If you need one house in the Drakensberg for the whole family or your entire friends’ group, these are the four we’d shortlist: The House at Glengariff near Underberg (up to 12), Drakensberg Dream Cottage in the Cathkin Valley (10), Thekwane’s Nest Ondini House (10) and Berghouse Cottage 3 below the Amphitheatre (8). All four are self-catering, each has a fireplace or a braai for the evenings, and the Berg is malaria-free, so the little ones can come along without a second thought.
Below we explain what each house is like and who it suits, then help you choose between the Northern, Central and Southern Berg. We check sleeping numbers, bedrooms and prices against each property’s own listing (here’s how we choose our stays). The rates are the ones we last recorded. They change with the season, so always check the live price on the stay page before you start dividing up the bill.
The House at Glengariff, Underberg: room for twelve
The House at Glengariff is a rustic farmhouse on a working cattle, sheep and maize farm near Underberg in the Southern Drakensberg, with wide views over open farmland. It’s the biggest of our Berg houses, and it feels like a proper farm holiday. There are farm animals, gardens full of birds, and fish eagles calling overhead. There’s even an airstrip if someone in the family flies.
Inside, the living and dining rooms each have a fireplace, which is exactly what you want on a cold Underberg night. The TV lounge opens onto a big verandah that’s made for long breakfasts, and the open-plan kitchen is well equipped for cooking for a crowd. There’s also backup power for load-shedding.
Who it suits: three-generation families and anyone travelling with dogs. The property is fenced, so children and well-behaved dogs can roam safely, and pets are welcome by arrangement.
- Sleeps: up to 12 in 5 bedrooms (twelve includes a sleeper couch, and the house is most comfortable for ten)
- Bathrooms: 2 (one en-suite), plus a separate toilet
- Price: from R5 160 per night for the whole house as last recorded, which works out to about R430 per person when twelve share
- Check-in: 14:00 to 19:00, check-out 10:00
Drakensberg Dream Cottage, Cathkin Valley: walks from the front door
Drakensberg Dream is a four-bedroom cottage on a 45-hectare estate in the Central Drakensberg. It looks across the Cathkin Valley to Cathkin Peak and Champagne Castle, two of the best-known summits in the range. What we love most is that you don’t need to get back in the car. A guided trail on the estate passes two San rock art sites and four waterfalls, there are dams for bass fishing, and eland wander through the gardens.
The cottage runs off the grid on solar power. The open-plan kitchen has a dishwasher, a washing machine and a tumble dryer, which helps a lot with ten people and muddy hiking kit. The lounge has a fireplace, and there are two terraces, one of them with a braai. The estate also has a spa for anyone who’d rather skip the walk.
Who it suits: active families and friends’ groups who want to walk every day, and groups where some of the kids are happy to share a room.
- Sleeps: 10 in 4 bedrooms
- Bathrooms: 2, plus an extra shower downstairs
- Price: from R3 356 per night for the whole cottage out of season as last recorded (higher in peak periods), which is about R336 per person when ten share
- Check-in: 14:00, check-out 10:00
Thekwane’s Nest Ondini House: the rainy-day house
Ondini House is tucked deep into the Drakensberg mountains, and it has five bedrooms for ten people. Three rooms have double beds, one has a queen and one has two singles, so nobody ends up on the couch. The big entertainment area has a fireplace, a pool table and a dartboard, and it opens onto a lovely garden. If the afternoon thunderstorm arrives on schedule, your rainy-day plan is already sorted.
The kitchen and dining room are large, with a gas stove. Like Drakensberg Dream, the house runs off the grid, on solar power and rainwater tanks. A cleaner is available, and pets are allowed by request. Ondini is one of three units on the same property, and the other two are booked separately.
Who it suits: groups of adults or older kids who each want a proper bed, and families who want a fallback plan for wet days.
- Sleeps: 10 in 5 bedrooms
- Bathrooms: 2, plus a separate toilet (so mornings need a little patience)
- Price: on enquiry. Live rates for the whole house are on the booking page.
- Check-in: strictly 14:00 to 19:00, check-out 10:00
See Thekwane’s Nest Ondini House
Berghouse Cottage 3, Northern Berg: the Amphitheatre view
Cottage 3 is the group cottage at Berghouse, in the Northern Drakensberg, and it looks straight at the Amphitheatre, the great wall of cliffs behind it. All four bedrooms are en-suite, so this is the one to pick if bathroom queues are a deal-breaker. A thatched lapa with a braai joins the cottage, and the farm has seven kilometres of river and three dams for fly fishing and tubing, plus horse rides on sure-footed ponies.
