Message from the general manager
As we bid farewell to summer, so we usher in one of the best times of year in the Drakensberg. Autumn brings beautiful warm rusty colours which are a delightful accompaniment to the blue skies and crystal clear days, perfect for hiking enthusiasts. With School Holidays and Easter Weekend just around the corner, preparations are well underway to ensure that we provide our guests with a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Some exciting events are planned for March, beginning with the Trail Girl Trail Run from 12th to 13th March.
Trail Girl offers marvellously fun trail running events on some of South Africa’s most stunning trails, exclusively for women and girls. For more information please visit www.trailgirl.co.za – or contact Janine
on 083 662 2022.
The weekend of 19th March sees our annual Golf Club Championships. We have reached our player limit
for this year’s Championship, so don’t forget to sign up in October to qualify for next year’s event.
Some exciting upgrades are planned for this year, some of which have already begun. Sixteen of the hotel bathrooms have been upgraded and new 40 inch televisions have been purchased for the Superior Rooms and 50 inch for the Executive Suites and Presidential Suite. White towels have replaced the beige towels and new voile curtains have recently arrived. The upgrading of the Children’s Play Room is another exciting ongoing project. Further improvements will continue throughout the year as and when budget allows.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Ultimate Drakensberg Experience these holidays!
Bruce Botes – General Manager
Introducing our new Assistant General Manager – Sifiso Dhlalisa
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new
Assistant General Manager, Sifiso Dhlalisa.
With a passion for hospitality, Sifiso has already made
quite an impression on some of our guests. We are
very excited about what he will bring to the hotel and
our team.
Get to know more about Sifiso in this short Q&A:
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
i’m from Soweto, born and bred, and I have 13 years of experience in hospitality
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO WORK IN HOSPITALITY?
I fell in love with hospitality from an early age by going to work with my brother over weekends.
WHY DID YOU JOIN THE CATHEDRAL PEAK HOTEL TEAM?
I wanted a change and to get away from the city life and city styled hotels.
WHAT DO YOU THINK CATHEDRAL PEAK HOTEL’S GREATEST STRENGTH IS?
The location of the property. It’s got nice views, it’s great!
TELL US A SURPRISING OR FUN FACT ABOUT YOU
I have never broken a bone and I’m not allergic to anything.
Exciting upgrades to our
mountain hotel
The Albert & Doreen Block overlooking the swimming pool area, also known as the 300’s, has been closed
to guests for the past few weeks to enable us to give the bathrooms an upgrade. All sixteen bathrooms
were completely stripped, re-tiled and re-fitted with new san ware and accessories. These rooms are now
open for bookings. We plan to continue upgrading other bathrooms in the hotel during the course of
the year.
As you may know, some of the CPH team were hard at work giving the beloved Children’s Play Room a much needed facelift before the Festive Season. We have continued with these upgrades by adding a mini kitchen space, playhouse, many new and exciting toys, games, puzzles and crafts, and introducing a changing station and microwave with steriliser for moms with tiny tots.
As of the beginning of October, the first portion of trout has arrived. The lessees, with the breeding cycle and growth of the fish, are expecting it to take up to 2 years for the farm to be fully stocked and in full production.
Local school donations from one of our generous guests
With the temperatures cooling down and the summer rains starting to ease off, the beginning of autumn is the perfect time to bring the kids to our Drakensberg hotel for an unforgettable getaway.
Experience a family vacation packed with endless adventure and enjoyment with our School Holiday
Special, seeing a 15% discount for adults and a 50% discount for kids 12 years and under. Discounted
rates start from R1530 per adult and R290 per child per night when sharing with an adult, inclusive of all
meals. A minimum 2-night stay is required. T’s & C’s apply.
From hikes and walks through the stunning mountains that surround us, to a world of on-site activities
and organised daily entertainment programmes for both adults and kids, you’ll never want for
family-friendly entertainment at our hote
Local school donations from one of our generous guests
We’re celebrating all things green by giving you the chance to get your hands on one of our incredible vouchers!
For 24 hours only on 17th March 2022, purchase your Stay for 5, Pay for 3 or Stay for 3, Pay for 2 Voucher – valid for stays from 22nd March until 31st October
2022 (excluding peak periods). For two adults sharing in a Standard Room, you’ll pay only R10 850 for 5 nights or R7 230 for 3 nights, inclusive of all meals, plus get 50% off children’s (4-12 years) rates.
