Drakensberg Hotels

• poortrekkers
• Reviews: 56

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Ekuthuleni: The Best of the Southern Drakensberg

This was the most beautiful place that we have stayed throughout all of the Drakensberg. Ekuthuleni is made up of a handful of self catered, thatched roof chalets surrounded by the most stunning scenery. This is a place of quiet beauty. We had minimal contact with the hosts or any other tourists while we were there. Our cottage, Mvuleni, had a small porch were we could watch the sunset as we ate dinner. The uMzimkulu river runs through the property, and is ideal for a picnic and swim.

Despite its isolation, Ekuthuleni is accessible to many attractions in the Southern Drakensberg. It is a short drive to Garden Castle Park with is full of hiking; an easy day trip up the Sani Pass; and there are many good restaurants in Himeville, for the nights that you do not want to "self cater".

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Related to: National/State Park, Hiking and Walking, Romantic Travel and Honeymoons
• Written February 9, 2008

Ekuthuleni

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• poortrekkers
• Reviews: 56

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Berg House and Cottages: Chalet in the Northern Drakensberg

This beautifully situated B&B is made up of a few quiet, self catered little chalets, over looking the Northern Drakensberg. The individual chalets are very cozy and surrounded by fabulous gardens and blooming jacaranda trees. The main house has the most incredible lavender plants you have ever seen! The property was just breathtaking. We had quite the panoramic view, and we actually got up before dawn one day to hike up one of the local hill to watch the sunrise! The hosts were very friendly and provided a home made dinner for a nominal cost. We sat on our patio and ate by candle light as the sun set.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Related to: National/State Park, Hiking and Walking, Horse Riding
• Written January 8, 2008

One of the Chalets

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• Artemistica
• Reviews: 5

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• Eish
• Reviews: 114

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Didima Camp: Luxury self-catering at Cathedral Peak

We stayed in a stunning glass and thatch 4-bed chalet. It had 2 en-suite bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area, and a stunning fireplace. Didima also has many 2-bed chalets built into peak-cap shaped houses decorated as if they are San rock paintings under an overhang. Very cute. The "overhang houses" each have 2x2-bed chalets in them, that open up with an interleading door if you want to convert them to a 4-bed unit. In addition, there is also a 6-bed chalet and a honeymoon suite.

Unfortunately, there is satellite TV in the chalets too.

The camp has a swimming pool, tennis courts, a San Art museum, a central entertainment complex which contains a curio and grocery shop, a restaurant (if you don't want to self-cater), a bar, and a lounge.

- The stunning view of Cathedral Peak from almost everywhere that you sit, stand and walk! (Makes you forget that the road to the Cathedral Peak hotel runs right in front of Didima - it is never busy)
- Magnificent hiking - just 4 km along a contour path to scones and tea at Cathedral Peak hotel, 1 day hike up Cathedral Peak, or multi-day hikes up Mike's Pass.
- A chance to outwit the baboons who will steal from your chalet if you give them half a chance. (We lost our Thai-flavoured french loaf waiting to be put on the fire for a snack.)

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Related to: National/State Park, Mountain Climbing, Hiking and Walking
• Written December 18, 2007

The chalets set in grass, facing the mountains

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• mtncorg
• Reviews: 3126

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TENT IN THE OPEN OUTDOORS: Great Night Skies!

Out in the wilds of the upper Drakensberg, you are on your own for shelter. There are no accommodations of any kind up here besides the occasional herdsmen’s hut or overhanging cave. The benefit is that you normally have the valley you camp in to yourself and with a good clear night, you have a whole lot of night sky to gaze up at. A whole lot of quiet to go along with that, as well.

• Opinion of Price: least expensive
• Related to: Hiking and Walking, Mountain Climbing, Camping
• Written April 12, 2007

Campsite on One Tree Hill near Cathedral Peak

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• mtncorg
• Reviews: 3126

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PATROL CABIN: Highest Hut in South Africa

