Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse nestles in the beautiful Kamberg region of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, set on 202 hectares of rolling hills at the foot of the Drakensberg mountains. It is owned and run by Richard and Mouse Poynton, whose many years of experience, passion for cooking and flair for ingenuity have created a rare experience in this serene mountain setting. You'll be welcomed warmly, stay in idyllic accommodation, walk in the mountains, wallow in the silence far from traffic and meetings, enjoy seven-course dinners and be pampered in the spa. Just gaze at the view and feel the tension dissolve.
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Mountains and lush greenery surround the farmhouse, whose interiors have been decorated with kitchen utensils and a treasure trove of collectables gathered during the couple's years of travel. The atmosphere is elegant but leisurely. The lounge and library are cosy, and there are blazing log fires on chilly evenings. The gardens feature herb patches and lovely rose bushes. Enjoy a spa treatment at the new Copper Pot Spa. Looking for a wedding venue? Cleopatra Farmhouse does functions well. Wi-fi throughout.
Cleopatra has 11 rooms, all designed in elegant farmhouse style. Two private cottages, decorated with personal treasures, and two executive suites each have a private veranda with views to the mountains across the trout-stocked dam. There are also two standard suites and five standard bedrooms, all dressed in super-luxurious style. The beds are huge and warm, dressed with fine linens and mohair blankets; the bathrooms are large, with heated towel rails; and there's a TV and wi-fi.
Horse riding in the Drakensberg is very popular. The beautiful Appaloosa horses will take you over rolling hills surrounded by spectacular mountain cliffs, gullies and buttresses. Trout fishing is available all year. Birdwatching, hiking, swimming, scenic walks and picnics are also popular. The area is also known for its fauna and flora. View the Drakensberg by helicopter, buy treasures at the exciting craft shops on the Midlands Meander, see 3000-year-old Bushman Rock Art and visit the Crane Rehabilitation Centre.
The food - and it's not even close. Owner-chef Richard Poynton's multi-course dinners are legendary, prepared with ingredients from the kitchen garden, and locally caught trout. You'll arrive for the mountains and leave talking about the meals.
Pick a wine from the underground cellar before dinner - it's stocked with an excellent South African selection and choosing your own bottle down there, surrounded by stone walls and candlelight, is half the fun.
This isn't a resort. There's no gym, no pool of activities, no entertainment programme. It's a place to eat extraordinarily well, read by the fire and walk in the mountains - and if that sounds like heaven, you're the target audience.
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Hiking or walking, driving or climbing, enjoy the country’s most dramatic, soaring scenery.
