Drakensberg Rest Camps

The Drakensberg Mountain Range, bordering Lesotho in South Africa, has an exhaustive range of accommodation and hiking trails. A series of National Parks make up the Drakensberg Mountains and adjacent regions. The Drakensberg is divided into the Northern Drakensberg, The Central Drakensberg and the Southern Drakensberg each with its own unique characteristics and spectacular vistas. The neighbouring regions include the Natal Midlands and the Battlefields.

Here we have selected three rest camps, one from the Northern Drakensburg Royal Natal National Park called Thendele Camp; the second from the Central Drakensburg at Cathedral’s Peak called Didima Camp; the third further south in the Central Drakensburg being Giant’s Castle Camp in Giant’s Castle Game Reserve.

Highlight activities in the Drakensberg region are hiking the upper and lower reaches of the mountains, visiting Tugela Falls (the 2nd highest waterfall in the world), the walk to the top of the Amphitheatre via the chain ladders, the assent of the rhino horn, horse riding, fishing, the rock formations of Sehlabatebe, Bushman Rock, dinosaur footprints near Estcourt, a ton of arts and crafts, cheese makers, golfing, helicopter flips, mountain bike trails, microlighting and paragliding, restaurants, quad bikes, Zulu and Basutho cultural experiences, waterfalls and game reserves.

Thendele Camp - The 94 chalets are all brick under thatch with views over the Amphitheatre in Northern Drakensburg. Royal Natal National Park has some of the best mountain scenery in Africa. The main feature is the world-famous Amphitheatre, a rock wall approximately that is approx. five km in length, and approx. 500m high. On top of the Amphitheatre is the Mont-aux-Sources peak where the Orange river begins its long journey to the Atlantic Ocean and Tugela river cascades down the face of the Amphitheatre, in the second highest waterfall in the world, on its way to the Indian ocean. Made up of Lower and Upper Camps, there is very little difference in the view between the two camps. The upper camp chalets are slightly larger. All are cool in summer and cosy in winter, the rooms have fire places for those cold winter nights.

There is no restaurant at Thendele, as all the accommodation is self-catering. There are nearby restaurants and hotels where you can dine though.

Didima camp at Central Drakensburg’s Cathedral Peak offers 78 rooms within 62 two-bed luxury chalets, 2 four-bed cabins, a two-bed honeymoon suite and a six-bed bungalow. Every one of the two-bed chalets are back to back and an inter-leading door allows the two chalets to be transformed into a four-bed family unit with fully equipped kitchen. The two four-bed cabins have two bedrooms each en-suite, a lounge/dining area and a kitchen, and the six-bed chalet has three bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities, a lounge/dining area and kitchen. All accommodation at Didima Camp has satellite television and a fireplace. The main lodge at Didima Camp provides a restaurant, bar, fireplace, lounge and a shop for food supplies and curios.

Giants Castle Game Reserve is home to the mighty eland as well as the rare bearded vulture and is situated within the Central Drakensberg region of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site. Giants Castle camp with 89 rooms is positioned on a plateau overlooking the deep valleys running down from the face of the High Drakensberg. Although all accommodation at Giants Castle camp is equipped for self-catering, the Izimbali restaurant and bar provides guests with the option of fully catered meals in its warm and relaxed atmosphere. The shop is stocked with curios as well as a range of supplies commonly found useful. Most accommodation chalets have fantastic views over the mountain, however, some are in a quiet garden-like setting. The camp is made up of 37 two-bed chalets, all of which have en-suite facilities, a lounge and dining area, as well as a fully equipped kitchen. Each chalet has a fireplace and barbeque area. All linen and towels are provided. Unit #8 is known as 'Bride's Bush', and contains a double bed and a private setting with a view of the mountains, ideal as a honeymoon suite. There are also four chalets with three twin-bedrooms.

Rock Lodge at Giants Castle camp is a tranquil, exclusive lodge nestled on the crest of the hill with a turf roof to mask its appearance from behind, with magnificent views of the slumbering giant and the great wall of the Drakensberg mountains. Rock Lodge sleeps 6 people in a blissful setting. There are three superb bedrooms all with luxurious en-suite bathrooms, the main bedroom being a magnificent honeymoon suite built into the side of a massive rock.