Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TGCSA - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Zulu
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Restaurant
Canoeing
Hiking
Meeting rooms
Chapel / shrine
Non-smoking hotel
Wifi
Fishing
Ironing service
Room features
Housekeeping
Room service
Safe
Kitchenette
Refrigerator
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Location
Sutherland Farm District Road 527, Ixopo 3276 South Africa
What a lovely weekend we had. The staff are friendly and so helpful, the food is excellent, the scenery is breathtaking and there is lots to see. TV reception was great The only thing to let the place down was the lumpy pillows and room 6 could do with a bit of updating but in the grand scheme of things the weekend was so enjoyable we could overlook those minor details
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Date of stay: May 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Very basic but also luxurious, and the most friendly and helpful staff you'll ever experience. Food to die for. A church to walk into at any time to pray. Cows lowing, stream flowing, no traffic, a retreat in all senses of the word. Aromatherapy and other services available
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled on business
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.
Spent a week staying here. Rooms serviced every day. Nice grounds to stroll around in and relax. Had a couple of good meals at the resturant. Staff friendly. The gravel road leading to the hotel could be a bit rough with potholes. If in a car take it slow. Cell phone signal not good, but there is wifi. Worth the stay.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Rooms
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.
From the setting to the rooms to the food and especially the staff what an experience. We (a group of U3A pensioners) just spend 4 days there to explore the mission stations in the area. We were so well looked after by a cheerful staff, an excellent cook a lovely rooms converted from the old mission station. Worth a visit!
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Date of stay: March 2022
Value
Location
Service
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.
What a wonderful place to stay! Steeped in a fascinating history, King's Grant has a peacefulness and tranquility unlike any other place we've stayed at. The rooms are most comfortable, the food is delicious. We were privileged to have a guided tour of the St Isidore museum which we found fascinating. We hope to be back again very soon.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Kings Grant to some might be seen as rustic, with “rundown” buildings, however, to those who can appreciate its history and unique charm it’s a quaint establishment that makes you feel you have gone back 100 years.
With its many little cobble stone paths that wind around the property, Kings Grant has a wonderful peaceful atmosphere about it. The gardens are kept quite naturally and are not overlay manicured. Rooms are clean with white linen and even some rooms with a fire place (our room had a fire place which was conveniently set up and ready to light when we arrived). The la carte dinner we has was most definitely one of the highlights with the chef keeping true to “comfort, farm food” but with a wonderful modern flare. Breakfast was equally as impressive with homemade bread and granola and an notable rendition of a savoury, breakfast pancake.
There are lovely walks down to the dam, where bass fishing is also allowed. Kings Grant is a wonderful place if you want to get away from it all and read a book, go for walks and just enjoy its authentic rustic feel.
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Date of stay: August 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Kings Grant Country Retreat – Accommodation and Wedding Venue in Ixopo.
ormerly known as Stuartstown, the small town of Ixopo which derived its name from the Zulu word ‘exobo’ meaning ‘sounds made as cattle squelch through mud’ is a town rich in history, stories and wonder. This is the setting for our visit to Kings Grant Country Retreat but also the setting for part of the notable and classic book by Alan Paton, Cry The Beloved Country where Alan Paton describes Ixopo in the opening lines of the book: -
“There is a lovely road which runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it.”
Set in KwaZulu-Natal just south of Pietermaritzburg in the Southern Midlands is where the road takes us next….to Kings Grant Country Retreat in Ixopo.
Booking
Before booking our stay anywhere, we always do some research on the accommodation, places and points of interest and trawl reviews about the area and….Ixopo in particular has so much to intrigue. And…there’s fishing! Big win for our family as the Man is fishing obsessed!
We’ve visited Kings Grant Country Retreat on a few occasions and we have always had memorable stays there and the fishing….has always been good. Possibly one of the main reasons we keep returning. Being so close to Durban and offering something for everyone it has become a firm favourite for us.
We phoned through to book as we had the number saved on our phone and were promptly assisted by Cheryl Biggs, the owner and our host during our stay at Kings Grant. We made our payment and were all was set for our visit to this indescribably beautiful part of KwaZulu-Natal.
