At the foot of the mysterious Ghost Mountain in Zululand, this family-run inn offers a homely environment, with all of its stylish, spacious rooms featuring terrace or garden access. One of the many highlights is its proximity to Lake Jozini – one of the only lakes in South Africa where wild elephants swim – as well as Hluhluwe–iMfolozi and Mkuze game reserves for Big Five viewing and sightings of black and white rhino.
Located on a Natural Heritage Site, this award-winning lodge is perfectly placed for exploring KwaZulu-Natal’s historic 19th-century Anglo-Zulu battle sites on a fascinating battlefield tour. You can also head off in search of wildlife by foot or on horseback; or try your hand at fishing in the Buffalo River. Passionate guides, delicious cuisine and charming accommodation make it a great base from which to discover the area’s intriguing history.
This impressive beach resort on the eastern coast is made for relaxation. Set to the backdrop of the Indian Ocean, guests can walk down to Zimbali Beach to watch the waves come in, and though the tide is too strong for swimming, the resort’s facilities are plentiful with five pools to lounge by, an 18-hole golf course at the Zimbali Country Club and the Willow Stream Spa where guests can relax in the steamroom and unwind with a massage in one of the eight treatment rooms. There are eight restaurants and bars to choose from including OSA which serves Indian cuisine and Bite Pool Bar and Grill for lunches and cocktails by the pool. The resort is just a five-minute drive away from the shops and restaurants of beach town Ballito where the waters are calmer for swimming and there are frequent sightings of bottlenose dolphins. Rooms and suites are warmly decorated with contemporary African designs and have views of the pools, garden or Indian Ocean. Most rooms and suites are open-plan, featuring king-size beds and sliding doors that lead to an en suite furnished with luxurious Le Labo toiletries.
This cosy, family-run lodge sits on the edge of a thriving game reserve and in the lee of the famous hill for which it is named. Here you can spot rhino, zebra and giraffe on a thrilling game walk, go horse riding through spectacular scenery, tour Spioenkop’s Anglo-Boer War battlefield and hike in the idyllic Drakensberg Mountains. Tuck into locally-sourced cuisine and sip delicious sundowners as you take in pretty views, relaxing beneath a blanket of stars.
Ghost Mountain Inn
Fugitives' Drift Lodge, Zululand Battlefields
Fairmont Zimbali Resort
Three Tree Hill Lodge
