An Unforgettable Farm Lodge Experience Join us at Penwarn Farm, located in the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg, for a stunning farm lodge escape. Rustic yet modern, Penwarn Farm Lodge can be found just 25km from the quaint, little town of Underberg in South Africa. As you drive down the Khyber Pass, you’ll be greeted with the all the beauty that Penwarn has to offer. The farm lodge lies in an exquisite valley surrounded by lakes, and borders Highlands Farm which was established in 1886. Over 3400 hectares of land is farmed by the fifth generation of Nicholson’s, raising cattle and sheep and planting maize and potatoes for the market. Sharing the grasslands are zebra, hartebeest and blesbok. Birdlife is of abundance and the cranes and wild geese can be spotted from the comfort of your room. Penwarn truly is an animal enthusiast’s paradise! The ambience of the farm is relaxed, rustic, and modern, and is perfect for a variety of occasions including weddings, conferences, family adventures and romantic getaways. Penwarn Farm Lodge has its own chapel, which is situated near the beautiful lake overlooking the Drakensberg. Within the venue, we also have the famous Penwarn Bar which offers guest a thirst-quenching drink and a place for a bit of banter. We look forward to welcoming you to Penwarn Farm Lodge and providing you with an amazing farm holiday experience.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu
Location
Bushmans Nek Road Penwarn Farm, Underberg 3257 South Africa
we were lucky enough to spend 2 nights at Mthini Lodge on Penwarn Farm, if we could, we would have stayed longer. The lodge was beautifully furnished with little touches that made us feel so welcome. the bedrooms each had their own entrances and bathrooms allowing us to move around without disturbing each other. each room has a breathtaking view of the valley and over the river. the kitchen and dinning area had everything you needed, even containers to pack treats in for a picnic or hike. it was an idyllic escape in the heart of nature with so much to explore. we made use of the kayaks (excellent condition with lifejackets supplied) to explore the waterways and even found some indigenous rock paintings. All the staff were friendly, helpful and they even dropped us up river with some tubes to bob down the gentle moving river. The river, rock pools and walking paths were well marked and seemed endless, we can't wait to go back and explore more of this beautiful place. from the booking right until the checkout, we were given every bit of information we needed to make our little break magical and very private. the photos exceeded our expectations and don't capture the beauty and tranquility that we experienced. We can't wait to go back.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kate McDonald, General Manager at Penwarn Farm Lodge
Responded 26 Jul 2020
Thank you so much for such an awesome review. You truly experience everything at Penwarn and really made the most of it. We are so happy you enjoyed it and cannot wait for your return.
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We can 100% recommend for anyone keen to escape the city or just want to get outside. Amazing views and scenery, comfortable luxury stay and excellent service from the staff. We were able to do a nice hike and loved being outdoors. Each room had a fireplace and electric blankets so the cold weather did not bother us at all. Breathtaking views from our rooms at Mthini Lodge on Penwarn Farm.
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Date of stay: July 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kate McDonald, General Manager at Penwarn Farm Lodge
Responded 26 Jul 2020
Hi Reze, So happy you enjoyed your stay. Glad you kept nice and warm and enjoyed the fireplaces and electric blankets. Mthini is such a special spot. We cannot wait for you all to come visit us again. Regards Kate
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Penwarn Farm lodge is about 20 km from Underberg and it is advisable to use a four by four vehicle because the condition of the gravel road is very much weather dependent.
The Mziki Cottage was huge, well fitted and very private. The large windows over looking the Drakensberg and local dams, enhanced the charm of the cottage. My wife and I enjoyed the indoor fireplace which Babsie so graciously and readily restocked with smaller logs when we requested this. All COVID-19 protocols were observed and we felt very safe.
We spent hours sitting underneath the verandah and watched the Egyptian geese, white faced whistling duck, grey crowned cranes, egrets and herons feed at the dam below. On clear days a good range of the mountains were visible including the "castle to the right. The stars were spectacular and we given got a glimpse of a satellite hurtling through space.
Penwarn Farm Lodge is the perfect place to destress, rejuvenate and reset a busy mind. It is an ideal re-treat. Sketchy cell phone and internet coverage is the digital detox therapy that those addicted to social media need.
