The Nest - Drakensberg Mountain Resort Hotel & Conference Venue

The Nest - Drakensberg Mountain Resort Hotel & Conference Venue

Aerial photograph of The Nest Hotel showing the main building of the hotel surrounded by the round thatch roofed rondavels (room
Aerial photograph of The Nest Hotel showing the main building of the hotel surrounded by the round thatch roofed rondavels (room
CONTACT DETAILS
Central Reservations Office
Tel: 0861 276 237
Int. Tel: +27 51 924 0585
Fax: 086 684 1011

Enquire Now
The Nest - Drakensberg Mountain Resort Hotel & Conference Venue. Set in the scenic majesty of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg World Heritage Site. We offer tasty South African country cooking and have many great facilities. We offer a variety of accommodation including Garden Rondavels, Premier Garden Rooms, Mountain View Rooms and Executive Suites

The combination of award winning food, spectacular gardens, wonderful facilities, friendly staff, relaxing accommodation and exquisite views over the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg World Heritage Site together with the availability of just about all leisure and sporting facilities imaginable that make The Nest a unique and much loved destination for so many tourists and families from far flung places.

A delightful country hotel set amidst the scenic Drakensberg Mountains. Charming thatched rondavels and bungalows are set in 25 acres of trim, tranquil, park like gardens. The Nest offers a wide range of activities with swimming pool, tennis courts, mountain bikes, croquet lawn, horse riding, golf, river walks and guided hikes into the mountains.

The Nest is the oldest and most well-known of all the Berg resorts in the Natal Drakensberg. Celebrating its 70th year of welcoming guests in 2003, The Nest has a strong following of guests who make a point of coming year after year, returning to this most special place of comfort, wonder and beauty.

ACCOMMODATION:

Set in acres of beautiful and well kept park-like gardens, our rooms offer a peaceful escape from the hustle of city life, which by choice have no televisions in the rooms. All rooms are en-suite, have tea / coffee making facilities and radio, and will soon also all have ceiling fans, electronic safes, under carpet heating and heated towel racks.

Garden Rondavels are cosy, round and thatched units set individually in magnificent Gardens. Mountain View Units have a stunning view and Premier Garden Rondavels have extra finishes like a ceiling fan, electric u/c heating and heated towel-racks etc.All units are neatly appointed, cosy and comfortable with bath/shower and toilet en-suite, radio, telephone, coffee/tea making facility, Mountain View Units have their own private veranda with spectacular views of the Drakensberg.

We offer double, triple and Family units.Some of the Family accommodation consists of two inter-leading rooms sharing a bathroom en suit.Family Mountain View units consist of a room upstairs, room downstairs with steep spiral staircase- also sharing a bathroom.

HONEYMOON SUITE:

The Nest attracts a lot of honeymooners keen to get away from the madding crowd. We have a beautiful honeymoon rondavel complete with four-poster bed. Our two executive suites are also used by honeymooners.

DINING:

We are one of the few Resort Hotels left which offer you cuisine A La Table D'hôte all included in our tariff. This means that we serve you daily three carefully selected meals of traditional South African tasty country cooking. Full, hearty breakfasts, light lunches and six course dinners as well as morning and afternoon tea and coffee on our veranda overlooking the impressive Drakensberg. Sunday dinner at Lunch is our grand meal of the week

Our region is rich in produce and we can offer you the best ingredients with many vegetables, country fresh from our own garden. We offer enough to choose from at every meal, nutritious and wholesome even for vegetarians, although we do not cater for any specific diet.

You are welcome to start at the top and work yourself right through it. If you like something particularly well, then ask your waiter for a second helping. Please also help yourself from the delights displayed at our buffet. We continue to choose well and prepare with love a variety of wholesome meals which in our time have become less and less available. We hope you enjoy the freshness and taste of this tradition.

BAR:

The bar at The Nest Hotel is fully licensed and has a wide range of spirits, wines and beers. It is the ideal location for pre-dinner drinks and nightcaps after dinner.

The bar plays host to many of the regular entertainment fixtures such as "Check your Mate" and "Pictionary" which are facilitated by our staff and ensure that everyone gets to have some fun whilst enjoying the ambience.


WEDDINGS:

The Nest have hosted a number of successful weddings and have provided many unique and momentous experiences for the entire group. From the initial planning stages right until the big day, we have a committed and dedicated team of people with experience and an eye for detail. We would be delighted to help you plan your special day and host you and your guests for a memorable event. Please contact our Events Team at The Nest.

CONFERENCES:

Our Conference Venue is a modern and flexible building for conferencing, functions and more. Up to 200 delegates can be accommodated cinema style with various other configurations available. With a banqueting kitchen and gala seating for up to 130 people, our double-volume hall will make a favourable impression on your guests and ensure a memorable event. A dedicated Video Conferencing Room and various break-away rooms allow for greater communication and networking. A separate lounge, bar and gym will allow relaxation at the end of a day's work.

