You asked what is behind Berghouse and Cottages. It is a family-run guest farm in the Northern Drakensberg, in KwaZulu-Natal, and the land is privately owned.
A family farm, not a resort
The cottages sit on a working piece of country. The family lives here. The mountains are not a backdrop for us. They are home.
That shapes how we run things. We do not hurry you, and we do not fill the days with a programme. You get a cottage, a fire and the land. The rest is up to you.
The land
The estate is privately owned and it is large. It has grassland, a river frontage and three dams. Trees and shrubs grow between the cottages, which is why you rarely see your neighbours.
Animals move through freely. You may see an antelope or a rabbit near your door. At night you will hear jackals, owls and nightjars. The mountain reedbuck whistle sharply, and the sound carries.
How the cottages sit on it
Phinda and Thokozela stand next to each other. That suits two families travelling together. The other cottages stand fully alone.
Every cottage has a log fireplace. Firewood is provided and charged per bundle. The kitchens are fully equipped, with an oven and a stove. Your cottage is serviced each morning, and the cleaning is already in the rate.
If you want to know which cottage suits your group, ask us. We know each one well.
What we look after
Most of our work on the land is slow and unglamorous. We remove invasive alien plants. We restore indigenous vegetation. We protect the water sources and the places where wildlife lives.
We think a guest farm should answer for its ground. That is why Berghouse and Cottages treats conservation as part of the job, not an extra.
You can see some of this on foot. The trails start at your door, and there are routes for walking, running and mountain biking.
The ponies take you through country you would not reach on a short walk. If you have not ridden before, say so when you book.
Come and see it
A farm is easier to understand once you are standing on it. If you have a question about the land, the family or the cottages, write to us. We will answer it plainly.
