The Drakensberg is every nature lovers dream destination!
Have you ever wanted to explore the beauty that is the Drakensberg? Well, travel blogger, Lee-Roy Wright got first hand treatment at one of South Africa's greatest treasures.
The Drakensberg has always been one destination that I have been burning to tick off my bucket list. Paging through magazines and sifting through images on the internet was all I knew until just last weekend. I can confidently say that print and digital do no justice at all to the splendour and majestic mountain ranges.
Travelling to the heart of the Drakensberg, or at least to where a few resorts are nestled, will set you back about four hours’ drive from Johannesburg. That’s if you take a reasonably pleasant, scenic drive, keeping to the specified speeds. Nevertheless it’s a drive I was willing to make, even if it meant taking some time to get to my destination.
Nestled and peacefully placed among the vast mountain range of the Drakensberg, the Cavern Resort & Spa boasts with a vintage look-and-feel that is paired with great heritage dating back to the 1930’s. With this at the core of the resort, I knew I was in for a special getaway filled with substance and pleasure all in one.
The resort offers a wide range of activities that will definitely satisfy the adventurer in you while looking after your more ‘lazy’ side with relaxing, peaceful locations and activities. Arriving at the resort you are greeted by the friendly staff that immediately gets you excited for the weekend’s activities and the delicious three course meal sittings. Well, maybe this is just me, but on a weekend away all you pretty much want to do is do things you can’t do at home and eat – and eat some more!
The scenery is green and the mountains that surround you are beautiful! I cannot say this enough! I would stare out into the distance and all you could see is greenery, hear the trickle of a nearby waterfall and the chirping of the never-ending list of bird species. Lush vegetation and a room overlooking a small dam, you really do feel quite helpless at the power of your surroundings.
The room was spacious, with both a queen sized bed as well as a single bed – you definitely don’t need anything more. Think simple here, like I said, don’t expect modern finishes, but expect comfort.
One thing I definitely prided myself on was accomplishing a 7 kilometre walk through the mountains. Lead by a guide, you are able to hike into the vast grassland of the Drakensberg and travel to the caves. The walk is tough and not for the weak, but so worth it! What I loved was while walking you actually feel as if you were walking through different vegetation.
From grassland to a tropical rain forest, every twist and turn brings a new feel and ‘challenge’. At your final destination you are treated to some tea, biscuits and natural spring water that flows directly down the mountain face. It’s so delicious!
After the hike, usually one would relax and take some time to recover, but how can you when there’s a beautiful horse waiting to escort you into the mountains? My biggest highlight, aside from the scenery was the horse ride up the mountain. Words cannot explain how beautiful it is. It takes a while to actually soak it all in, but it’s hard not to.
It’s one incredible, unforgettable getaway that I would highly suggest you do. These are the type of breaks one needs. To escape from the city life, away from the concrete jungle and immerse yourself into nature.