NATIONAL HERITAGE NATURE PARK
Self Catering Cottage (GAME ON SITE) Accommodation
in Kamberg, Drakensberg & Surroundings,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
National Heritage Nature Park in the South African Drakensberg is the perfect
holiday getaway for mountain walks and hikes, trout fishing, horse riding, game
drives and sheer relaxation.
Situated at the foot of Mount Lebanon in the picturesque Kamberg Valley.
National Heritage offers two luxury well- appointed, self catering cottages
named Reedbuck and Orbi and a luxurious farm house, named Eland. All three have
panoramic views of the majestic Drakensberg Mountains and are serviced twice
daily. In addition to all of its own attractions, it is just a short drive away
from the Midlands Meander and craft tours.
Set on 200 hectares of "never-been-cultivated" highveld grassland between the
Giants Castle and Kamberg Nature Reserves, National Heritage Nature Park is home
to numerous indigenous wildlife species. During your stay you may encounter
zebra, wildebeest, blesbok, eland, oribi, common reedbuck, mountain reedbuck,
rhebok, black-backed jackal, serval, gennet and baboon. Typical Drakensberg tree
species occur in their various habitats and wildflowers are abundant, especially
in spring and summer.
National Heritage Nature Park forms part of a 2 000 hectare nature reserve,
which can be accessed on game drives, guided walks and horse rides. We also have
access to a vulture hide and a 20 hectare trout dam.
Your personal expert ranger and field guide at National Heritage Nature Park is
the manager, Brian Bode, who has ten years of game ranging and field guiding
experience
For the birding enthusiast, a walk around the game farm is a must. So is a walk
through the Hlatikhulu vlei. A visit to the Hlatikhulu Crane and Wetland
Sanctuary (our neighbour) is always worthwhile. Some of the "birding specials"
include lammergeier (bearded vulture), Cape vulture, long-crested eagle, forest
buzzard, bush blackcap, Gurney's sugarbird, ground woodpecker and buff-streaked
chat. Of course a walk around the wetland wouldn't be complete without looking
for the three crane species - crowned, blue and wattled crane - as well as the
spoonbill, African rail and the ever-elusive Bittern. There is also a large
diversity of water birds including white-backed duck, South African shelduck and
Cape shoveller. And what would the Drakensberg foothills be without the elegant
"Sakabula" long-tailed widowbird! We are fortunate to have access to a vulture
hide where you can watch Cape and bearded vultures feed a mere 20 meters away.
Accommodation
Reedbuck is a luxury, 8 sleeper self-catering cottage that overlooks a
well-stocked trout dam and consists of two double bedrooms (one en-suite), two
bathrooms and a loft room with four bunk beds. The open-plan design of the
kitchen/dining room/lounge presents breathtaking views of the mountains and
leads onto a large wooden deck with weber braai, ideally suited for sundowners
or meals.
Winter snowfalls are common in the mountains, so the lounge is fitted with a
huge fireplace for a roaring log fire that makes the cottage your cosy haven on
those chilly evenings. Firewood is provided.
The kitchen is excellently appointed with an oven and hob, microwave oven,
fridge/freezer and all the necessary modern appliances to make your stay
comfortable. All crockery, cutlery, bed linen and bath towels are provided.
Eland is a well-appointed luxurious farm house a stone's throw away from
the trout dam. This house sleeps 10 people to accommodate slightly larger
parties. The farmhouse consists of a master bedroom en-suite with a kingsize
bed, a guest room with a queensize bed and a sleeper couch, two bathrooms and a
third bedroom with four bunk beds and a single bed. The kitchen is separate and
the house is finished off with a large combined lounge/ diningroom and pub area,
complimented by a fire place for those cosy winter evenings. Firewood is
provided. A sheltered verandah with gas braai and weber overlooks the Hlatikulu
wetlands.
The kitchen is excellently appointed with an oven and hob, microwave oven,
fridge/freezer and all the necessary modern appliances to make your stay
comfortable. All crockery, cutlery, bed linen and bath towels are provided.
Oribi is a luxury, 8 sleeper self-catering cottage that overlooks a
well-stocked trout dam and consists of two double bedrooms (one en-suite), two
bathrooms and a third bedroom with four bunk beds. The open-plan design of the
kitchen/dining room/lounge presents breathtaking views of the mountains and
leads onto a covered varandah with weber braai ideally suited for sundowners or
meals.
Winter snowfalls are common in the mountains, so the lounge is fitted with a
fireplace for a roaring log fire that makes the cottage your cosy haven on those
chilly evenings. Firewood is provided.
The kitchen is excellently appointed with an oven and hob, microwave oven,
fridge/freezer and all the necessary modern appliances to make your stay
comfortable. All crockery, cutlery, bed linen and bath towels are provided.
Activities
Relax
* Sit on the deck and enjoy the view.
* Relax around the dam and take in some sunshine.
* Hone your skills on the tennis court and in the cricket net.
* Relax around the swimming pool or go for a dip.
* Keep yourself entertained in our fully equipped games room.
Trout Fishing
* On our well-stocked dam, a mere cast from the deck; or
* On nearby waters, both dam and river.
Horse Riding
* What better way to enjoy the scenery and wildlife than to take a leisurely,
guided, interpretive horse ride. Horse trails range from one and a half hours to
two hours, whilst we also have pony rides for the kids.
Walks
* Let Brian Bode, your field guide, take you on an interpretive guided walk,
from an easy saunter to something more challenging.
* Walk to bushmen paintings (San rock art).
* Bathe in crisp, clear mountain streams.
* Vulture feeding site - watch Cape vultures, lammergeiers and other raptors
feeding a mere 20 metres away.
* Walk through indigenous forests and marvel at their splendour.
* Overnight 3 hour hike to caves.
Game Drives
* Brian will take you on an informative game drive in an open Land Rover. This
is not your "Big Five" drive but a chance to see some of the antelope species
and grassland birds, and enjoy the spectacular view.
Sport and Recreation
* Swimming pool
* Tennis court
* Pool table
* Table tennis
* Cricket net
* Mountain biking (bring your own bicycles).
Other Places of Interest
* Hlatikhulu Crane and Wetland Sanctuary.
* Kamberg, Highmoor and Giants Castle Nature Reserves.
* The Midlands Meander is a totally absorbing outing with many arts and crafts,
restaurants and shops.
* Nottingham Road village is only 40 minutes away.
* Abseiling.
* Obstacle course.
* Nine-hole country golf course.
* Cultural experiences:
- visit a Zulu homestead;
- visit a sangoma (traditional healer);
- Zulu dancers;
- Visit the home of San descendents and enjoy their history and stories.
Contact Us
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