Wi-Fi and daily morning housekeeping are included. There’s no TV, which some families will count as a plus. On the nights nobody wants to cook, dinner and breakfast can be delivered to the door.
Who it suits: smaller groups and couples travelling together who want an en-suite each and the most dramatic view of our four. The cottage takes a minimum of five guests, and it doesn’t take pets.
- Sleeps: 8 in 4 en-suite bedrooms
- Price: Berghouse publishes a 2026 group rate from R7 200 per night for groups of five or more. Check on the stay page what that rate covers for your group before you budget.
- Getting there: the last three kilometres are on a gravel road
Choosing the right part of the Berg
The KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg is usually split into three areas, and each has its own character. Most of the high mountain falls within the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s known for both its scenery and its San rock art. With a big group, we’d pick one area and stay put rather than spending the weekend in the car.
- Northern Berg: this is Royal Natal National Park and the Amphitheatre, where the Tugela Falls drop over the escarpment. They’re among the highest waterfalls in the world. Families can walk the Tugela Gorge from below. Fit hikers can tackle the Sentinel route, which climbs to the top using chain ladders. Base yourself at Berghouse Cottage 3.
- Central Berg: Cathedral Peak, Champagne Castle, Cathkin Peak and Giant’s Castle are here, and so are the Champagne Valley’s restaurants and activities. There are walks for every fitness level and plenty of rock art. Base yourself at Drakensberg Dream Cottage.
- Southern Berg: this is quieter farm country around Underberg and Himeville, known for trout fishing and as the gateway to Sani Pass. You’ll need a 4×4 and your passports to drive up the pass into Lesotho. Base yourself at The House at Glengariff.
Planning tips for a big group
- Book early for school holidays. There aren’t many houses that sleep ten or more. The winter holidays in June and July, the December holidays and the Easter long weekends are when families head for the mountains, so the biggest houses go first.
- Pick your season. Summer, roughly October to March, is green and lush with waterfalls in full flow. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, though, so start hikes early and be off high ground by early afternoon. Winter brings dry, clear days and cold nights, and snow is possible on the high peaks, most often in June and July. Pack warm layers in any season.
- Agree on the money up front. Our stay cards show a rough per-person figure wherever we have a whole-house rate, which makes the first conversation easier. Decide early whether groceries, wood and activities go into one kitty, and whether kids pay a share.
- Do the big shop on the way. Village shops near the mountains can be small, so stock up in a bigger town before you turn off towards the hills. Pack plenty of braai wood and firelighters, because you’ll use them.
- Plan the drive. From Durban, most of the Berg is roughly three to four hours away, and Underberg is often the quickest to reach. From Johannesburg, allow about four to five hours to the Northern or Central Berg and closer to six or seven hours to the Southern Berg. Mind the check-in windows too. Several houses only check guests in until 19:00, so a Joburg convoy should leave early.
- Expect gravel and weather. The last stretch to some farms is gravel, and it can get slippery after a summer storm. Ask the host for directions before you go, as phone signal can be patchy.
- Check the park side of things. For entry and hiking permits, trail updates and the reserves inside the park on the KwaZulu-Natal side, start with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the province’s conservation authority.
Drakensberg group stay FAQs
Is the Drakensberg malaria-free?
Yes. The Drakensberg is outside South Africa’s malaria areas, so it’s a popular choice for families with babies and young children.
Which Drakensberg house sleeps the most people?
Of our current stays, The House at Glengariff sleeps the most, with up to twelve in five bedrooms (including a sleeper couch). Drakensberg Dream Cottage and Ondini House each sleep ten.
Which part of the Berg is best for a family reunion?
It depends on what the group wants to do. For one big bucket-list hike, choose the Northern Berg and the Amphitheatre. For lots of walks and things to do nearby, choose the Central Berg. If the plan is slow farm days, fishing and dogs running around, choose the Southern Berg.
Does it snow in the Drakensberg?
Snow falls on the high peaks most winters, usually between June and August, and the valleys can get very cold at night. A snowfall is never guaranteed, which is half the excitement.
Find your Berg house
We keep adding houses as we find ones that genuinely fit a crowd. You can see all our Drakensberg group stays and filter by how many people you need to sleep, or browse all our cottages. If you’re stuck between two, drop us a line at hello@groupstays.co.za and we’ll help you choose.
