Kwagga Smith’s 200-Hectare Guest Farm: Inside the Springboks Star’s Dullstroom Property
- Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Kwagga Smith and his wife Ilke invested in a trout farm near Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, during the Covid-19 pandemic
- The roughly 200-hectare property, known as Kareekraal Guest Farm, combines trout fishing, agriculture and guest accommodation
- Smith's hands-on work at the farm included deepening dams and installing underwater structures, with the operation producing rainbow trout weighing up to 4.2kg
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Away from the intensity of Test rugby, Springbok flanker Kwagga Smith has been quietly developing a trout farm and guest destination in the Dullstroom area of Mpumalanga with his wife, Ilke.
The property, Kareekraal Guest Farm, spans approximately 200 hectares and combines a working trout operation with three guest cottages, each accommodating up to four visitors. The farm features fireplaces and braai facilities, well-suited to Dullstroom's famously cold climate.
**Smith's Roots in Rural Mpumalanga**
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Smith's affinity for farming predates his Springbok career. Growing up between Lydenburg and Ohrigstad in Mpumalanga, he developed an early connection to agriculture and the outdoors. In 2017, he took his first independent step into farming by purchasing a small plot adjacent to his father's land and planting pecan trees, an experience that laid the foundation for more ambitious plans.
**How Kareekraal Took Shape**
When professional rugby was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Smith and Ilke used the enforced break to throw themselves into developing Kareekraal, a property they had already acquired near Dullstroom. For roughly eight months, the couple worked on the farm, with Smith contributing directly to construction, dam development and the building of the three cottages.
His involvement in the trout operation was equally hands-on. He deepened sections of the dams and installed underwater structures to improve fish habitat. One dam now reaches a depth of around six metres. The results have been notable: rainbow trout on the farm have reached weights of up to 4.2kg, while brown trout have grown to approximately 2.5kg.
**Plans for Growth**
Smith and Ilke continue to share responsibility for managing both the agricultural and accommodation sides of Kareekraal. The couple have considered expanding the guest facilities by adding three more cabins, a move that could bring the farm's total capacity to around 30 visitors.
Fly-fishing is one of the farm's primary drawcards, complementing Dullstroom's established reputation as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. For Smith, Kareekraal represents more than a property investment. The farm offers a long-term project that exists independently of his rugby career, rooted in the rural landscape where he grew up.
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Source: Briefly News
