Best hotels in Drakensberg

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, in the northern part of the mountain range known affectionately by locals as "The Berg", offers some of the most dramatic scenery in South Africa. Far removed from the visions that spring to mind when you think of Africa, this is a region of snow-capped mountains (in winter) and lush green hills (in summer). It's the perfect setting for Montusi Mountain Lodge, an upmarket destination with uninterrupted views of the cliffs and peaks, and the iconic Amphitheatre. Montusi's 1000-hectare estate has been rehabilitated over the past 15 years to become a haven for indigenous birds and antelope.

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.

Dating back to 1936, when this remote part of the central Drakensberg was almost inaccessible, Cathedral Peak Hotel is now a beloved family-friendly hotel renowned as a maker of great holidays. Within its beautiful setting beneath the mountains' blue-grey jagged peaks, the hotel is at the heart of all sorts of outdoor adventures, including some of the country's best hiking and mountaineering. The four-star hotel offers accommodation for everyone, good buffet-style food and warm service.