Drakensberg and Zululand

Highlights

Eastern South Africa has a soul and a history like nowhere else in the world; traditional Zulu villages, historic battlefields, jagged 3000m peaks, hazy savannah and blazing white beaches. A plethora of majestic landscapes and experiences that will live in your memory forever.

Champagne Castle Hotel, Winterton

Champagne Castle is beautifully situated in a valley below some of the most spectacular Drakensberg Peaks. Monks Cowl and Cathkin Peaks add to the amazing panorama of the Dragon's Back rock formation.

The hotel itself is on a private estate and is spread out between several buildings, all of them low rise, the highest being 2 stories. Landscaped gardens surround the buildings and there is a gorgeous pool surrounded by extensive lawns and mature gardens.

Rooms are of a superior standard here, all of them with private balcony or terrace with views of the mountains. Rooms are not air-conditioned - it is not really necessary, and all rooms are doubles with baths and showers. There are 55 rooms in the hotel.

Further details on the hotel website.

Independent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor.

The Cavern Resort, Bergville

The Cavern Resort is a very popular hotel with South Africans taking holiday breaks in the northern Drakensberg. It is located very close to the spectacular Amphitheatre and Royal Natal National Park. It doesn't look like a regular hotel, nestled deep in a low valley, sheltered from the winds of the higher berg by high rocky cliffs, with the actual buildings of the hotel built on a steep slope and surrounded by mature trees and landscaped lawns.

All the hotel buildings are thatched, each with a private terrace or balcony. Rooms are spacious and simply decorated - all rooms have showers though not all have baths.

Further details on the hotel website.

Independent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor.

Rorke's Drift Lodge, Rorke's Drift

The adaptly named Rorke's Drift Hotel is a short walk from the famous Rorke's Drift battlefield - in fact the area where the hotel is located connects Rorke's Drift battlefield with the equally renowned Isandlwana.

The hotel has a stunning location: the Shiyane Mountain towers over the hotel, and it overlooks the Buffalo River - making for good birdlife viewing opportunities. The hotel's outdoor pool commands superb views over the African plain as it stretches out towards Isandlwana.

Unusually, the hotel features traditional Zulu style architecture: the rounded accommodation buildings - 'forts' - have uniquely shaped thatched roofs, with the roofs' centre missing so the central courtyard opens up to fresh air. In recognition of the famous battle that happened nearby, each room is named after a warrior or soldier from the campaign - such as King Shaka or Byrne! In contrast to the Zulu style buildings, the central communal areas feature detail from the Victorian era.

Further details on the hotel website.

Independent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor.

Falaza Game Park, Hluhluwe

Falaza Game Park is a private game reserve full of an incredible variety of birds, trees and animals. It is not far from the village of Hluhluwe (roughly pronounced shashlewee), though it feels as if it is miles away. Monkey orange trees, fever trees and sweat thorn acacia are home to duiker, giraffe and most amazingly, the docile white rhino, who can be seen wandering around the grounds.

Accommodation here is in permanent luxury tents - these have their own veranda, gorgeous furnishings with wooden floors and lovely artwork, and stone built en-suite bathrooms with baths and showers and fluffy robes and towels.

Further details on the hotel website.

Independent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor.

Inyati Game Reserve, Kruger National park

Inyati is a five star lodge located in the Sabi Sands Area of the Kruger National Park. This reserve is in an area of low rolling grassland, interspersed with wooded river valleys.

This is the lodge to stay at with the best chance of seeing the big 5. The most elusive of them is the leopard, and there are several who patrol the area around the lodge, so they can be tracked much more easily than in other parts of the reserve - (sightings obviously cannot be guaranteed though). Please note: Two game drives are included in the price of your stay.

The lodge is en suite, with 10 double rooms - This hotel offers a wonderful interaction with the 'big 5'- Buffalo come and graze on the lawns, Elephant wander past the swimming pool and although big cats will avoid lodges like this one during the day because they dislike humans, you sometimes hear them coming through at night - an utterly thrilling experience all round. Don't worry though: There is a night watchman to keep an eye on things during hours of darkness!!

The bungalow rooms are in pairs and cluster close to a central building with cosy bar and open veranda where pre dinner drinks are taken, overlooking a small river below you. Dinners are all outside at a long table formed around a fireplace, and the buffet dinner is presented with great ceremony by the chef who explains each dish. Breakfast is also a buffet, taken on the veranda of the central bungalow.

Rooms are beautifully presented - antiques, classic bathrooms, mosquito nets draped seductively over pristine sheets - the rooms are perfectly styled to blend with the incredible surroundings outside.

Further details on the hotel website.

Independent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor

Beverley Hills Hotel, Umhlanga Rocks, Durban

Standing tall above the beach and the crashing surf of the warm waters of the southwestern Indian Ocean is the Umhlanga Rocks, one of South Africa's premier coastal locations, twenty minutes drive from Durban.

With miles of glorious golden beaches and near perfect subtropical weather, this idyllic playground attracts sophisticated visitors from around the globe, seeking the best of sun, sea and glamour. The hotel is surrounded by a modern shopping and service district where you can stroll at your leisure.

Accommodation is spacious and luxurious and the suites have been restyled in muted hues of browns and creams and draped in rich suede and leather, Plasma television screens, cotton linen, with some suites offering dramatic sea views from the bath.

With such a perfect setting, every thoughtful touch is provided from the personal lounger which is set up on the beach in front of the hotel to the poolside service. The beach itself is perfect for long, romantic strolls and for the more energetic, the fully equipped gymnasium allows for more strenuous exercise.

The pool is a real treat, set high above the ocean, so while you are not swimming in the sea, it still sounds as if you are!

Further details on the hotel website.

Independent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor