Overview, trip report, images and reviews from our visit to Drakensberg Sun Resort.
Overview
Our 2nd visit to the Central Drakensberg area but the first time we visited this resort. Our first visit to the area was in May 2006 when we visited Fernwood Lodge.
“Drakensberg Sun Resort is a luxury timeshare resort situated high in the dramatic landscape of the Cathkin Peak area of the Drakensberg Mountains, offering visitors breathtaking views and fresh mountain air.
Extensive use of natural materials, polished wood and rich earthy colours make the Drakensberg Sun Resort one of the most striking country resorts in South Africa. With the accent on comfort, the luxury rooms and suites offer uninterrupted mountain views.
The restaurant overlooks the resort’s private lake and offers an excellent buffet. Light snacks and drinks can be enjoyed on the Terrace throughout the day.
The Drakensberg Sun Resort has a proven track record for hosting seminars, conferences, banquet and intimate special occasion functions. The Resort is an Imvelo winner in 3 categories and received the Gold Heritage rating.
The Resort offers a wide range of activities from the Drakensberg Canopy Tour, horse riding, boating, sundowner cruises on the lake, pitch & putt, tennis, squash, volleyball, as well as spectacular mountain hikes, guided walks, mountain biking and an exciting new attraction “Qolf” – fun for the whole family.
The excellent Champagne Sports Golf Course is nearby and the resort has two outdoor swimming pools. The accent at the Drakensberg Sun Resort is on personal service and guests are assured of a most relaxing and memorable stay.”
Travels with Tshukudu: Drakensberg Sun Resort Trip Report
Monday, 8 October 2018: Departure from Pretoria & arrival at Drakensberg Sun. As per custom, we stopped at Wimpy, Harrismith for lunch. Driving to the resort brought back memories of our first visit in 2006 when we stayed at Fernwood Lodge. The check-in proceeded very quickly and efficiently. Porters were available to cart our luggage up to our apartment. The apartment was very spacious with a great view of the lake and mountain. It was remarkably quiet, quite eerily so… Unfortunately, there are areas in the apartment that definitely require attention and improvement/replacement, but the overall state was acceptable. Sadly, it is not up to par with the standard of the other Tsogo Sun timeshare resorts, which we were fortunate to visit.
Tuesday, 9 October 2018: We set this day out to explore the resort and the immediate vicinity. I did an early morning walk across the dam wall, capturing the tranquil waters on camera. We spent the rest of day taking photos of the gardens and resort. The facilities are kept to a high standard and all staff we met were very friendly.
Wednesday, 10 October 2018: Another day spent exploring the resort and the surrounds, focusing on photographing the wildlife around the lake (Pardon the pun!). In the afternoon I did a short hike around the perimeter of the lake, obtaining different vantage points to capture the expanse of the resort on camera.
Thursday, 11 October 2018: We visited Falcon Ridge Bird Sanctuary and Monks Cowl. A visit to the sanctuary is highly recommended. Monks Cowl is used as a base for hikes in the mountain and does not offer much for the casual visitor. Driving up to- and back from Monks Cowl does provide for beautiful scenery. Arriving back at the resort, we drove up the adjacent mountain after obtaining permission from Drakensberg Canopy Tours to make use of their road. This was our first real attempt at driving a 4×4 trail and all went well. Tshukudu, our Jeep performed awesomely! We had amazing photo opportunities from the top of the mountain! Well worth the adrenaline rush! It provided great views on the resort and lake below.
Friday, 12 October 2018: Departure from Drakensberg Sun & arrival at Pretoria. We stopped at Thokozisa Centre on the R600 en-route to Winterton and met an interesting lady at the Central Drakensberg Information Centre, who chatted to us about their travels in Kenia and neighbouring countries. We always meet the most interesting people on our travels! Instead of following the well-travelled route via Van Reenens Pass to Harrismith, we decided to take the R74 and to drive up the Oliviesrhoek Pass. It turned out to be a good decision as we were met with breath-taking scenery. Just before crossing into the Freestate, we had lunch at the Phatt Chef – the most amazing place with the best atmosphere! A must if you travel on this route. We made good time, even though the wind was pushing hard and arrived safely back at base, counting the days until our next trip.
Photo album
2018-10 Drakensberg Sun Resort
Resort website
Review