 | Drakensberg Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 36 |  |
 Sani Pass hotel by Bushman23
Maybe its cause the owners never want to spend money it, who knows. You can still have a pretty good stay here, dont get me wrong, its got lots to offer, but its not near as good as it used to be. Pity.
Ok, here is whats good, and not -
Good pool
Decent golf course
Rubbish tennis courts (last time i checked)
Nice Bowling greens
Decent hiking trails
Decent Horse rides Theme: HotelPrice: US$20-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: Himeville, Southern DrakensbergPhone: 033 702 1320Directions: Travel towards Underberg from Pietermaritzburg, then on to Himeville. Just passed Himeville turn left onto a dirt road. 10km down the line is the hotel.Website: www.Sanipasshotel.co.za
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 Chalet at Montusi by Bushman23
Very comfortable accommodation in self-catering units (there is a restaurant), a wonderful pool, and mountian bike trails add to the character of this resort. Theme: HotelPrice: US$40-80 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: Northern DrakensbergPhone: 036 438 6243Directions: head right after the tower of Pizza, travel for about 5km´s, hit right again, then again the first right after the low bridge.Website: www.Montusi.za.net
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 An A-frame at Sungubala by Bushman23
Hereś a list:
Stunning views
Unique atmosphere
Amazing hiking
Outstanding service Theme: OtherPrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Northern Drakensberg, the Cavern turnoffPhone: 036 438 6000Directions: Turn off left just before the Cavern hotel, your vehicle will stay secure, and youĺl be taken up to the camp in $x4Website: www.sungubala.za.net
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 Part of the Hotel by Bushman23
The best thing about this hotel is the wide variety of hikes on offer. Everything from a short 1/2 hour walk to a full 8 hour ,Big 5 hike, is available. And the views from the hikes are breathtaking, so don?t forget your camera! Theme: HotelPrice: US$20-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Northern DrakensbergPhone: 036 438 6270Directions: Follow the Northern Drakensberg signs from bergville, then take a left at The Cavern sign, follow the road to the end...Website: www.Cavernberg.co.za
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 Happy Campers by Bushman23
The views of the amphitheatre are awesome, there is a great little bar, with big screen TV (see "A quiet night out?" tip) They also have a wonderful 9 hole golf course. The Campsite communal bathrooms have lovely hot water, which comes at high pressure too!
My only issue with the Resort is that the shop and office close ridiculously early, at about 4pm every day. Theme: CampgroundPrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: Northern BergPhone: 036 438 6308Directions: Head towards Royal Natal National Park, turn right just after the tower of Pizza, then first left again.Website: www.Hlalanathi.za.net
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 HIMEVILLE ARMS by PEE-WEE
The Torridon Cellar has a fine selection of wines, and its medieval décor makes it a popular venue for small conferences and private functions. The Arms Country Pub and Knights Grill serves hearty lunches and suppers, accompanied by a roaring fire.
Guests can relax around the hotel swimming-pool or enjoy the nearby facilities for horse-riding, golf, tennis, hiking, bowls and squash. The Sani Package involves a 4x4 trip up the Sani Pass, spending one night at the Sani Top Chalet - the highest pub in Africa - and one night at the Himeville Arms.
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 HORSE RIDING TRAIL by PEE-WEE
In addition to its three restaurants and three bars, the hotel offers many sporting facilities including a picturesque 18-hole golf-course, boating, trout-fishing, a 27-hole grass putt-putt course, bowls, tennis, riding, swimming, squash, a 9-hole pitch-and-putt course, two sand volleyball courts, a mini zoo for the children and a variety of scenic walks and hikes on the 860-acre estate.
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My husband and I spent a few days in Injisuthi in January 2009, a couple of days on our own and then with his family, who had come up from Cape Town.
I didn't think that much of the accommodation to be honest, there is a lounge, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom, but they aren't fitted out so well, and although you can say 'well, this is a National Park, and a lot cheaper...' this is the worse we have come across in our travels in South Africa - we have stayed at many National Parks and this is by far the worse. The beds were also very uncomfortable.
Having said that, they were clean and serviced daily.
This area is right amidst the mountains, and is overlooked by Monks Cowl peaks. There are waterfalls, rivers and forests to explore and swim in... we had a lovely time fishing and being with family.
Please note the following!
(1) There is a little shop where you can charge your batteries as there are no electrical points in the huts!
(2) Lights go out at 10pm too every night, as they operate via a generator.
(3) There is no mobile reception here and the only landline (in the manager's offce) is not working as the copper wiring was stolen a few months ago!!!!
(4) The road to and from the camp is 31 kms of sheer misery too.. I highly recommend you drive a 4x4 to get here. The road was terrible getting there, while we were there, there were huge downpours, and some of the road was actually flooded and washed away...
(5) The camp recommends you do not drive the 31 kms of road when it is dark as there have been incidents in the past with passing cars... you drive through a settlement.
(5) There is a big baboon problem here... you have to keep all your windows closed at all times or else they get in... and there is no fan system inside the hut, so you boil inside.
(6) The shop is VERY expensive, get your supplies prior to coming. There is no fresh bread/rolls available here.
(7) I am a chronic asthmatic and had recently been hospitalised, so my lungs were still really weak when I came here and I have to say the thought of no communication and being so far away from medical help was a huge worry to me.
So... I would think twice before coming here again.. even though it is so beautiful and it happens to be a firm favourite of the inlaws.
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 TROUT FISHING by PEE-WEE
Built from natural materials, including local sandstone, the two/three-bedroomed cottages with their twin thatched roofs blend in with the surroundings. Each cottage includes a lounge with a fireplace, a spacious dining-room, a fully equipped kitchen and a braai area on the patio. Certain units also have a spa.
Facilities include trout-fishing, boating and canoeing, riding, hiking, two all-weather tennis-courts (one floodlit), mini-golf, a natural rock-hewn swimming-pool, an outdoor chess set, a volley-ball court and a children’s playground. The recreational centre has pool-tables, table-tennis and darts.
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Wits End is situated in Champagne Valley, amidst the Drakensberg Mountains. It is family run and is homely and comfortable. If you want a relaxing time away with your family, this is the place to come to.
We came here to celebrate my mum's 60th birthday... with family from England and South Africa getting together. My whole immediate family was here except for my brother and his family in the States. So it holds poignant memories for me, not only because it was a delightful place to visit, but because it was with my much loved and much missed mum and brother and his family.
They have a variety of accommodation available (all self catering cottages), and we had a large 8 bed cottage. It had 4 big bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a big kitchen with an ope plan lounge area. There was a covered patio area where e ate our meals together, out by the braai area, being overlooked by the gorgeous Champagne Castle peak!
We had a couple of big thunder storms (typical for the area), where they last for about an hour with tremendous rain and thunder and lightening... and one night we even had hail! The lights went out twice, and one night we had to do everything by candlelight :)
They have a 10 acre dam with rainbow trout and Natal yellow fish, and guests fish here plus canoe. My husband did a spot of fishing here from a boat.. the sides of the banks were too steep for him to stand and fish from (he does fly fishing), so the boat it was!
There are plenty of birds in the indigenous gardens which is a priority in their ecologically friendly policy. They also have a resident donkey (which we named Simon), 2 domestic pigs, a jack russel and some gorgeous horses, which you can horse ride on. It is a child friendly resort for sure.
There is a table tennis game area, darts, a trampoline and climbing gym for the kids, plus, for all the family... a gorgeous rock pool... whihc we practically lived in as it was so hot!
There are local hikes and walks and specific hikes through the local forest to find bushman art. You would need a guided walk for this, which the management can arrange for you.
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