookings come through “Word of mouth”, i.e. guests telling friends and family, and re-visits :

AGENCIES

Booking agencies, viz. Dullstroom Reservations, Mpumalanga Tourism, and Farmstay make bookings for a number of venues, and we also participate in this.

SPONSORSHIPS

Sponsorships or prizes for flyfishing competitions held by clubs, eg. Belfast, Machadodorp, TCFF Sterkfontein Event, and FOSAF are sympathetically considered..

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To be successfull a business has to have objectives and set standards to measure performance.  Invariably it is easier to set a standard than to keep it up or improve on it. The so-called law of diminishing standards is all too often true. It is therefore essential for any business to continuously monitor results, and take corrective action. Means to evaluate  are regular inspections, customer feed back, sales, turn-over, repeat orders, etc. In the hospitality industry in which Treeferns Trout Lodge is operating guest feedback, occupancy, and repeat bookings are significant indicators of performance in the key areas of infra-structure, facilities, accommodation, dams and fishing, safety and service.

Infra-structure.

A frequently asked question concerns the condition of roads, and as we are situated in a high rainfall area on uneven terrain, farmroads receive continuous attention. Also the main access road from surrounding towns is regularly monitored and reported to the responsible authority, and even contributed to.

Facilities

The dams are regularly inspected and repairs made when necessary, and weeds and grass cut to facilitate access and fishing. Upgrading is part of dam management.

Accommodation

A weekly inspection is carried out of the chalets with the aid of an inspection list, and repairs made when necessary.  Linen are inspected regularly, and repaired or replaced when necessary.

Fishing

Being the main attraction the quality of fishing is monitored continuously, and guests’ feedback followed up. The dams are stocked monthly with quality fish.

Health and Safety

A risk analysis has been done and safety measures introduced. A first aid kit is available. (See Safety and Security, under “Health.)

Service

Chalets are serviced on a daily basis.

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On  VLAKFONTEIN, home base of Treeferns Trout lodge, the distant past and yesterday is very much alive. Most people have a keen interest in historical events, and  guestions in regard to the history of the farm are frequently asked by guests. As many bookings are forthcoming from the web site, it is considered appropriate to also include  info relating to the past.

An old family farm like Vlakfontein is likely to have infra-structure, farming and household items many years old.  The farm was registered in the name of great-grand father, Frederik Jakobus Maré, in 1865. The old farm cottage (above), and cattle kraal(below) still excist and are in use.

The second homestead was converted to a managers house, and a portion  is also being used as a shed.

The third farm house (shown below) was re-built in 1908 after it was destroyed in the Anglo-Boer War,  is still in use, and breaths an atmosphere of  times gone by, and in misty weather one can almost sense the sacredness.

The original cottage now shelters an old ox waggon. On the under-carriage a wheel tax disc of the old Transvaal shows the date  1917. Ancient farming implements, books, and house hold items, etc. are to be seen in the kiosk at Reception.

Items on display include an old state bible dating 1892, given to Grandfather and -mother on their wedding day, coffee grinder, butter churn and mould, mincer, coal stove irons, milking cans,  bucket, tin with martini henry bullets from the Battle of Vlakfontein, giant soap making pots, etc.

An old single row, ox drawn hand plough, planter, a pair of ox yokes, branding iron, and gigantic lion spring trap decorate the entrance to Reception.

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At  Treeferns Trout Lodge the accommodation  for fly fishing and other guests consist of five stonebuilt chalets over-looking some of the dams,  four sleeping 6 people each in three separate bedrooms, two bathrooms, and open plan kitchen-diningroom-lounge. A new chalet, called Eros, has one bedroom with double bed.  Two more chalets, Panorama and Arum, have a double bed each, and the rest singles. They are fully equipped with bedding, towels, cooking-, and eating utensils, fireplace, braai, and carport. All the chalets have the necessary electric appliances, plus a micro-wave. Eskom power is available. Gas cookers and rechargeble lanterns are supplied in case of power failures. The chalets are self-catering but serviced on a daily basis.  Catering can also be arranged. The accommodation is private, but also ideally suitable for groups. A thatched lapa with washing-up, braai, toilet, and DSTV is very enjoyable. The water to the chalets is reticulated from the spring, and is certified for domestic use.

For more info, and pictures on, and availability of individual chalets go to “BOOKINGS.”

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