Magnificent mountains provide a spectacular backdrop to Alpine Heath Resort, which is 45km from Bergville. It’s a stylish four-star mountain village in an Afro-Swiss style with 100 chalets and conference and wedding facilities.
The chalets are all north-facing with breathtaking views across the valley to the most picturesque mountains in the Drakensberg range. The luxuriously appointed three-bedroom chalets sleep a maximum of six and are all en-suite and equipped with telephone, DStv, comfortable lounges, fireplaces, self-catering kitchens and dining areas.
The resort has no less than nine conference venues and a quaint chapel which is hugely popular for weddings.
Alpine Heath Resort offers a wonderful variety of sports and leisure activities. Moms and dads may be pleased to know that the wide variety of entertainment is sure to exceed any child’s expectations (and energy levels).
Kids can participate in anything from arts and crafts to nature-related and brain stimulating activities in the exclusive kids entertainment programme at the Kids Wow Zone.
There is also a gym, swimming pools, tennis courts, squash, table tennis, volleyball, 18-hole putt-putt, an open field for cricket, touch rugby and soccer, walkabout chess, kids’ jungle gym, trampoline, mountain bikes, fly-fishing and a golf course five minutes away.
Also just five minutes away is All Out Adventures which caters for extreme adrenaline junkies. Their activities vary from canopy tours to the Zipline and Kingswing. Bookings can be made from Alpine Heath Resort’s reception.
For those slightly fainter of heart, Alpine Heath has many hikes through open grassveld broken up by pockets of proteas and patches of wild flowers, along the hillside slopes and beautiful clear streams and rivers.
Situated in a World Heritage Site, it’s also the perfect base from which to explore the Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls (the World’s second highest waterfall) and Mont aux Sources (from which eight rivers originate).
The area is full of history. The battlefields of several war campaigns are close and you can find out about past heroes and walk in the footsteps of leaders like Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and General Louis Botha.
And when it comes to dining, the village square in the centre of Alpine Heath has quite a variety. La Gruyéres restaurant serves both buffet and a la carte breakfasts and dinners in a warm ambience with rich colours. The terraced Tavern does lighter meals from brunch onwards. There is also the popular Pizzeria and a coffee shop.
Rates are R510 a night per person sharing for a six-person chalet (total of R3 060), breakfast included. For information call Alpine Heath Resort on 036 438 6484 or e-mail [email protected]. - Sunday Tribune