The original thought had been to push a road up over the Escarpment into Lesotho from Phuthaditjhabab on the Free State side. That road ends at the Sentinel Car Park with the last chance for cold beer some 6-7 rough miles lower down at the Witzieschoek Mountain Resort. The road was never finished, but the Chain Ladders were built by the same man who was responsible for the Witzieschoek Mountain Resort, the Caterpillar and Catfish Cookhouse atop Oliviershoek on highway N74 and the Drakensberg Inn in Bergville - Otto Zunckel. Otto was also responsible for building this stone hut near the top of Thukela Falls. The original cabin had tables, chairs, beds with mattresses, a stove and a fireplace. The cabin had been open to all mountaineers. With time, the cabin had been ransacked and fell into disrepair. Lately, the cabin has been repaired - albeit minus the chairs, tables, beds and mattresses, but it was repaired to make room for rangers of the EZKZN (KZN Park rangers) as their home atop the rim. Luckily for most of us - I guess - the Park rangers are rarely out and about so there is usually no problem laying you sleeping bag out on one of the floors and keeping your tent folded away. It is much easier to endure that thunderstorm with pelting rain from inside these stone walls and metal roof, than from outside in a tent. Here, I speak from personal experience.

• Opinion of Price: least expensive
• Related to: Hiking and Walking, Historical Travel, National/State Park
• Written April 12, 2007

Entrance to the Patrol Cabin

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• mtncorg
• Reviews: 3126

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ANTBEAR GUEST HOUSE: INTERNATIONAL ECLECTICISM

This is one of those possibilities for a quintessential South African/International experience. Situated high in the foothills of the Drakensberg, you have a grand view to the north with the Drakensberg Escarpment visible from Giant's Castle all the way to the Amphtitheatre at Royal Natal National Park. The setting is country rustic with chickens and the occasional grey rhebuck wandering about on the lawns. Eclectic and whimsy is evident throughout with the larger rooms enjoying jacuzzi tubs and lofts and the smaller rooms still very comfortable. There is a large central house containing the kitchen, a large dining room and a comfortable lounge replete with books and magazines and a large magical fireplace. Andrew and Connie are very amiable hosts with plenty of stories from their colorful lives. but it is not a one-way conversation around the breakfast/dinner table. This is where the guesthouse concept truly takes off. I spent four nights here and guests came and went from countries like Belgium, the US, South Africa, Germany and Denmark. Conversation takes the place of electronic media. Social intercourse making the World seem smaller. These are the moments when vacations can take on a bit of magic, sitting there under thatched rusticity. Conviviality in the extreme, I recommend staying here for several days to take advantage of the hospitality and the location - many places to see in the immediate vicinity (Kamberg, Giants Castle, Champagne Valley, the KwaZulu battlefields, Weenen Game Reserve, African Stork Reserve, etc). Check out Andrew's extensive website for lots more ideas!

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Related to: Horse Riding, Road Trip, Food and Dining
• Written April 10, 2007

Antbear Guesthouse

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• Ginti
• Reviews: 1

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Oak Tree Lodge - Ridgedale Trout Farm: Southern Berg Warm Hospitality

After travelling for hours with traffic delays in the car with four hungry teenagers we arrived at Oak Tree Lodge only to discover that our hosts, Craig and Shelley had prepared an impromptu dinner for us knowing that we would not be willing to go out to a restaurant and still wait for our meal. Their warmth and hospitality was amazing and I would recommend that everyone visiting the Southern Drakensberg stay at Oak Tree Lodge.

After a hearty breakfast we filled our days with many activities like, horse riding, quad biking and river rafting. The highlight of our stay had to be the guided tour up Sani Pass with breathtaking views. Don't forget to pack extra warm clothing for that - it's chilly up there. We had lunch and sherry at the Highest Pub in Africa.

The locality of Oak Tree Lodge is ideal. Close to town, close to the mountains, it made our holiday very convenient.

The bathrooms in the lodge are gorgeous. The under floor heating was an added bonus.

The deck overlooking the dam and waterfall where the kids did some serious trout fishing was at it's best at sunset.

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Related to: Fishing, Horse Riding, Family Travel
• Written May 27, 2006

Bathroom bliss

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• drakensberg
• Reviews: 1

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Antbear Guesthouse: Drakensberg most cozy B&B

I loved it. This is my best Drakensberg experience so far. Every single aspect of the Antbear is different to what you would expect. There is a fireplace in the bedroom and a jacuzzi in the bathroom. Its spacious with artisticly designed wooden finishes and whereever you look there are little wooden catches and ingenoius mechanisms to close the windows, open the cuboards. But what really makes the Antbear stand out from every else I have ever been is the hospitable owners Andrew and Connie

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Related to: Food and Dining, Budget Travel, Hiking and Walking
• Written June 16, 2005

Antbear Guesthouse

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