Belfast is a town of 4600 people (2012) in Mpumalanga. With an average daily minimum temperature of 7°C, this is one of the coldest towns in South Africa. The town is renowned for its excellent trout fishing conditions.

Understand

Sheep and dairy farming take place here as well as maize, potatoes and timber are produced. Coal and a black granite are mined around Belfast. Around 6 million tulip bulbs are produced here annually for export; the flowers are discarded. Belfast is 2,025 m above sea level and one of the highest towns in South Africa.

The town was named after Richard Charles O'Neill from Belfast, Northern Ireland, who owned the farm on which the town was built.

Get in

By car

Follow the N4 east from Pretoria

See

Battle of Berg-en-dal Memorial south of Belfast

• 1 Berg-en-Dal Monument (along Hwy 4 just southeast of town). Commemorates one of the largest battles of the Anglo Boer War (updated Aug 2020)

Do

• Fly fishing: The cold rivers, streams and its six well stocked dams provide excellent fishing for trout and bass.
• There are many beautiful gardens and a tulip nursery.

Hiking

• Bospoort, +27 13 253-1304, moderate, two day, self-guided, 22 km
• Rapids, +27 13 253-1304, moderate, two day, self-guided, 16 km