Keep Up To Date With The Drakensberg Sun Resort

Drakensberg Sun Resort’s legacy of excellence

Tsogo Sun’s Drakensberg Sun Resort’s (https://www.tsogosun.com/drakensberg-sun-resort) legacy of excellence has continued unabated for decades and it remains high on the preferred destination list for many family or twosome getaways, whether for action, relaxation, or romance, and for corporate retreats and conferences. Last year the resort celebrated its 30th anniversary and this year it achieved a TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award as number four in the Top 10 Hotels for Families in South Africa.

Roger Petyt, GM of Drakensberg Sun, says, “We have found that guests need only spend a day or two here soaking up the beauty and magnificence of the mountains and valleys and our excellent hospitality to feel totally rejuvenated – as though they have had a long holiday.”

The resort is situated on an 8.1240-hectare property in the heart of the Central Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal’s picturesque Champagne Valley, within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 30km from Winterton, 400km from Johannesburg and 220km from Durban. It has an established reputation as a haven for young and old, adventure-seekers and the more sedentary, outdoor nature lovers and ‘sit by the fire with tea and scones and a good book’ types, and it is also the ideal location from which to explore the scenic wonders of the majestic mountains.

The hotel has 78 rooms (https://www.tsogosun.com/drakensberg-sun-resort/accommodation) that include one suite and six executive rooms, and well-appointed conference rooms (https://www.tsogosun.com/drakensberg-sun-resort/meetings-events) with stunning mountain views that can accommodate up to 250 delegates and are popular for corporate conferences and team-building events. Petyt notes that out of school holiday season, the conference centre is busy through the week, and then a “metamorphosis takes place” on the weekend as leisure guests pour in for some well-earned downtime and fresh mountain air. The resort is equipped to cope with all of it.

The food and beverage offering is world-class and includes a sumptuous buffet menu at the Lakeview Restaurant, an a la carte menu at the Lakeview Terrace, a snack menu at the Poolside Terrace, and the Grotto Bar, and an outdoor deck with a view, a favourite meeting spot for conference delegates at the end of the day, and the convivial place to catch a big game on TV. For conferences, a variety of menus are available that can be tailored to suit any dietary requirements.

Activities (https://www.tsogosun.com/drakensberg-sun-resort/services-amenities) within the Drakensberg Sun property are numerous and guarantee something for everyone. For children, the kids entertainment area, which is scheduled for an upgrade, is well-equipped with games, foosball, table tennis, arts and crafts, and more, with staff in attendance seven days a week to look after the children and ensure their entertainment. 

For hikers, several Green Flag Trails have been established on the property, from gentle strolls around the dam to longer more strenuous hikes, as well as many excellent hiking trails in the hills and mountains nearby. For adrenalin-junkies, Canopy Tours has built a zipline through the beautiful Blue Grotto Forest, which is highly popular with the young and young-at-heart. Trout and bass fishing from boats or the shore of the resort dam is very popular.

Other activities and facilities that keep guests entertained throughout the day and well into the evening are the on-site spa, a playground for family games, bowling greens, horse-riding, mountain bike rental, paintball, pitch & putt, and rowing boats and canoes on the resort dam.

Indoor activities also abound – and on chilly days, reading, chess, cards, hot beverages and indulgent snacks, cosy fires, conversation, and many other options, keep everyone happily occupied.

About 130 people are employed at Drakensberg Sun, all focused on delivering the best experiences for every guest, all the time. Petyt says, “With our 30th anniversary last year, we also celebrated seven staff members who have been with the hotel since it opened in 1987. They were here when a fire destroyed a portion of the hotel in 1988, and were part of the team that saw the building wholly refurbished within four months. Our people are a great source of pride to us and it’s their willingness and determination to create special memories for our guests every day that make this hotel such a special place.”

Tsogo Sun has a portfolio of over 100 hotels and 13 casino and entertainment destinations throughout South Africa, Africa and the Seychelles. For more details, visit https://www.tsogosun.com, follow on Twitter @TsogoSun or like on Facebook /TsogoSun.

Drakensberg Sun Resort Renovates the Lakeview restaurant

Nestled in the Cathkin Peak area of the Central Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu-Natal, lies the award-winning, stylish Drakensberg Sun Resort. Few destinations evoke fun, romance and natural beauty more completely. As part of an overall renovation project to the property, the changes and additions to the Lakeview Restaurant, at a cost of R3,7 million, promises delightful feasts for the whole family!

