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
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans
Property amenities
Free parking
Pool
Pool with view
Free breakfast
Bar / lounge
Hiking
Horseback riding
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Outdoor pool
Restaurant
Special diet menus
Fishing
Board games / puzzles
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Location
Northern Natal Drakensberg, KZN Kruisfontein, Bonjaneni 1911 South Africa
We had a lovely stay at Greenfire Lodge with our two daughters. The walks were stunning and we did the bushman's painting and vulture colony walk. We also walked down to the trout and bas dam, and my husband enjoyed the fishing at both dams. Quite a journey up the mountain to get to the lodge so do not attempt if you don't have a high clearance vehicle. Breakfasts were lovely and dinners were homestyle cooking with a touch of elegance. Although there were no different options for dinner our family enjoyed every meal as they were well prepared. The rooms are pretty basic, but comfortable, and as you are there to enjoy the view and surrounds it really does not matter.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Every room has an amazing view so no need to pick.
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 1 night, for the next 2 weeks at home I woke every morning in a panic because I thought I was still at Greenfire Lodge Drakensberg, and could not find the loo – I wanted to be back.
We arrived on horseback (see Montusi review). Its a steady climb of a couple of hours for the horses. The manager came out and greeted us, made us feel very welcome. After a few days of looking at the mountains from the bottom, we now looked at the farmland from the top.
Our room was very clean and comfortable, the shower was very welcome.
The lodge has a large communal room, with comfy seats, bar area and dining tables. A fire in the middle make it very welcoming.
The highlight – the storms at night, you are right in the middle of them – an awesome display of the power if nature, while comfortable sat next to a fire, with a good book & a glass of wine.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2022
Value
Location
Service
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.
Spectacular mountains, chilled vibe. Various hiking/MTB options set in mountainous grasslands and forests. Our visit was in summer/rainy season and the mountains were full of rushing little streams and impromptu waterfalls. We hiked a few shorter hikes and fished the trout dam. The trout were obliging and we saw a monster cruise the shallows, but could not get a fly to it in time.
The lodge is comfy and laid back with generous meals served at breakfast, lunch and supper. If you are planning a day out the staff are happy to prepare a packed lunch to enjoy in the mountains.
Up high the weather can turn quickly, but the lodge has a central fireplace in the lounge / dining area where guests can read or play board games to while away the time.
Definitely a spot worth checking out if you are looking for a relaxing spot with no phone, wifi or TV.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:High clearance vehicle needed, but the lodge provides transfers from safe parking (included)
Pack...
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 our 3 kids over Easter and loved it. The combination of a beautiful scenery, 30 km of hiking (with good signage), horse riding, comfy rooms, delicious food, beautifully decorated main room with restaurant and literally having the mountain for us. We have stayed at different places in the Drakensberg but this place is a special combination of privacy, comfort and nature. If you don't feel comfortable driving up with your vehicle there is a possible shuttle from Alpine Heath.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2023
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.
We booked the Greenfire lodge because of the fantastic location, the cosy cabins & the lack of internet. Their website doesn’t do the place justice though. Shaun & Rozanne have transformed the place, adding their own personal touch over the years. The cabins are cosy & stylishly decorated with their own fireplace for the colder months. The common area is a great place to get together & unwind after a day of hiking. The views on the hikes are just stunning, as is the wildlife that happened to cross our paths. Rozanne & Shaun were the perfect hosts & went out of their way to ensure our stay was unforgettable.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023Trip 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.
A sun drenched holiday, filled with wonderful walks to the vulture colony, to see the bushman paintings and to the aptly named Valentine’s Forest. What an idyllic time, far from the loud and sometimes maddening crowd. Thanks Saun and Sam for your great hospitality and your wonderful team.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2024Trip 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.
Set in a beautiful place in the Drakensberg mountains. Very difficult to get to. Cabins are very nice and food is good. The management is awful. Bad rains, roads were washing out. Had to traverse almost a meter deep creek. More rains expected but management would not let me out of the second night minimum requirement. Due to the danger, I left anyway. They also charged me for the second nights meal when I wasn’t even there. Don’t support these money grubbers.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
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 wonderful stay at Greenfire Lodge. Rosanne and Shaun are superb hosts and really go out of their way to make everyone feel at home. The food was delicious. The walks and the view are spectacular. We had a special atmosphere in the dining room among all the guests.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Horse riding and hiking are the main attractions. Remote, beautiful location is what gives it...
