The spectacular Northern Drakensberg Mountains keep calling me back. Maybe it is not so extraordinary that me, a boy from the middle of England, who has spent the majority of his life at around ninety meters above sea level should have a fascination with reaching new heights on his travels. And here I find myself again reaching new heights, at altitude, at the spectacular Cavern Resort & Spa where the all-round attention to detail is exceptional.
Back in 1941 Bill & Ruth Carte proved to be great visionaries when they decided to turn their struggling cattle farm into a hotel, that has evolved over eighty-five years, into what is now The Cavern Resort & Spa. The harsh mountainous environment provided the raw building materials that Bill & Ruth needed. They started with no running water, relying on mountain streams, and had no electricity until 1976. It is and was a herculean achievement and now we lucky enough to be here enjoying all that the resort has to offer. The resort took its name from a nearby overhang, spanning two hundred meters across, where evidence of cannibalism was found dating back to late nineteenth century. The resort is still managed by Bill & Ruth’s family now in its third generation and is celebrating eighty-five years since it’s opening.
The Northern section of the Drakensberg Mountains is truly spectacular where panoramic views are around every bend in the road. En route to the resort, we stopped off at Royal Natal National Park, only a short drive away, where we took in the spectacular vista of the Amphitheatre. With clouds gathering behind the near five-kilometre cliff face running from buttress to buttress we were blessed with a breathtaking scene before us. Any stay in this area should include an excursion into this National Park.
We timed our arrival at the resort perfectly, for people who love food, and prior to checking in we made our way to the dining room for lunch. Here the bar was set high in terms of food and service. The staff could not do enough for us and the lunch was divine. In a former life selling catering equipment we worked on the premise that people buy with their eyes. The theatre of food adds enormously to the enjoyment, and we feasted on a perfectly laid out, colour packed feast, deep in flavour combinations. Breakfast and dinner followed on the same lines. Each individually cooked to order course was impeccably served and presented exquisitely. Crispy calamari rings with tartare sauce & avocado salad, quinoa & mango tower with coconut cream, toasted almonds & tortilla chips. Creamy beef & mushroom stroganoff with roasted cherry tomatoes & seasonal vegetables, haloumi wrap with sweet chilli sauce, salad & sweet potato chips. These were some of the dinner highlights. The breakfast is the perfect way to kick start a day in the mountains. The choices are varied but included mabela porridge, a South African specialty, and a special mention from me must go to the grilled lamb sausages and the caramelised onion & sweetcorn egg muffin.
The attention to detail can be found everywhere. Each meal comes with a menu that not only includes the delicacies on offer but may give mention birding opportunities at The Cavern and some of the resorts history. The weather forecast is also there plus a quiz to kick start the day. There are maps with walking trails that include details of the walk with distances, timings and graded so as you no what to expect in terms of terrain. There is an activity desk and notice board letting you know what is on offer on a daily basis. Guided hikes and horse trails that can include sunset drinks and picnics. There are mountain bike trails and fishing plus after dark stargazing.
We had a very lazy stay. I took a pre-breakfast short trail exploring waterfalls, fern forest, mountain stream crossings and from steep sided valleys, under the partial shade of protea tree’s, I gazed up at ancient rock formations backed by beautiful blue skies. I even met a local bushbuck as I returned to our room. We did play lawn bowls, that proved quite strenuous and competitive under the hot African sun. My Victory was put down to the afternoon heat by my opponent. There is so much to do on site and just beyond the resort gates. We enjoyed strolling in the immaculately kept gardens and rested up by the pool sitting with our feet in cooling water.
Our room, a superior suite was stunning, with great views of the valley and indigenous forest below. There is no shortage of space in the rooms that contain king size four poster bed, lounge area with fireplace, balcony and large en-suite bathroom with tub and separate shower. The attention to detail continues here as even the towels are dated so staff can track their use.
Credit must go to the family, Megan, Hilton & Lesley, descendants of Bill & Ruth and all the resort staff for continuing, building on and keeping The Cavern Resort in such immaculate order with so much attention to detail. We genuinely loved our stay and could have stayed a lot longer. And yes, it was all my fault in the planning of our twenty years celebrating SafariKZN road trip that our stay was not long enough. But what a thrill to have been at such a special place during our celebratory KwaZulu Natal road trip.