Extensive use of natural materials, polished wood and earthy colours makes the Drakensberg Sun Resort a comfortable and relaxing outdoor resort set in beautiful natural surroundings. The restaurant overlooks the Resort's private lake and has provided guests with sumptuous dining experiences for years.  In keeping with Tsogo Sun’s philosophy of upgrading and renovating their guest offerings to ensure consistent memorable experiences, the Lakeview Restaurant is undergoing an extensive renovation, promising to ultimately provide a fresh contemporary feel, complemented by new and exciting offerings and extra meal choices, in a warm rich and comfortable setting.

Guests can look forward to an extra buffet area, presenting a variety of delectable freshly prepared dishes. The chefs at Lakeview Restaurant will be on hand to prepare a fresh omelette of your choice for breakfast, and again in the evenings, to prepare a selection of freshly caught local trout which is then grilled to perfection. “We often have guests who stays for long periods of time and the new buffet area will give extra choices that changes from day-to-day. Furthermore, we are adding some more live cooking stations to the restaurant service, which is sure to delight our guests”, said Roger Petyt, General Manager at the Drakensberg Sun Resort. Alternatively, guests will be able to order off the a la carte menu or enjoy an item off the newly introduced a la carte pizza menu. Yes, the Lakeview Restaurant has a brand new addition – a wood fired pizza oven!

“Lakeview Restaurant is a pivotal element in the overall experience at the Drakensberg Sun Resort. We used the renovation opportunity to extend the offering, and increase the ambience,” concluded Mr Petyt. In an effort to freshen its image, the Lakeview Restaurant will boast a complete new interior including all new curtains, carpets, table tops and new comfortable fabric chairs. The addition of a mural behind the buffet stations gives a calming fresh feel and aligns the décor with the setting and ambience of the Drakensberg Sun Resort.  Furthermore, the kids’ corner will be strategically placed where parents can keep an eye on their kids, whilst guests without kids can still enjoy the serenity and peaceful atmosphere.

One thing has remained constant though: the sense that you are one with the natural world around you. Bring your camera, your family and your friends, and prepare to be enthralled by the rich natural beauty of the Drakensberg Sun Resort.

A New Refreshing, Invigorating Look for the Drakensberg Sun Resort – Combining All The Things Guests Love!

The Drakensberg is unquestionably one of South Africa’s most magnificent natural creations. The magic of the expansive Drakensberg Mountains is a treasure to behold and is the picturesque background to Tsogo Sun’s Drakensberg Sun Resort. To ensure that the resort remains a family favourite destination, Tsogo Sun embarked on an extensive refurbishment project to the value of approximately R25 million.

The mammoth refurbishment of the main building took 11 months to complete, giving guests a modern and contemporary mountain hotel-experience with a renovation of all areas within the hotel. Spacious guest bedrooms with striking views of the Drakensberg Mountains received new hotel friendly flat screen TV’s, glass fronted fridges,new dressing tables/desks with granite tops and desk chairs that adds extra comfort to the rooms. All the bedrooms are now boasting modern soft furnishings and the bathrooms have been completely stripped and re-finished with stone-type porcelain tiles, a porcelain floor, timber finishes and all the modern fixtures and accessories required to create a fresh, invigorating experience.

The magnificent Presidential Suite at the Drakensberg Sun Resort promises to pamper the most discerning guest. The entire suite has had a makeover complete with a bathroom revamp and new furnishings and finishes. Marble and timber are complemented throughout with contemporary velvets and cottons to create a relaxed, comfortable and elegant ambience. Tsogo Sun contracted Falconer Design as the Interior Design and Project Managers for this exhilarating makeover. Throughout the entire refurbishment project Falconer Design focused on the environment, ensuring that the design always kept the saving of water resources and electrical energy in mind, and replaced all the pipework throughout the main building.

“This project also included the public areas with the lounge and reception having a fresh new makeover with lighter fabrics and new lighting. The bar has been redecorated, refurbished and renamed! Now called the Grotto Lounge, the bar includes wall murals that create an exciting feeling of ‘being in the grotto’. A firm favourite with families, the main pool has been re-marbelited and features a permanent umbrella solution combined with brand new pool side furniture.

The rejuvenated public spaces promises comfort and style to match the warmth and elegance of the resort,” says Darron Moore, General Manager at the Drakensberg Sun Resort. The resort has 30 chalets and 32 apartments which are also being refurbished and aims for completion in May 2014.

The re-invigorated chalets and apartments will be modernised family spaces, decorated in warm and inviting fabrics that will complement the American walnut joinery and Giallo Nebia granite surfaces. Guests in the chalets and apartments will delight in the installation of television units, new LED televisions in both the living areas and the master bedrooms, media hubs and the multimedia ability of the rooms. “At the Drakensberg Sun Resortwe focus on providing our guests with the best, most comfortable experience that combines perfectly with our service ethic. With this refurbishment we combined all the things guests love,” concludes Darron Moore.