LEISURE & SPORTING ACTIVITIES:

The hotel has a number of activities ranging from walks to bridge in the formal lounge. Horse Riding daily; Children's Horse Riding; 3 Professional Bowling Greens; 2 Tennis Courts; Swimming Pool; Badminton; Volleyball; Croquet; Swing Ball; Darts; Table Tennis; Children's Play Ground; Mountain Bikes; Full Sized Billiards Table; Pool Table; Walks and Excursions; Fully licensed Ladies Bar; Candle light Dinner Dance on Saturday evenings; Satellite TV lounge and videos.

ATTRACTIONS - THINGS TO DO

Sporting

The sporting playground in the Drakensberg

Hotel sporting facilities

3 Professional Bowling Greens*

2 Tennis Courts

Swimming Pool

Badminton

Volleyball

Croquet

Swing Ball

Darts

Table Tennis (ball may be purchased at reception)*

Children's Play Ground

Full Sized Billiards Table*

Pool Table*

Walks and Excursions*

Nearby sporting facilities

Horse riding @ Scrumpy Jacks (1km from hotel)

Paintball

Golf @ Champagne Sports Resort Golf Club and Monks Cowl Golf Club

Fly Fishing

Gliding


* Denotes activities for which a nominal fee is charged to cover costs such as transport, entrance fees, cold drink, guide/consumables etc.

The Nest Hotel offers a wide range of activities and entertainment. Bowls for beginners is encouraged and informal games welcomed. Guests seldom leave without having enjoyed some bowls. With three championship bowling greens and resident coach in attendance, bowls can be played all year round. Many bowls tournaments, coaching clinics and greenkeeper seminars are held. There are two all weather tennis courts and a croquet lawn. Horse riding is a speciality at The Nest for beginners and advanced riders. There are many beautiful walks along our river with pools and waterfalls as well as guided hikes into the mountains.

We arrange scenic drives, visit Bushmen paintings, historic Anglo Boer war sites, or take you to listen to the famous Drakensberg Boys Choir, Aluka Rug factory, Kwa-Zulu Shoe factory and Meadow Sweet Herb farm. There is a picturesque golf course, an airstrip for fly-in visitors, volleyball, table-tennis, billiards, pool, darts, satellite TV lounge, videos, library, a variety of indoor games and romantic candlelit dinner dances.

The Drakensberg is beautiful all year round. Winter is very special with clear sunny days and chilly nights warmed by log fires, the chance to see snow on the mountains or watch graceful gliders rising in the warm mountain thermals.

So, enjoy your break with us at The Nest and become one of our extended family, we love to have you as our guest.

Entertainment

Daily activities for your enjoyment

We have an exciting daily entertainment programme. During peak season such as Easter and Christmas we have dedicated entertainment people who will keep both adults and children alike happy and entertained.

Attractions

Must see Drakensberg Attractions

There are a number of attractions for visitors to the Central Drakensberg:

Drakensberg Boys Choir

A major attraction every Wednesday (not in school holidays), the concert in the afternoon at the Boys Choir School nearby. 15 min. by car.

Anglo-Boer War Battle Sites

Apart from the famous Spioenkop Battle site nearby there are numerous more in our area. Please inquire at Reception. A guide can usually be made available and the Ladysmith Siege Museum is often a good source of information and tour starting point.

Bushman Paintings

Close by in the Dragons Peak Park are the most easily accessible rock-art from our San predecessors. High up in the mountains there are many but are difficult and to reach and find. Giant's Castle Nature Reserve 1¼ hours from The Nest by car features an original Bushman cave museum and beautiful original paintings inquire at Reception.

Winterton Museum

This is an interesting historic place about 20 min. from The Nest, and is well worth visiting.

Hiking

Get high in nature!


The Drakensberg Mountain range spans more than 1000 kilometers but it is here in the Central Drakensberg that it is most beautiful and stands tallest.

This makes it the ideal location for a range of day hikes from basic 2 hour hikes to 7 hour hikes:

Day hiking trails in the Central Drakensberg:

Hiking trails at Monks Cowl and Champagne Castle

Hiking trails at Cathedral Peak

Hiking trails in Giant's Castle Game Reserve and Injasuthi 

Hiking trails in Royal Natal National Park

Hiking trails at Mnweni

Curios & Shopping

What to buy in the Central Drakensberg


There is a small curio shop in the hotel which caters primarily for souvenirs and bowling paraphernalia but also stocks a number of everyday essential items such as toiletries.

There are a number of unique shopping attractions in the area:

Thokozise Lifestyle Centre

A small rustic retail complex less than ten minutes drive from The Nest Hotel which has a number of interesting shops including:

 

Meadowsweet organic herb farm

Stocks a range of products from bath salts to herbal teas all grown and manufactured in the Central Drakensberg.


Creative Metal

Hand crafted metal candle stick holders and curios which are manufatured on a local farm.

San Rock Art

Authentic San styled clothing, footwear and curios.


