search  |  site map
  birding sites
birder friendly establishments		 →

Cathedral Peak Hotel

IBA–SA064 & IBA-SA078

Categories: accommodation; hide; guide; booking required

This exclusive mountain resort, set amidst the spectacular Drakensberg mountains is a bird watchers paradise. The resort offers superb cuisine and a variety of luxurious birder-friendly accommodation to suit all budgets.

Guests can enjoy daily guided hikes, horse riding, bowls, heated & cold swimming pools, gym, vitality centre and a 9 hole golf course.

Specials found at the site include Bush Blackcap, Bearded Vulture, Cape Vulture and Ground Woodpecker which can be seen in the hotel's beautiful gardens and the surrounding Drakensberg mountains.

Guests are encouraged to explore the grounds, noting their records on the hotel's bird life. Early morning river-side ambles are ideal for the beginner bird enthusiast, and hides have been constructed in the hotel's immediate vicinity. These walks include bushman painting sites.

Directions

From Johannesburg

Follow the N3 from JHB to Harrismith. Remain on N3 (by-passing Harrismith), pass the Engen "Bergview" One Stop (there is a Nando's & other curio shops at Bergview). + 5km from the Engen One Stop, you will see the off-ramp for Bloemtonetein/Phuthaditjiaba (N5). Take this off-ramp and head towards Bethlehem. Follow this road until you see a left turn off "Bergville/Phutaditjiaba (R712). Turn left onto the R712 and follow the road until you turn left at the Bergville (R74) turnoff. This road takes you past Sterkfontein Dam, down Oliviershoek Pass, to Bergville. +1kmpast Bergville, turn right at the Cathedral Peak sign. There will be another right turn marked Cathedral Peak (+15km from Bergville). This road leads to Cathedral Peak Hotel (30km) – note the last 20km of this road is very windy & slow speed is recommended.

From Durban

Follow the N3 from DBN heading towards JHB. Go through the Mooi Plaza toll gate. Once you have passed Eskort Shell Ultra City, you will see a Cathedral Peak Hotel 66km sign on your left. Take the left turn at the Bergville/Colenso turn off and turn left towards Bergville/Winterton (R74). Drive until you enter Winterton (20 km from turn off), and take the left turn marked "Central Berg" (opposite the Engen petrol station). Go over the railway tracks and +1km, turn right at the "Cathedral Peak" sign. This road leads you to a T-junction where you turn right towards Bergville. After 500m the first left turn is sign posted Cathedral Peak. This road leads to Cathedral Peak Hotel (30km) – note the last 20km of this road is very windy & slow speed is recommended

Additional Info

One of the hotel's experienced guides, Moses Mdhluli, recently completed training with Bird Life South Africa, and is available on request for guided trails.

Horse and pony riding as well as trout fishing are available on the property. Stunning mountain bike trails of varying difficulty (own bikes required), tennis, mini adventure golf (floodlit), volley-ball, bowls, badminton, trampoline, heated & cold swimming pools, and paddling pool for children are available outdoors and squash, pool, darts and table tennis are available indoors.

Contact

 
Copyright © 2009, BirdLife South Africa