THE WARMEST WELCOME
LOCATION
2km outside Winterton, just off the R600 from Ladysmith — about 350km from Joburg and 275km from Durban.
ROOMS
There are 10 rooms ranging from luxury garden suites to self-catering rondawels under the trees. All are well appointed with TV, air-conditioning, heating, bar fridges, tea and coffee stations and patios. Some have fully equipped kitchenettes and braai facilities.
STYLE
Country-ethnic décor punctuated with dark woods and local landscape art, plus classic-styled furnishings, give this lodge a warm and eclectic appeal.
FACILITIES
There is off-street parking, a cosy pub and large dining-room, a small dam you can fish in or canoe on, a swimming pool, a lapa dining area and a dreamy garden filled with 200 statuesque pecan nut trees — perfect for romantic walks.
SERVICE
A warm welcome and genuine hospitality.
THE EATING
Although we didn’t eat here, the farm-style breakfasts are apparently a celebrated occurrence (reviews use words like “delicious” and “excellent”) and dinners, “light meals or three-course” servings, are also on offer — around R100 – R250 per head — but only to those who have booked.
THE ‘DO’ LIST
The lodge is close to activities such as the Drakensberg Canopy Tour, hikes, day drives on the Midlands Meander, river rafting, hot-air ballooning, and visiting nearby attractions such as Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve and the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School. I recommend a good dose of just soaking up the natural surrounds.
BEST TIME TO GO
March to November.
RATES
R600-R750 single and R1,000-R1,300 pps. Children aged 3-11 pay 50%.
BOOKING
See wintertoncountrylodge.com.