Alpine Health Resort

When you open your curtains at the Alpine Health Resort you’ll be reaching for your camera before you even step outside.

Then the dramatic views of the Drakensberg Mountains will inspire you to join the free guided hikes, like the 90-minute Cascades hike that saw me fording five streams, with surefooted guide Victor Dube helping his flock safely across.

Later you can try horse riding, swim in the two pools, sign the kids up for supervised activities, watch a family movie in the auditorium, or enjoy a massage in the surprisingly affordable Be Spoilt spa. There are mountain bikes to hire, a tiny gym, a table tennis table, bingo, and karaoke nights in the bar. Or just have a quite braai on your private patio if organised entertainment isn’t your thing.

Designed like a little mountain village (the clue’s in the name) the Alpine Heath Resort has 100 self-catering chalets dotted around in clusters. The 20-year-old resort in the northern Drakensberg is being overhauled and its 100 chalets revamped. Each has an en-suite master bedroom and two twin bedrooms sharing a second bathroom, a lounge and dining area and a full kitchen. But you don’t need to cook, because the resort has a buffet restaurant plus a bar and coffee lounge serving full meals or lunchtime lights. The vegetable curry is delicious, and feels almost virtuous too.

With 11 different meeting rooms and reception areas including a chapel it’s also targeting the conference and wedding market.

The resort’s strength lies in being both family friendly and business oriented, and it’s priced to attract the locals rather than dollar-denominated foreigners. Just don’t go hoping for a quiet, romantic weekend.

Off Cavernberg Road, Northern Drakensberg. Tel: +27-36-438-6484. Website here: