That’s the glorious dilemma KwaZulu-Natalians are lucky enough to face come holiday time … so here are two excellent and affordable options for you
HAPPY WANDERERS, KELSO
A short trip down the South Coast takes you to one of the province’s most fabulous hideaways, and it really is literally on the beach.
For those unfamiliar with this popular sport, the privately owned venue is a quick 40 minutes from Durban, and sports its own beach, self-catering chalets (from bachelor to four-bedroomed eight sleepers), campsites and caravan park.
There’s a wonderful a la carte restaurant and pub – The Resu-Wrecked Heron, the latter a beautiful old wooden boat – and wooden benches and tables on an open patio, which can be enclosed in inclement weather.
It’s a fabulous destination, particularly for families. Apart from the fresh-water swimming pools, there’re also trampolines, a games room and jungle gym and swings for the kids.
The 500m private beach is literally five steps from the chalets, and you can park on your veranda from sun-up till sundown and enjoy the breathtaking view of turquoise ocean as far as the eye can sea.
It’s a real white sand beach, with hundreds of pretty shells, and my children were quite happy to paddle at the water’s edge and build sandcastles.
Keen fishermen are the order of the day, as are kite flyers, and it’s also idyllic for golfers, being a hop and a skip away from some of the top golf courses in the country.
Oh, and there’s a superette at the resort as well as a conference centre. What more could you want?
Happy Wanderers
telephone 039 975 1104
e-mail happywanderers@telkomsa.net
www.happywanderers.co.za
DRAKENSBERG GARDENS GOLF & SPA RESORT
This is one of my favourite Berg getaways. Sprawled over a magnificent 860ha world heritage site, it’s the perfect and idyllic destination for those needing to escape the clamour of the city.
For the adventurous, there’s hiking (naturally!), horse riding, canoeing and trout fishing, or you can play a round on the southern Berg’s only 18-hole golf course.
For the less energetic, simply park off beside the pools and gaze in wonder at the extraordinary beauty of the surrounding mountains.
Accommodation is sublime: choose from standard, superior and deluxe rooms. All have private bathrooms, TV, telephones, tea and coffee making facilities and heaters. The deluxe rooms also include under-floor heating for those frosty winter days.
Guests also have the option of four, five and six sleeper fully equipped self-catering units, which are ideal for family getaways. Parents, who need a break from cooking and child care, can request a babysitter at reception and enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants.
There’s a choice of pubs, depending on your mood, or you can sit on a patio and enjoy your G&T while breathing in that unmistakeable clean mountain air. By the way, there’s a 12km mountain bike trail, a BMX track, boat/paddle hire, badminton and squash, as well as a gym and a health spa and wellness centre. Something for everyone, in fact!
Drakensberg Gardens Golf & Spa Resort
telephone 033 701 1355/1106
e-mail drak@goodersons.co.za