By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse is one of South Africa's most celebrated hideaways, a small, owner-run farmhouse in the foothills of the Drakensberg, famous above all for its dinners. With just seven individually decorated rooms and cottages, a trout-filled river and the great basalt wall of the Drakensberg on the horizon, it is a romantic, indulgent base for exploring a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range.
Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse is one of South Africa's most celebrated hideaways, a small, owner-run farmhouse in the foothills of the Drakensberg, famous above all for its dinners. With just seven individually decorated rooms and cottages, a trout-filled river and the great basalt wall of the Drakensberg on the horizon, it is a romantic, indulgent base for exploring a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range.
Location: Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal
The farmhouse is in the central Drakensberg, near the Kamberg Valley and Highmoor, in KwaZulu-Natal. The Drakensberg, the 'dragon mountains', form the highest range in southern Africa, and the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protected for both its dramatic scenery and its thousands of San rock paintings. Durban is a few hours' drive away, and Johannesburg a little further, making it a popular stop on a road trip through KwaZulu-Natal.
The Drakensberg is one of the great mountain ranges of Africa, with a wall of basalt cliffs rising more than 3,000 metres along the border with Lesotho. Highlights include the Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, Giant's Castle and Cathedral Peak, and the Kamberg area is famous for its rock art, including the Game Pass Shelter, often called the 'Rosetta Stone' of San painting. The Sani Pass, a dramatic road into Lesotho, is a popular day trip.
Rooms at Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse
There are five rooms and two cottages, each individually decorated with antiques, quirky details and plenty of comfort, many with views over the gardens, the river or the mountains. The atmosphere is relaxed, personal and romantic.
The farmhouse is small and intimate, so guests quickly get to know each other and the owners, and the atmosphere at dinner is convivial and lively. Many rooms have fireplaces, deep baths and views over the gardens, and the attention to detail, from the decoration to the turndown treats, is part of the charm.
Facilities at Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse
The dinners are the highlight: a seven-course menu that changes every night, cooked by the owners and served with great flair, and the main reason many guests return year after year. By day, guests can walk in the foothills to San rock paintings, fish for trout in the Mooi River or Highmoor Dam, hike in the Drakensberg, or simply relax in the gardens.
The mountain moment
The Cleopatra moment is an evening by the fire after a day's walking in the Drakensberg, the mountains turning violet in the dusk, before a long, theatrical seven-course dinner that is the talk of every guest at breakfast the next morning.
On a clear winter morning, the high peaks of the Drakensberg are dusted with snow, the grasslands glow gold in the low sun, and the air is crisp and still, perfect for a long walk before breakfast.
By day, a walk through the grassland foothills to an overhang painted by the San hundreds or even thousands of years ago, with eland and hunters in red ochre on the rock, is a reminder of how long people have lived in these mountains.
Why Cleopatra is one of the best mountain hotels
Cleopatra earns its place for its food, its warmth and its setting. It is small, characterful and full of personality, and it offers some of the best dining in the South African mountains. It has no pool or spa, and it is about indulgence rather than adventure. But for food lovers and couples exploring the Drakensberg, it is a must.
For the Cederberg, see Bushmans Kloof. For Lesotho, just across the mountains, try Maliba Mountain Lodge.
Two nights allows a day of walking in the Drakensberg and two of the famous dinners, and many guests combine Cleopatra with other Drakensberg areas, the Sani Pass into Lesotho, the Midlands Meander arts and crafts route, or a safari in the game reserves of northern KwaZulu-Natal. Book well ahead, as the farmhouse is small and popular.
When to go to Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse
Spring and autumn, from September to November and March to May, bring mild days and clear skies, ideal for hiking. Summer, from December to February, is green and warm, with afternoon thunderstorms. Winter, from June to August, is cold and dry, with snow on the high peaks and crisp, clear days.
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Questions, answered
- How many rooms does Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse have?
- Seven: five rooms and two cottages.
- What is Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse famous for?
- Its seven-course dinners, with a menu that changes every night.
- Is the Drakensberg a World Heritage Site?
- Yes. The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is protected by UNESCO for its scenery and its San rock art.
- How far is Cleopatra from Durban?
- A few hours' drive.
