The hotel comprises 16 Deluxe Rooms, 2 Library Suites and 4 Premier Suites. The rooms are situated on either the 1st or 2nd floor of the original hotel or on the ground and 1st floors of the new wing which was completed in 2007. All of the rooms are beautifully appointed. The hotel has a fully licensed bar and restaurant. Our whiskey collection is growing and there is surely something to satisfy your taste. The beers are always cold and there are few better place to relax after a long day, having a drink by the pool in summer or around the fireplace in winter. Our wines will compliment your meal in the Blue Room where our chef's reputation is seeing wonderful reviews. Breakfasts are a great way to start the day with either a continental or full English breakfast available. Although we are open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner, bookings are essential to avoid disappointment.
Pietermaritzburg, set amidst forested hills and the rolling countryside of the Natal-Midlands, is one of the best-preserved Victorian cities in the world. The city is the administrative capital of the province and is centrally situated between Durban, the Drakensberg and KwaZulu-Natal's game reserves on the main N3 highway between Johannesburg and Durban; Pietermaritzburg is approximately 80km north of Durban by road.
Pietermaritzburg is the gateway between Johannesburg and Durban and many bus services, rail services and taxis are available on a daily basis.
The passenger rail system in Pietermaritzburg is not used between suburbs but only between our towns along the N3 highway towards Johannesburg, so remember it is not regarded as city transportation.
The city offers an airport known as Pietermaritzburg Airport. This airstrip is not an international airport but offers excellent national destinations and inter-city flights.
The bus services are outstanding as you could choose from many different routes and with all the companies providing a great service.
Taxis are plentiful and provide helpful information and useful trips around the city and suburbs. Metered taxicabs operate in all major cities and towns. You will find taxi ranks at transport terminals, major hotels or shopping centers or you can hail taxis in the street.
Few cities personify the vibrancy of a contemporary African city better than Pietermaritzburg. Steeped in a history that speaks of Zulu, Boer, British and Indian influences, the city is a cultural treasure trove brimming with diversity and colour.
Offering a full spectrum of cultural engagements, it comes as no surprise that Pietermaritzburg lays claim to being the city of choice for culture. Much as its architectural structures and statues reflect a rich historical legacy, Pietermaritzburg and its surroundings offer a veritable feast of present-day experiences.
Visit Mpophomeni township outside Howick and partake in activities traditional and modern that are intrinsically part of Zulu culture. Consider a tour of Edendale, Imbali or Sobantu for a unique perspective on life in some of South Africa's most colourful townships.
In Imbali:
For a shebeen experience, drop in at My Sistas, Sophie's Tavern , or Rovers Tavern; watch sangomas in training in Unit 14; visit the Manaye Hall in Stage 1 where Nelson Mandela made his last speech as a free man before being imprisoned in 1961; pay your respects at the Stage 2 monument that commemorates all the fallen in the
political struggle.
In Sobantu:
The first township to rebel against 'Bantu Education'; watch Zulu dancing at Nomhle Dlamini's Place that also serves traditional beer and food.
In Edendale:
Visit the Georgetown project where efforts are underway to restore the historic mud brick dwellings.
National Botanical Gardens:
Pietermaritzburg is justifiably known as the City of Flowers, with private gardens and public parks aglow with lush foliage and seasonal blooms, such as bougainvilleas and azaleas.