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.
This is a beautiful lodge up the hill with only some solar in a spectacular location. It is fairly simple but great staff and good food. The views are amazing. Come on MTB or to hike or to chill. We wish we had stayed longer.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2023
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Pick a shared cabin with en suite as has the best views
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.
I chose this lodge due to its remote location, stunning views and position in the Drakensberg Mountains enabling good hikes. Unfortunately as we approached the Drakensberg following a drive from Colesberg, the clouds closed in and instead of being welcomed by a beautiful starry sky and the silhouette of the mountains, we found ourselves driving off-road through low cloud and drizzle! We had a 4x4 and were prepared for the near off-road approach but due to poor visibility it took around 45 minutes after passing through the security gate at Alpine Heath Resort before we reached the lodge in pitch black so my advice would be to try and arrive before sunset, which was my plan but due it’s location not being on the SatNav I had underestimated just how remote it was! From Alpine Heath Resort, the lodge is initially well signposted and the approach is on a concrete track but it does involve a lot of steep parts and the track is pretty bad in some places so it is essential to have a high clearance vehicle and ideally a 4x4 though failing this, it is possible to leave your car at Alpine Heath Resort and you will be collected by the lodge manager Shaun. If driving yourself it should also be noted that having followed the track from Alpine Heath Resort you will eventually encounter a locked gate across the track, with a sign showing the telephone number of the lodge, which we had to call to find out how to get through the locked gate; we had been unaware of this so I would advise that you e-mail and they will tell you were the key is located (I do not want to reveal this on open forum). Once through the gate it took another 15 minutes or so to reach the lodge, were we were warmly welcomed by Rozanne and given a welcome drink. Once introduced, Rozanne warmly referred to us as “my family” for the rest of our stay. Comparatively speaking, the lodge was the most expensive place we stayed in and at the same time it was the most basic but you have to appreciate that it is in the middle of nowhere and provides a unique experience. The log cabin rooms are basic with no power outlets, only basic lighting provided by solar panels. Log fires in each room provide heating and a gas geyser in each bathroom provides hot water. The furnishings are basic; including the beds, which are not overly comfortable so just expect “glamping” and you’ll not be disappointed. The lodge centre is a short walk from the two bedroom cabins and consists of an open plan “lounge” with a large log fire in the middle (lit by oil lamps) and a small snug bar to one side, l as well as a wrap around covered porch with seating to take in the views if the weather permits. We were extremely unlucky with the weather and the sky remained covered in cloud until our last morning so my high expectations of pollution free, Milky Way skies remained merely a dream! Our only full day at the lodge remained drizzly and foggy for the majority of the day so we whiled away the time playing scrabble or reading. I had hoped to go on the 6-hour trek on to the ridgeline about the lodge to the Vulture’s nests but alas it was not to be, though during a brief, slight break in the weather we did manage a quick 90-minute walk to the Bushman paintings, along a well-marked path. What makes this place very special is the staff and in particular the husband and wife management team of Shaun and Rozanne, who treat you like family (in a good way!). Rozanne does all the cooking and we had great meals throughout our stay; while chatting to Shaun (who runs the bar) on our last night, I mentioned that I was surprised that I had not encountered “Melk Tart” on any menus when travelling through the Karoo and to my delight at breakfast the following morning, Rozanne presented us with a Melk Tart that she had very kindly prepared that morning after Shaun had told her about our conversation! The drinks prices in the bar are incredibly cheap given the logistics involved in re-supply and they had a very decent selection of wines. It is possible to charge phones and other small appliances/camera batteries at the bar and they do have a gas operated fridge freezer that provides ice for drinks! On our last morning the weather had lifted and we were treated to spectacular views of the Drakensberg Mountains and our drive back down to the main road only took 25 minutes in decent weather. Despite the lousy weather we all enjoyed the serenity and remoteness of the lodge and felt privileged to have spent some quality time away from the hustle and bustle while being well looked after by Rozanne and Shaun; we will remember this for ever.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2016
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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.
There are more places to choose from in the Bonjaneni area.
PRICE RANGE
R 2,950 - R 2,985 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalDrakensberg RegionBonjaneni
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
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.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