The road there
We love a road-trip and this one is worth mapping out if you’re going to really explore the area and get the full benefit of your visit.
Places of interest to experience and explore along the way?
Carisbrooke School, founded in 1911, where the famous words by Alan Paton above can be found hand-painted on a large boulder on the grounds of the school. Situated about 10km outside of Ixopo, this was one of the locations for the movie Cry The Beloved Country.
The Eshayamoya Express or Paton Express as it is also known is another Steam Train ride that you can take in the KwaZulu-Natal area (read our earlier blog on the Umgeni Steam Train – The Inchanga Choo Choo). It is best to keep your eyes peeled on their Facebook page as it does not always run, and it is important to book in advance if you want to get a spot on the train. Try and plan your trip for when the train is running if possible…
Another prominent name in the area is Cecil John Rhodes who farmed cotton for a brief period with his brother in the Mkomazi area in 1870. A memorial to him can be found on a road between Ixopo and Richmond.
Dead Men’s Tree, so named because it once used to carry death and funeral notices, can be found outside the old Post Office building.
Then there is the world-renowned Buddhist Retreat Centre which was awarded National Heritage status and has been featured by CNN as one of the 10 best meditation centres in the WORLD! Day visits are usually allowed but we are definitely adding the ‘Silent Retreat’ to our future plans. Go and have a peep at their site if you want to know more about the Buddhist Retreat Centre. Perhaps we’ll meet there in the future.
Some reading while on the road?
The history of Kings Grant Country Retreat is fascinating, and we found their write up on their website under history to be well researched and informative.
Phew…we’re sure we’ve given you a lot to think about and you’re starting to feel the excitement of your visit here!
Now we’re here…
As you drive up to the gated property, you can start seeing the gardens which is called home by a multitude of different bird species. The gate was opened and as we entered our host Cheryl was waiting for us at the reception entry area. She probably heard the landy coming from a mile away…it’s a tad noisy.
We were given the keys to our chalet and headed there first to unpack and ‘nest’. We always request the family chalet at the very end of the property which comfortably sleeps three and has an inside fire as well as braai area outside. It is a self-catering unit which has great WiFi and all the usual amenities one would expect from a self-catering cottage. There is also Bed and Breakfast accommodation but…with the Man loving a ‘braai situation’ this is not really an option for us. But, if that’s what you prefer, the restaurant does make exceptional meals and has a very good wine selection which we sampled of course. We also make it a point to have breakfast here every morning and working our way through the menu as best we can. We’ll have to go back as still wanting to try the Eggs Benedict which we saw a fellow guest having. It looked mouth-watering!
I was left to nest and the men made their way to the dam to test the waters. The little man caught some HUGE bass and it was promised that they would be going out early morning to try their luck again. I was left with some quiet time and this was used to unpack and after, to explore the grounds of Kings Grant. This is a photographer’s paradise! Perhaps the reason we are drawn back time and time again is the feeling of peace and calm of this special place.
It was fairly late when the boys returned thus fires were started and the perfect day came to a close…sipping a wine from the stocks of Kings Grant. Thanks Cheryl!
Day 2 Little man took his bike and lead the Man in his landy down to the dam. I stayed behind as wanted to catch up on some reading and particularly wanted to spend some time in St Isidor’s chapel. Not that I shall be wedding any time soon, it must be said that this is a perfect destination for weddings in KwaZulu-Natal. Particularly smaller weddings of about 50 guests. Accommodation (tick), Chapel (tick), beautiful setting for those once in a lifetime photos (tick-tick-tick-tick), fully licenced bar and dining area (tick) and an outside venue that is perfect for wedding receptions.
Kings Grant was originally built by German Trappist Monks in 1891 and although renovated, much of the original buildings stand and some converted to tastefully decorated accommodation units.
Much of the old charm is still to be found and the museum on site offers a brief look into the lives of the Trappists Monks who built the St Isidor Mill and Chapel as well as farmed the land which provided most of the food in the area. Unique and interesting artefacts used many years ago can be found here but… as said above…a read on the history of the area can be found on the Kings Grant website as well. It is well worth the read.
