Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve
March 3, 2020
Umhlanga Rocks
March 3, 2020
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The Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve is located in the Drakensberg Mountains in east-central South Africa, near its border with the northeastern region of Lesotho. This magnificent area is most easily accessed from the town of Winterton, and boasts some of the country’s most scenic hiking and rock climbing opportunities. The nature reserve offers a range of trails of varying length and difficulty, including exploring the cave paintings of Ndedema Gorge and a route to the summit of Cathedral Peak itself. This challenging climb rewards hikers with views of some of the Drakensberg’s most prominent peaks, such as Giant’s Castle, The Bell and Cleft Peak. There is a four-star hotel located within the reserve, while day hikers must register (and receive maps) at the Information Office.
Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve is known for having some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in the Drakensberg. Located in the northern section of this gorgeous mountain range, it sits between Royal Natal National Park and Giant's Castle in the furthest north of the Drakensberg, and between the Bell (2930m), the Horns (3005m) and Cleft Peak (3281m).
The Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve is located in the Drakensberg Mountains in east-central South Africa, near its border with the north-eastern region of Lesotho. This magnificent area is most easily accessed from the town of Winterton, and boasts some of the country’s most scenic hiking and rock climbing opportunities.
Easy! Here at Tailormade Africa, we design all of our itineraries fit to measure. That means if you fancy being an adventurous soul, we can put you into your own comfy rental so you can make your way there OR we can organise for you to have your very own private vehicle and guide. Most of our itineraries will include a stay over in the buzzing city of Durban before you venture north into the Drakensburg area, so door-to-door you can expect around a 3.5 hour drive from downtown Durbs to the beautiful Cathedral Peak Hotel.
Cathedral Peak Hotel has a huge variety of awesome activities for you to enjoy – more than we think you could possibly do unless you pitched up for a whole week! That’s why we would recommend a minimum three night stay here to really make the most of all it has to offer. Not only have you got the Drakensberg on your doorstep with over 18 stunning walks and hikes directly from the hotel, but you also have a number of easier river-side strolls you could take in if you aren’t feeling as up for getting your sweat on. The hotel also offers mountain and quad bikes, the opportunity for amazing horse rides, and even helicopter flights if you wish to have a beautiful birds eye view of the area. Within the grounds you have the chance to get involved in some great spots including tennis, badminton, beach volleyball, swimming (heated and non-heated pools) and they even have a bowling green, mini golf course and climbing tower. As if that isn’t enough they also have an incredible 9-hole golf course with alternate tees for an 18-hole game, ranging an immense 5,542m through the valley and ending at a stunning clubhouse with panoramic mountain views. AND a bunch of indoor stuff for when the weather is a little less than ideal, including table tennis, squash and a fully-equipped gym. Or, for those who are less into being active and more into being pampered, you have the chance to pop into the hotel’s Wellness Centre for a gorgeous treatment (or three!). What more could you want? Oh, what about the filling up on tasties? Well we’re delighted to say the food here is just exquisite and with an epic Cocktail Bar on site you really won’t be wanting for anything.
As with much of South Africa, we think any time of year is great to visit this beautiful part of the country. Most people come here to get in touch with the great outdoors, so paying attention to the weather is important although this hotel does have a wealth of activities both indoor and out for you to enjoy so we love to include it at all times of the year!
As with any mountainous area, weather can be pretty unpredictable and can change very quickly, however there is a general rule of thumb which we think will help you to get ready for your trip to the beautiful Drakensberg: the summer will generally be warm and rainy, and the winter will be nippy and dry!
In the summer months (late October to early March), you can expect the weather to be warm and pleasant, with the afternoons building up toward the odd thunderstorm which brings the wilderness to life with beautiful lush greens allowing for stunning photographs. In the winter months (April to September) you can expect the temperatures to drop quite significantly with the very odd occurrence of snow. That said it will be dry enough to allow for some outstanding day hikes with cloudless days making for amazing views all around.
You most certainly can! All of our itineraries are made bespoke, so if you want to combine a safari over in the Kruger area, or closer to Cathedral Peak in KwaZulu-Natal, we can help you with that. There are a lot of beautiful safari options in South Africa which we can highly recommend, and as always we will take into consideration all of your personal wants and needs to create the perfect trip for you and your loved ones. We specifically love &Beyond Phinda and Thanda Safari Private Game Reserves, both amazing big-five safari areas which make for a perfect escape after your mountain adventure!
Cathedral Peak HotelAccommodation
Set in a World Heritage Site, this renowned 4-Star family hotel offers luxurious accommodation, superb cuisine and warm hospitality. A host of activities include golf, horse riding, helicopter flips, quad and mountain bikes, and FREE daily guided walks with unrivalled access to the Drakensberg Mountains... Learn more