Kate was phenomenal with the booking arrangements and went out of the way to accommodate me as a person with a disability. I was delighted to find a temporary ramp to accommodate my wheelchair at the cottage. Toy, who checked us in regularly enquired whether we needed anything and volunteered to have Babsie take us to see the ostriches, Impala, Zebra and Blesbok. Babsie and the cleaning staff were friendly and helpful. We so much enjoyed their hospitality that we extended our stay by a further day.
Penwarn Farm Lodge is definitely on our list of places that we like to revisit.
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Date of stay: October 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed 3 nights with a family of 14. The Penwarn manor was perfect for all of us to stay together. The rooms are clean and some have fire places in them. What’s great is that all bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom. The kitchen is large and there’s more than enough fridge space for self-catering accommodation for up to 16 people. The house is next to a lake so it’s very peaceful and beautiful! WiFi signal is patchy but we wanted a weekend to unplug and enjoy quality family time so this suited us fine. The cleaning staff are friendly and efficient, and the house is cleaned everyday with the common areas cleaned before everyone even woke up in the mornings. We will definitely be back for our next family break!
Of note, the road leading up to the farm is a gravel road for approximately 20km. (This is stated in the description of the accommodation when booking.) We travelled with SUVs in the rain, however I think a normal vehicle might struggle especially in wet conditions.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were most privileged to visit this wonderful farm in July this year.
It was our first holiday away with our ten month old Baby and with being our first holiday with a babe, we were probably a little under prepared.
Well, our stay was spectacular. We felt extremely comfortable and at home in our warm cozy Cabin. Katie was tremendous with helping us out with items for our baby. A co sleeper crib with a clean mattress was put in the room as well as a high chair. Even lent us a junior life jacket when we decided to try kayak with the little one. And also very respectful with regards to sanitizing / wearing mask (the cleaners did too and made sure to sanitize the door knobs every day)
The accommodation is superb. Modern, country farm style and very clean. With dry fresh towels everyday, even for the baby. Fantastic outdoor activities: trout and bass fishing - there are many dams to choose from - kayaking, Hiking, Bird watching, viewing the rock paintings, fire pit, rock pool. There were horse and sheep there for the little one to look at. I mean, I’m probably forgetting something but it was really just fantastic.
Highly recommend for anyone whose looking to hit the refresh button and get away for some fresh clean air with gorgeous views.
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Date of stay: May 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kate McDonald, General Manager at Penwarn Farm Lodge
Responded 01 Sept 2020
It was an absolute pleasure hosting yourself, Camilla and cute Onyx. I’m so happy we made your first holiday away as a family an enjoyable one. Thank you for your kind words and support.
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We were blown away by the beauty of Penwarn. The accommodation is great (despite the very steep steps to the loft) and is extremely well appointed with everything you need. Such great staff and an all round brilliant experience. We will definitely be back!!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great facilities with various options. Beautiful farm and surrounds. Friendly service. Rooms were heated when we arrived and 2 bags of wood for the braai was also provided. Go visit the waterfall as an easy walk
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a wonderfully relaxing weekend at Penwarn Farm Lodge. It was great to be in the country side away from all the hustle and bustle. The staff and owners were very hospitable and made us feel very welcome. We will definitely be back in the near future.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2020
Value
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Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kate McDonald, General Manager at Penwarn Farm Lodge
Responded 01 Sept 2020
We so happy you enjoyed your stay with us.
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Penwarn under new ownership has undergone a magical transformation. All the chalets have been totally renovated and revamped. What a stunning experience.... To take time out from ones high pressure, stressful life, to be able to relax, chill out and commune with nature. The bike and walking trails, the kayaking and fishing on the two huge dames, the rock pool, the bird life and game, the spectacular views of the Drakensberg, the quaint pub in the main lodge... And management who can't do enough for you. Certainly a place I could go back to time after time.
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Date of stay: December 2019
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kate McDonald, General Manager at Penwarn Farm Lodge
Responded 14 Nov 2021
😊 thank you
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From the get go, booking was easy with the service provider including two booking changes from my side which was easily accommodated for.
The house is beautiful and situated on a beautiful part of the farm. Everything is provided for and we appreciated the cleanliness of the house and rooms etc.
It was a cold weekend and generous supplies of wood were left for us in the rooms and outside fire pit.
I enjoyed the sunset views and quietness in particular, we will definitely be back !
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: August 2022
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Underberg area.
PRICE RANGE
RÂ 1,199 - RÂ 1,962 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalDrakensberg RegionUnderberg
NUMBER OF ROOMS
19
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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