The Drakensberg Mountains

CLEOPATRA MOUNTAIN FARMHOUSE
Richard and Mouse Poynton and their team have created a haven for food lovers. It is deservedly renowned throughout world for its outstanding country style cuisine making use of local produce such as freshly caught trout and farm house cheeses, together with home grown herbs, vegetables and home made breads. To complement the fine gourmet food, wines can be selected from the underground cellar. All 11 bedrooms -made up of 5 bedrooms, 4 suites and 2 cottages - have magnificent views across the lake to the mountains of the Giants Castle Nature Reserve, an area perfect for walking, birding and cycling due to the varied fauna and flora. Cookery courses are also offered.

MOORCROFT MANOR
The hotel is set in the rolling hills close to the charming village of Himeville and makes the perfect base for exploring the southern ‘berg’including the spectacular drive by 4x4 vehicle up the Sani Pass into the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. This small charming retreat is family-owned and has 8 well appointed bedrooms and suites, each with underfloor heating, a private patio and views to the mountains. In fine weather breakfast is served on the terrace overlooking their private dam whilst in the evening enjoy culinary delights prepared to perfection in the à la carte restaurant. For relaxation there is a delightful lounge and in the gardens is a rock pool.

SELBORNE LODGE
The lodge, situated about 40 minutes drive to the south of Durban, makes an ideal place to relax and enjoy the outstanding facilities or as a stop-over for a few days en route to the southern part of the Drakensberg Mountains. The resort complex is privately owned and apart from a scenic 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course, it has 49 elegant bedrooms and garden suites and delightful public rooms furnished with antiques. There are swimming pools and flood lit tennis courts in the gardens, a dedicated children’s facility, a small chapel for weddings and just a short drive away is the hotel’s private beach club. A professionally run Health Spa offers a range of treatments and therapies.

HARTFORD HOUSE
Originally the home of the last Prime Minister of the Colony of Natal, the house now offers the highest standards of comfort. It is located on one of South Africa’s most famous race horse stud farms amidst the stunning scenery of the Giant’s Castle area. There are 13 stylishly decorated suites with a host of amenities including under floor heating, fireplaces and spa baths. For a ‘hideaway’ there are 2 suites perched on the banks of the dam and each has wooden decking with private pools. The hotel has deservedly won numerous awards, not only for hospitality and fine food, but also for its outstanding gardens. Activities include tennis, trout fishing, horse riding, walks and birding.

CATHEDRAL PEAK
Surrounded by stunning scenery in the uKahlamba Drakensberg Park, a combined Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site, this family owned resort hotel has good accommodation varying from family-sized bungalows to deluxe rooms. Many leisure activities are available including guided walks (including to visit the bushman paintings), bird watching, tennis, mountain biking, jogging routes, 10m climbing tower, squash, swimming, horse riding, bowls and trout fishing (charges applicable). For the golfing enthusiast, there is a 9-hole golf course set against the backdrop of the mountains and the hotel also has a well equipped gym, steam bath and beauty therapist.

MONTUSI MOUNTAIN LODGE
From the 14 spacious, individual thatched garden suites you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the magnificent ‘Amphitheatre’. There is a restaurant providing fine cuisine and delicious home-made bread, lounge, bar, terrace and swimming pool with views over the escarpment. The resort offers a host of activities including hiking, horseriding, fly-fishing and birding. Beauty treatments and reflexology are offered nearby and the Amphitheatre Golf Course is also easily accessible. The lodge also offers at certain times of the year horse riding safaris with overnight fly-camping. The lodge is situated near Harrismith and Bergville.

DIDIMA CAMP
This camp, run by KwaZulu Natal Wildlife, is in the Cathedral Peak area and is themed around the rock art of the San people – there is a San Rock Art Interpretation centre on the site which provides a fascinating insight into the San people’s art and culture. Accommodation is in 66 comfortably furnished two, four and six bedded chalets, each with a fireplace and satellite TV. The restaurant has on offer a selection of local specialities, such as trout from nearby streams. A choice of activities is available including visits to see the San rock paintings which can be found in the area (charges applicable), birding and self-guided walking trails.