Dear Friends Can it really be July already? Somehow, we have reached the halfway mark of the year, and the winter school holidays are in full swing. True to KwaZulu-Natal winter, we have been treated to crisp mornings, gorgeous blue skies and glorious sunshine that warms the valleys by midday. It is a season that […]
There are many wonderful aspects to mountain living. The air is crisp, the landscapes are vast and golden in winter, and nature is never far away. Yet life in a remote mountain setting also comes with challenges that are less glamorous: waste, wastewater, odours and sewerage. These are the things most of us would rather
David Attenborough recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Over a remarkable 70-year television career, he has visited every continent and once reflected that his greatest discovery was understanding just how deeply connected all life on Earth truly is. As the third generation at The Cavern, and having spent 25 years here myself, I am just over
Adapted for blog use. Original story by Getaway Magazine. High in the foothills of the Drakensberg, far from any coastline, an extraordinary journey once began — one that would carry three men from rural South Africa all the way to England… in a homemade boat. In the mid-1800s, Norwegian immigrants Zefanius Olsen and the brothers
An Incredible Journey: From the Drakensberg to the Open Sea Read More »
Dear Friends 2026 has begun! We have a brand-new Reception and Shop and a few other exciting projects planned for the year. As forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, continues to gain traction in the wellness space, we’re introducing a secluded forest sauna pod near the spa. The pathway will extend to a quiet clearing where guests
Dear Friends Year-end seems to happen ever so quickly! It’s a time to tie up all the lose ends and get ready to pull out the decorations that make the season shine with festivity and brightness. We are busy finishing the upgrades of a couple of bathrooms at The Cavern, we have resurfaced the top
Life can be overwhelming when we look into the vast landscapes of the world around us and see how much need there is. Rural KwaZulu-Natal, particularly areas like the AmaZizi Valley, faces high levels of multidimensional poverty, affecting children’s access to essentials like nutrition, sanitation, healthcare, and early education. With 75.8% of children in the
In April 2024, the Northern Drakensberg Nature Reserve was officially gazetted and another 6500ha of pristine mountain grassland is to be preserved. This gorgeous part of the region is best explored on foot, horseback or through the meandering cycle tracks. With slackpacking becoming a popular option, we decide to explore the idea of developing the
In 2002 Bruwer Raats and Mzokhona Mvemve combined their artistry and Mvemve Raats was born. We delve a little deeper to see how paths crossed and what inspired the creation of MR de Compostella. Who is Bruwer Raats and how did he get into producing wines? Bruwer grew up in the Eastern Cape and whilst
The Underground Cellar was built in 2013 and has been a wonderful gathering space at The Cavern for many years. We stock a wide range of excellent South African wines, at good value, and we are fortunate to have many wine tastings through the year. In fact we have about 2000 bottles of wine, representing
