Destination
The best mountain hotels in Southern Africa
The Drakensberg, the Cederberg and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho.
3 hotels
Southern Africa is best known for safaris and beaches, but its mountains are some of the most beautiful on the continent. The Drakensberg, the 'Dragon Mountains', forms a vast basalt wall more than 1,000 kilometres long along the border of South Africa and Lesotho, its cliffs and grassy valleys protected as the Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site. The range holds one of the richest collections of San rock art in Africa, and the walking, from gentle valley trails to high-level traverses, is superb.
To the west, the Cederberg is a wilderness of red sandstone outcrops, clear rivers and rare plants, a few hours north of Cape Town, with thousands of rock paintings hidden in its caves. And above them all sits Lesotho, the 'Kingdom in the Sky', the only country in the world lying entirely above 1,000 metres, where shepherds wrapped in blankets ride ponies across the highlands. The mountain hotels here are intimate and personal, with food, wine and hospitality as memorable as the views.
When to go
The seasons are reversed from Europe. Summer, from November to March, is green and warm, with dramatic afternoon thunderstorms in the Drakensberg and Lesotho and long, hot days in the Cederberg. Winter, from June to August, is dry, clear and crisp, with snow on the high peaks of the Drakensberg and skiing at Afriski in Lesotho, but cold nights. Spring, from August to October, is a favourite in the Cederberg and the nearby Namaqualand coast, when wildflowers carpet the land. Autumn, from April to May, offers settled weather and golden grasslands, ideal for walking.
How to choose your hotel
For food lovers, choose Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse, a small farmhouse in the Drakensberg famous for its multi-course dinners, with walks to the mountains and natural rock pools on the doorstep. For wilderness and rock art, choose Bushmans Kloof, a Relais & Châteaux reserve in the Cederberg with a spa, river pools and guided walks to ancient San paintings; it combines easily with Cape Town and the Winelands. For something completely different, choose Maliba Mountain Lodge in Lesotho's Ts'ehlanyane National Park, the country's first five-star lodge, with chalets beside a mountain river.
FAQ
Where are the best mountains in South Africa?
The Drakensberg, in KwaZulu-Natal, is the highest and most dramatic range, while the Cederberg in the Western Cape is famous for its sandstone landscapes and rock art.
Is Lesotho worth visiting?
Yes. It is a mountain kingdom with spectacular highlands, pony trekking and a strong traditional culture, and it combines well with the Drakensberg.
Does it snow in Southern Africa?
Yes. In winter, from June to August, snow often falls on the high Drakensberg and in Lesotho, which has a small ski resort, Afriski.
Can you combine the mountains with a safari?
Easily. The Drakensberg pairs with the game reserves of KwaZulu-Natal, and the Cederberg with Cape Town and the Winelands, while Lesotho is reachable from Johannesburg.