A weekend getaway in the Drakensberg is relatively accessible to most South Africans whether you live in Gauteng or the Free State, and it’s even easier if you live in KwaZulu-Natal.
And if you live further, it’s still worth the drive. Here’s a list of accommodation options for a Drakensberg getaway.
1. Greenfire Lodge
Picture: Teagan Cunniffe/ Getaway Gallery
The road to the lodge takes you higher and higher until you reach Greenfire Lodge at an altitude of 1 800m which gives you breathtaking views from the Amphitheatre to Cathkin Peak.
The lodge’s log cabins are cosy – each with a fireplace with home-cooked meals available, to be enjoyed around a communal table.
Some might find the facilities basic but it is luxury in its own right as you open the front door to nature. What more could you ask for?
Cost: From R1 500 pps
Contact: greenfire.co.za
Are you looking for a place to eat in the Free State? Then you should explore the best restaurants in Bloemfontein.
2. The Cavern
A beloved Draksberg retreat, this family-owned resort is located at the end of a road surrounded by soaring mountains, but this is a far more intimate and cosy experience.
With a wide range of amenities from a swimming pool, tennis courts, The Forest Retreat Spa and resident guides, it’s the perfect family weekend getaway in the Drakensberg to keep everyone entertained.
Read: The Cavern: a legacy in the Drakensberg Mountains
Cost: R1 680 pps
Contact cavern.co.za
3. Sungubala Eco-camp
Picture: Teagan Cunniffe/ Getaway Gallery
A dirt track up the mountain (no 4×4 required) to reach a small plateau and a low-key rustic eco camp dwarfed by the
2 000-metre-high mountain after which it is named.
There are several self-catering options: two double-storey chalets (each sleeping five in two bedrooms), a mountain bungalow (sleeping six) and central Camels Camp, comprising three thatched en-suite two-bedroom rondavels (sleeping four each), two twin-bed A-frame units with their own ablutions and three small thatched A-frame units that share a communal ablution block.
Views are spectacular: huge forest-clad slopes topped by sheer cliffs that fill your horizon, with extras such as daily servicing, guided hikes and a swimming pool.
Cost: R520 pps.
Contact sungubala.co.za
4. Giant’s Castle
In Giants Castle, you stay for the views. Picture: Getaway Gallery
Scenic and relatively untouched, this conservancy of protected Drakensberg wildlife isTucked in the central region of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park.
Giant’s Castle is so-called because the silhouette of a sleeping giant emerges from the distant peaks come sunset. The chalets may be standard, but remember that you are therefore the views.
Rates: Self-catering from R975 for a two-sleeper mountain-view chalet.
Contact: giantscastle.info
5. Mahai Campsite
Picture: Getaway Gallery
If you’re looking for the perfect weekend getaway in the picturesque Drakensberg, look no further than Mahai Campsite. This popular and well-serviced campsite is ensconced in the idyllic surroundings of Royal Natal National Park and boasts stunning views of the mountains from all angles. With a beautiful grassy area and a winding riverbank, it’s the ideal spot for an active weekend filled with hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities that let you truly appreciate this unique landscape.
Whether you’re travelling alone or with friends or family, Mahai Campsite is sure to be an unforgettable experience that will leave you longing to return again and again. So what are you waiting for? Book your trip today!
Cost: R140 per person per night
Contact: 036-438-6310, kznwildlife.com
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