Drakensberg Sun Resort

It’s our first trip since lockdown and we planned a trip to our dearest Drakensberg and the Sun Resort. we love these holidays in the fresh air , it’s always soul restoring and much needed . We wanted hiking , rain , thunderstorms and we got them all. We booked a self catering Chalet on the lake . We had stocked up with supplies in Midlands . Do bring all your food with you if you are self catering . There is not great shopping around here , also most evening restaurants in area are either closed due to Covid 19 or so pared back it’s limited eating . The Drakensberg sun has an evening buffet which is very nice for a change every now and then. There was big storms and electricity was out for 24 hrs but the hotel sorted out food/ back up generators we Re provided My favourite Part of the trip Hiking / blue Grotto is superb and you get to swim at the end and all other hiking The horse riding The birds who visit the chalets on a daily basis The drives and scenery around the cathedral peak area are magestical Peace and quiet Great SPA Best eating place is The Bakery and The Waffel Hut I hope business picks up for everyone . Covid 18 has really impacted on the businesses around here

The service at the restaurant is excellent. Every single staff member was accommodating and friendly. Check in was great except for Rashida who is very friendly with certain race groups and not so much with others. Enquiring about the water was met with a frown and blunt answer when I chatted to her. The rooms on the ground floor are nice but the noise levels outside was disturbing. I would prefer a quieter, higher room in future. While the rooms were relatively clean, there was hair from the previous occupants in the bathroom and towel and the counters had coffee stains which I had to wipe. The carpets do need a deep clean as they feel grimes underfoot and we insisted on my child keeping her shoes on. The hotel is old and needs some maintenance. The reception couches need some cleaning. The buffet was dismal on Friday night but there was improvement on Saturday night. I would rate the hotel 3 star and with some minor tweaks, and more care I believe it can be restored to its former glory. Well done to the ground staff as the gardens and pool area are beautifully maintained.

We enjoyed every minute of our stay- but I do not feel that this HOTEL in and of itself can be considered 4 star. We stayed in the regular hotel, the units are referred to as apartments. The building itself has not been well maintained, which unfortunately has quite an impact on the experience visually. Paint is faded/cracking, carpets are old, outdoor furniture seems cheap for a 4-star - but with all this said, we still had an incredible time. The hotel offers an array of activities included in your stay. We enjoyed the canoes on the lake, their trail hikes of which they have plenty, volleyball and their family pool. They also offer activities at additional prices, such as horse riding, ziplines, tree walks, spa and more. We decided on the horse riding option. The stables are a short scenic walk over the lake and WOW - they blew us away. Their horses are all in stellar condition. Their stable boys are all friendly, educated and passionate. A lovely lady El took us on our intermediate outride, and gave us one of the best experiences available in the Berg! Through a short walk out of the resort to the riding trail, El kept her eye on us to ensure we really did know how to ride. This stayed with me, as it’s not often you see riders who are concerned for their horses and their clients. And off we went. A gorgeous trail through the forest opened up to the picturesque mountains which we trotted through. As various points throughout the ride we cantered, which was great fun. El kept a close us on us the entire time, cheering us and the horses on. At a flat top on the mountain, El offered to take us on a gallop - a thing you do not often get to do on outrides. To ride with her felt like freedom, and as if I was riding with an old friend. She was definitely the highlight to this entire trip - so a huge thanks to beautiful Ms El and the stables for such an experience. We will be back just for you! Also a big thank you to Lunga, who made our time at the lake an absolute breeze. He handles the clients with seamless professionalism, connects with the families and their kids, and when too many people showed up for the final evening boat ride he handled the situation with kindness and ease ensuring no was was left out or left waiting. Another star employee that left an imprint on our trip. The food was good, although expensive. I do recommend trying some of the locals restaurants and cafes that offer amazing food and drink options at better prices. The shop is convenient but expensive, which was to be expected and not a problem. While the hotel itself was lacking, the staff, veiws, and activities definitely made up for it. We will definitely be back to complete their other trails and see El and Lunga.