Montusi Mountain Lodge

The large thatch-roofed lounge has comfortable sofas and plenty of board games for a spot of entertainment. The decor is more relaxed than super chic, but the room is cosy, with a crackling fireplace. The dining room (with underfloor heating and fireplace) and adjacent covered patio have a dozen tables each – perfect spots to enjoy delicious cuisine and supreme views. Relax on the veranda, or head to the pool or tennis courts, or to the dams for some fly-fishing.

Sixteen individually designed chalets are well spaced throughout the gardens, each with jaw-dropping views. The suites – Garden (10), Mountain (2) and Family (4) – vary in size (in increasing order) and amenities but come standard with TVs and gas fireplaces for chilly winter nights. Some have private patios. Each chalet has an en-suite bathroom with a bath and shower. There are also a couple of privately owned self-catering cottages on the estate, with up to four bedrooms.

If you fancy some epic hiking, mountain biking or horse riding, then you've come to the right place. Start by exploring the 1000-hectare estate, then venture into the Royal Natal National Park (part of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg) to get up-close with the Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls. Along the way you may pass reedbuck, rhebok and eland. Looking for birds? There are plenty. The nine-hole Amphitheatre Golf Course is nearby, and a tennis court and two trout-stocked dams are on the property.