You can’t afford to miss this deal, so contact our reservations team on 17th March to book yours:
Email: reservations@cathedralpeak.co.za Phone: +27 (0) 36 488 1888
You can also purchase your voucher at www.cathedralpeak.co.za on the day itself – find the voucher sale on our specials page, and make sure you purchase yours before 23H59 on 17th March.
Join us for a stunning Easter Weekend
Easter is the perfect opportunity for families to get away and spend quality time together. We have some
exciting entertainment planned, including an Easter egg hunt for the little ones and an action-packed
activity programme for young and old alike. A traditional Easter Sunday service will be conducted in the
hotel’s chapel, with magnificent views of our Drakensberg mountains, and hot-cross buns will be served
with tea on the terrace.
Accommodation for the long weekend (15th -18th April 2022) is filling up fast and we encourage all guests
wishing to visit us over this time to book early so as not to miss out. A minimum 3-night stay applies.
Join our golf club for a Drakensberg golfing experience unlike any other
If you’re a golfing enthusiast, absolutely nothing can beat golfing on our 5412m course surrounded by the uKhahlamba Drakensberg mountain range. Sign up today for an unrivalled golfing experience for only R590, giving you membership until 31st October 2022.
Your membership includes an official digital handicap card and SAGA affiliation. Easy payment options are available with no hidden costs.
Protecting endangered species this World Wildlife Day – 3rd March 2022
World Wildlife Day 2022 is celebrating the theme “Recovering
key species for ecosystem restoration”. These celebrations
aim to draw attention to the conservation status of some of the
most critically endangered species of wild fauna and flora, and
to drive discussions around developing and implementing
solutions in order to conserve them. According to the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
of Threatened Species, over 8 400 species of wild fauna and
flora are critically endangered, while close to 30 000 more are
understood to be either endangered or vulnerable. Continued
loss of species, habitats and ecosystems threatens all life on
Earth, including us.
We support KZN Ezemvelo to ensure the continued preservation of the flora and fauna in the Cathedral
Peak Park. We are currently in the process of taking on a few wildlife projects with the assistance of
specialists in their respective fields, as well as getting on board with organisations involved in the
preservation of vulnerable and endangered wildlife species.
Our first project for 2022 was the removal of two highly active bee hives situated in the main hotel
grounds. In many parts of the world, bees are being listed as endangered. The African honeybee is not
officially classified as threatened; however, they are experiencing threats, including diminishing forage
resources, pests and diseases, and problems arising from the misuse of pesticides and insecticides. On
19th February, Melvyn Dawson, a qualified beekeeper with over 60 years’ experience, visited the hotel to
assist us in relocating these hives. We have also invested in some Bee Feeding Stations which will only
be used, when necessary, to assist us in keeping the bees away from main hotel areas.
Keep a look out in our next newsletter or on our Facebook Page or more updates on what we have
planned to ensure the continued preservation of wildlife in and around our beautiful hotel.
World Water Day: Groundwater – Making the invisible visible
Another important date on the calendar is World Water Day, 22nd March 2022. This focuses on the
importance and sustainability of fresh water. The theme for this year’s World Water Day is groundwater.
Although groundwater is invisible, its impact is visible everywhere. Almost all of the liquid fresh water in
the world is groundwater, supporting drinking water supplies, sanitation systems, farming, industry and
ecosystems. In many places, human activities over-use and pollute groundwater.
We at Cathedral Peak Hotel are focused on sustainably managing this precious resource. Here are a few
ways in which we use and protect our groundwater:
- Hotel water supply – all our water comes from the constantly flowing Mhlonhlo River. The water is filtered and passed through UV light to ensure that it is safe to drink and use. Guests are encouraged to place bath towels in the bath to be washed only when necessary.
- On-site water purification system – this plant purifies 90% of the water used in the hotel and then
discharges it back into the river system. - Bottled water – a natural spring on the property that flows all year round is piped to our bottling shed where it is filtered and passed through UV light. A complimentary 1l bottle is placed in all the rooms on check-in and 500ml and 1l bottles are available in the Tryme shop and bars.
- Hydro-electric plant – water from the Umlambonja and Mlhonhlo Rivers passes through our hydro-electric plant to generate electricity for the hotel and to feed electricity back into the grid.
- Alien plants – all alien plants along the water courses are eradicated on an on-going basis.
