Durban - A sad fact is that us Durbanites get robbed of winter. No red wine in front of a crackling fire while the snow swirls around outside, no rainy days spent with a good book or a few DVDs – we don’t even have mornings cold enough to justify a warm jacket and gloves.
While most view our temperate climate and tropical winters as a blessing, there are some who miss the idea of experiencing some good-old cold and gloomy weather.
Well, luckily all is not lost. Proving that KwaZulu-Natal really does have it all, just a few hours drive away lie the Drakensberg Mountains: a 200km mountain range dotted with a wide variety of accommodation options, all promising snug winters evenings curled up in front of a roaring fire.
Derived from the Afrikaans name meaning “Dragon Mountains”, the Drakensberg Mountains are a sight to behold (the Zulu name, uKhahlamba, meaning “Barrier of Spears” is equally descriptive).
For our winter weekend getaway we selected Champagne Sport Resort, a large resort set in magnificent grounds in the Central Drakensberg. Just 250km from Durban this resort promises activities for the whole family – and it’s a promise that is certainly kept.
The facilities include gym and sport facilities, a restaurant with a deck overlooking the swimming pools, a spa with treatments on offer, and (during peak season) a full entertainment programme for the children.
For us the biggest drawcard was the chalets. Beautifully designed and tastefully decorated, our chalet had stunning views out over the green landscapes and towering Drakensberg Mountains. Just as exciting as the view was the big fireplace in the living room, which we made full use of during the cold evenings.
The resort has four-sleeper, six-sleeper and eight-sleeper chalets available, with prices ranging from R1 610 to R3 285 a chalet a night (accommodation only).
The other accommodation option is the 152 hotel rooms, where guests have a choice of family rooms, twin rooms, double rooms, executive suites or even presidential suites. These include buffet breakfasts and dinners, and prices range from R950 to R1 797 a person a night, depending on the room and the time of year.
We attacked the sports facilities with enthusiasm: bowls suddenly became a young persons sport again, rusty forehands and dodgy backhands were ruthlessly exposed on the tennis court and even the putt-putt course became a sporting battlefield.
With a swim in the icy-cold swimming pools (Champagne Sports has five) awaiting the losers, the incentive to win had never been this high. Once the testosterone-fuelled rivalries had died down we discovered that we hadn’t even got around to trying out the squash court or played a round on the magnificent 18-hole championship golf course. Rated one of the country’s top courses, in beauty and complexity, we knew we had a good excuse to return soon.
There are also plenty of other activities and attractions in the Champagne Valley to get you into the holiday mode. The Birds Of Prey show comes highly recommended, and we can attest to the popularity of the nearby Waffle Hut (which was bustling and busy when we visited) and the Valley Bakery (don’t make our mistake of going at lunchtime, because everything gets sold out pretty early in the day).
However busy we got, though, we found that it was the relaxing moments that turned the weekend getaway into a mini holiday. The long meandering walks through the beautiful resort, the laid-back lunches catching up with old friends and best of all, snug evenings in front of the fire with some red wine, were what really made this a winter weekend to remember.
Contact details
Champagne Sports Resort: www.champagnesportsresort.com; 036 468 8000
Falcon Ridge – Birds of Prey: 082 774 6398
Waffle Hut Restaurant: 036 488 1500
Valley Bakery: 036 468 1257
The Mercury