Bunjy Toy Factory

Only 30 min. by car from The Nest on the road to Estcourt. See how toys are made and buy some cuddly fluffy toys at a special price.

Kwa-Zulu Weavers & Candle Factory

See rug weaving and making, curios and arts & crafts. About 7km from The Nest on the way to Winterton.

Ardmore Pottery Studio

Just a few minutes by car  or hire one of our mountain bikes (about 5km), or you may even wish to walk there. An old cow shed has been converted to a super pottery studio producing award winning and unusual pottery by local craftsmen  view, buy and have a cup of tea

Cheese Factory

For all good cheese lovers, visit the Tevreden Cheese factory and see cheese making and taste and enjoy various kinds of cheese with good wines and eats for a nominal fee. Best times to visit are from 10h00 to 13h00. Mondays to Fridays. Phone Lisle 036 448 1840. Near Bergville, about 35 min. by car. Details at Reception.

 

 



 
SERVICES & FACILITIES

All rooms are en-suite, have tea / coffee making facilities and radio, and will soon also all have ceiling fans, electronic safes, undercarpet heating and heated towel racks.

Banqueting - Introduction

The ideal location for your event

The banqueting facilities at The Nest Hotel include the newly completed Ukhahlamba Hall which forms part of our new conference centre which has numerous breakaway rooms and large bar and braai areas along with a fully functional dedicated kitchen.

The Nest Hotel is able to offer its renowned hospitality to groups as small as 5 people up to 200 people.

Conference

MEETING ROOMS

ROOM NAME SEATING CAPACITIES AREA
  U-Shape School Room Theatre Banquet
Billiard Room 22 26 34 18 44
Breakaway 1 20 24 32 20 30.3
Breakaway
1 + 2
40 64 80 40 56
Breakaway
1 + 2 + 3
50 80 100 60 100
Breakaway 2 20 24 32 20 30.3
Breakaway 3 16 24 32 20 27
Cane Lounge 35 80 100 60 135
Ukhahlamba Hall 68 200 200 125 221

Banqueting - Functions & Events

The ideal location for your event

At The Nest Hotel we are proud to be one of the Premier Drakensberg venues able to offer a wide range of function and event solutions and are able to accommodate these in our various different venues on the grounds of the hotel.

We have hosted many successful functions ranging from small private functions to masked balls for up to two hundred people. We offer various menu options and custom menus can be catered for on request.

The Nest Hotel has played host to a great number of functions and events over the years, here is a list of a few of these:

SPAR Women’s Bowls 2005

This tournament begins at club level, progresses to district level and culminates in a National Final in November of each year. The Nest Hotel hosted the National Final in 2005 which included the nationally televised tournament as well as a number of functions which culminated in a gala dinner.

The Nest Hotel is honoured to have been chosen once again to host the SPAR Women's Bowls in 2006

RATES

Rates @ The Nest Hotel

Excellent value for money!


Our excellent rates include breakfast, lunch and supper as well as morning and afternoon teas and coffees along with your accommodation in our well appointed rooms which are all en-suite.*

Conference or function?

Are you looking for the ideal Drakensberg venue for your conference or function? Look no further The Nest Hotel is ideal for you!

Find out more about Conferences at The Nest Hotel

Find out more about Functions at The Nest Hotel

* All rooms have at least one bathroom and most are en-suite however some of our two bedroomed units share a single bathroom.
 

Standard Rates 2009
The Nest Hotel & Conference Centre
Accommodation rates include breakfast, lunch and supper

PER PERSON/
DAY/SHARING

Including all meals
DAILY DAILY

*high season
5 - NIGHT SPECIAL
(in Sunday out Friday)
GARDEN RONDAVEL
Single
R670.00

R800.00

R770.00

R1400.00
R2750.00
(R550/day)
R3150.00
MOUNTAIN VIEW / PREMIER GARDEN RONDAVEL
Single
R750.00




R800.00
R820.00




R1400.00
R3000.00
(R600/day)



R3150.00
EXECUTIVE SUITE
Single
R1200.00

R1400.00
R1700.00

R1900.00
R5000.00
(R1000/day)
R5000.00
2 - 5 YEARS
***
R140.00 R220.00 R550.00
6 - 8 YEARS R200.00 R315.00 R650.00
9 - 11 YEARS R330.00 R470.00 R1550.00
PENSIONERS EXECUTIVE SUITE MOUNTAIN VIEW / PREMIER GARDEN RONDAVEL GARDEN RONDAVEL
  R1000.00 R600.00 R550.00
 
 
 

* HIGH SEASON: Long Weekends, Easter and December Holidays.
**SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
***COT AVAILABLE at R35 per day for babies below 12 months

Prices subject to change without notice
E&OE

 

ACCOMMODATION at The Nest Hotel

CHILDREN: Children 12 years and older pay full price.
Children paying reduced tariff and under 8 years are required to eat in the children's dining room half an hour before adult mealtimes.
Children occupying rooms without parents will be charged full rate

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