Month of Love photo competition winners
During the Month of Love we celebrated all those stunning couples
that have tied the knot at Cathedral Peak Hotel over the years.
Huge congratulations to Samantha Fawkes and Donald Fawkes,
who shared this stunning photo of their wedding – they won a
2-night stay at our Drakensberg hotel!
If you missed your chance to win a stay at our tranquil mountain
hotel, keep an eye out on our newsletters and on our Facebook page for more photo competitions
coming soon.
Month of Love photo competition winners
After enjoying a wonderful festive season at Cathedral Peak Hotel, we were privileged to sort through all the generous Pack for a Purpose donations made by our guests. Alongside the gracious donations ofschool uniforms from Harvest Time Ministries, these were distributed on the 14th of February 2022.
New Assistant General Manager, Sifiso Dhlalisa, accompanied HR Administrator Zama Zwane on their trip into the local communities. School uniforms were distributed at Mhlwazini High School, Ididima Primary School and Mpumelelo Crèche. Thereafter several other crèches situated in Mhlwazini and Magangangozi Valley were given toys and basic art supplies for the year ahead.
A very big thank you for all the donations received to date! We and the communities around us will be incredibly grateful if you continue to donate to this valuable upliftment campaign throughout the year.
A leisurely sunset walk via Lake Jarred
Join this short guided sunset hike with your family
and take in the incredible beauty that surrounds you.
Heading towards Cathedral Peak, you’ll meander
down to Lake Jarred (named after William’s son) and
then along the road onto our Golf Course.
Relax at the Golf Course clubhouse and enjoy the
novelty of complimentary tea, coffee and rusks
whilst watching the explosion of warm hues of reds,
pinks and oranges, bathing our mountains in a
beautiful golden light.
This fantastic walk can be enjoyed every Wednesday
and Saturday afternoon, leaving at 4pm in Summer
and 3:30pm in Winter. Don’t forget to sign up
on our Entertainment Board at Reception.
Incredible reviews from our treasured guests
At Cathedral Peak Hotel, we pride ourselves on providing the ultimate Drakensberg experience to each
and every guest who visits us. We were absolutely delighted to receive these amazing reviews – thank you
for your kind words, and we hope to see you again soon!
BREATHTAKING… – CRONJESTADLR
“Second Trip where we stayed the weekend. Previous trip was in Winter. Both offered incredibly unique experiences.
I can’t fault anyone, or anything.
The food? Buffet Morning Noon and Night? The selection is spectacular.
The scenery? Yes. Lazy me hiked. I realized I should do me more often!
We were there two days – and it felt like 5 – Need to recoup? I suggest you visit Cathedral Peak!”
28 YEARS GUEST AND STILL EXCELLENT – JON482
“We are a family of 4 and have been visiting CP Hotel on a yearly basis , virtually every year, for 28 years. This is a
family owned hotel and many of the staff have been in the employ of the hotel for many years. The hotel is situated
deep in the Drakensburg mountain range – end of the line/road. It is unique. On every level. What we enjoy is that
there is no pretentiousness – the meals are excellent, home fare, hearty, well thought out. There is something for
everyone. The rooms cater for all – from standard to luxurious mountain facing with all the bells and whistles. The
management are always on hand and happy to have a chat. Then there is the scenery/hikes/walks. This is top notch
and world class. No exaggeration. Cathedral Peak Hotel is an absolute classic and we do not hesitate to
recommend – we stayed over Christmas and N Year – 12 days.”
Escape to the Drakensberg at discounted rates with these special offers
School Holiday Special
Valid 1st Mar to 30th Apr ’22, excl. 18th to 20th Mar,
15th to 18th Apr & 29th to 30th Apr ’22
Adults receive a 15% discount on all accommodation and kids 12 and under receive a 50% discount off kids’ rates when sharing with an adult. Discounted rates start from R1530 per adult and R290 per child per night when sharing with an adult, inclusive of all meals.
Min 2-night stay. T’s & C’s apply. Full prepayment within 48 hours via EFT only. Valid for new bookings only
Autumn Special
Valid 2nd to 31st May ‘22
Adults and kids receive a 25% discount on all accommodation. Rates will start from R1355 per adult per night, single or sharing, and R435 per child (4-12 years) per night, inclusive of all meals.
Min 2-night stay. Includes Mother’s Day Weekend – 6th to 8th May ‘22. Valid for new bookings only. Full prepayment within 48 hours via EFT only. T’s & C’s apply.