The men returned with tales of good fishing and the bell at St Isidor’s chapel was rung by the bean in celebration thereof. There is a trick to hitting the correct number of chimes which…bean has not mastered. If you manage it, post it online and tag #StIsidorBell. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled because is it even possible?!
And so we unwind
Our time here is always a special one and…we’re thinking of heading back fairly soon. This time taking our two dogs with us. There is a unit that allows pets to join in on the holiday fun and the bean has been begging us to bring the pooches along for the ride. Why not?
Bean reckons it deserves a 10 out of 10…about the number of times the bell rang at 3pm. Oops.
#AfricanTravelBird
RATING: 10 out of 10
Pros Wood supplied daily Excellent bass fishing Serviced daily TV and Hotel DSTV Boquet Self-catering with a well-appointed kitchen Coffee and tea supplied and these delicious little sugar biscuits. Electric blankets for those cold winter months Braai facilities Great wedding venue Chapel on site Museum Has a restaurant offering fine dining and a great selection of wine Beautiful setting Abundance of birdlife Excellent service Eco-Conscious and all units have recycling bins Pet friendly The list is getting too long now…. Visit to experience it for yourself
Cons Absolutely none that we can think of.
Activities Birding Bass Fishing Beautiful garden walks Mountain Biking Midlands Meander Unique points of interest St Isidor Museum Picnics Steam Train Rides White River Rafting in the area Golf at the nearby Ixopo Golf Course
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Date of stay: December 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.
Kings Grant built in 1891 is nestled in the heart of the Isidor Valley in Ixopo, approximately 1,5 hrs from Durban. I had a weekend stay. My first thoughts, hmmm interesting. We were greeted by Cheryl, pleasant and friendly, reception area, bland with some interesting paintings and a couple of items for sale. We were shown to our room, quite cosy at a glance BUT as you settle in you come across cobwebs on the wall, the carpets did not appear to be cleaned in a while. The bathroom gets a 1 out of 10. Comfortable bed. There is a tea tray but if you run out of milk you got a long wait, 15 minutes, by the time the milk arrived (in a jam jar) the coffee was cold :-(. My husband enjoyed his chicken burger and I had a chicken and mayo sarmie for lunch. The mayo appeared to be sandwhich spread which by the way was served as tartar sauce for my grilled fish for dinner, which btw was chewy, stick with the tempura fried fish. Breakfast is excellent, awesome muesli, made by themselves, the fruitiest orange marmalade, made from fruit growing on the premises AND the lightest, fluffiest croissants I've ever eaten. Health bread, muesli and the preserves can be bought by the guests, just order it from the staff. What took my breathe away was the grounds, the vast array of indigenous plants. Even though it's winter they were beautiful, I can only imagine what they are like in the spring and summer months. They have the oldest working mill on the premises and the quaintest little church. The added bonus to this visit was the Creighton Aloe festival. Only in July. The aloes are in full bloom. Take the Eshamoya express and enjoy the picturesque sight. I recommend the 2pm ride. Njoy the sunset from the steam train. There's also a buddhist retreat nearby to visit. I'm told one has to make a booking. All in all it was a weekend to remember with tons of pics for the photo book.
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Date of stay: July 2015
Rooms
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:not applicable
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.
Food was great, with large servings at reasonable prices. The ambiance was excellent. Had a great country feeling to it. Excellent staff. They made the experience memorable. It's definitely a must visit.
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Date of stay: October 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
King's Grand Country Retreat is what the name says. A place to stay for a retreat. Away from the daily rat race. The Establisment is Pet Friendly and welcome welltrained owners and their pets. They have a special unit No 14 to accommodate Pet-Families.
Worthwhile to google all services the establishment offers. Not close to any shop or convenient store-be sure to take with everything you might need. Ice can be ordered from the bar.
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Date of stay: May 2019
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Limited TV channels.
Kitchen only 1 electric plug Take a 2point plug
Full House B/fast...
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 Ixopo area.
PRICE RANGE
R 1,597 - R 1,615 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalIxopo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
13
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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