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#1 of 11 in Dundee
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Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the country when you visit Nxala Ranch. Stylish rooms, one with private bath room. Tasty home cooked meals on the verandah with spectacular views across the plains abundant in game and birdlife. Game viewing, Hunting, San rock art, hiking, bass fishing. Ideal half-way stop between St Lucia, Hluhluwe and Drakensberg. Central to Battlefields of Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift and Elandslaagte. A 2-night stay is recommended. TGCSA 4-star Lodge.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Secured parking
Bar / lounge
Hiking
Fishing
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Breakfast available
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Room features
Dining area
Housekeeping
Safe
Separate dining area
Microwave
Minibar
Cable / satellite TV
Bath / shower
Separate living room
Sofa
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Oven
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Electric kettle
Kitchenware
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
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Room types
Mountain view
Landmark view
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Family
Location
Full view
Contact
Valkop Farm, Dundee 3000 South Africa
Getting there
Car HireSee all Dundee car hire
41Reviews0Q+A7Room tips
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What a lovely place to stay. Neat, luxurious and safe with very friendly and helpful hosts. We will definitely visit again. Very comfortable beds, well equipped kitchen, etc. Wonderful stay with very nice views
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
Response from Dora Joubert, General Manager at Nxala Ranch
Responded 25 Nov 2021
Thank you very much for visiting us, and for the positive review.
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As good as any 5 star hotel. Comfort, location, food, hospitality. None of these could br faulted. The hosts, Dora & Frans plus their staff go out of the way to welcome you to their home. If you want to totally relax, this is the place for you.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
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Service
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Dora J, Manager at Nxala Ranch
Responded 22 Feb 2020
Thank you for the positive review and for visiting us. We really enjoyed hosting you.
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From the moment Dora and Frans welcome you, the visit is perfect in every way. Our room and the stoep overlooked the dam where weavers are busy all day and frogs entertain at night. Hiking on the property is a rewarding experience with magnificent views, Nguni cattle and the company of Tico the dog. Food is excellent. Frans will show you the Bushman paintings and the game such as eland and giraffe that aren't easily visible from the lodge or on foot. I recommend a 3 night stay so one full day can be spent in the battlefields and another experiencing and soaking up the atmosphere of the ranch itself.
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Date of stay: November 2019
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip: Choose the room overlooking the dam if it is available
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Helpful
Response from Dora J, Manager at Nxala Ranch
Responded 03 Dec 2019
Many thanks for the kind words. We really enjoyed your energy and positive attitude towards life. We do agree that a 2 night stay is to short to accommodate a battlefields tour/ tours and to experience what is available to be seen on the Ranch.
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Great Food, Hospitality and setting. Will definitely be back but this time for a longer period. Thank you Dora and Frans for your hospitality and awesome cooking, great meeting you both.All the best with the farming..
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Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Travelled
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Service
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Response from Dora J, Manager at Nxala Ranch
Responded 15 Jun 2019
Thank you for your positive review. We would love you to come back and bring more of your Aussie friends. It was great having you and showing you around the farm.
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Nxala Ranch is not your usual Guest House, it is unique being surrounded by farming bush veldt. A trip around the farm by Frans is a must to appreciate it all especially the Rock Art and all the various animals. Dora is a perfect hostess and she and Frans produce wonderful meals and I was overwhelmed by the birthday dinner they cooked for me and the special roses on the table. The fire on the stoep was welcome when the evening became a little chilly. The thatched roof lodge is well equipped and bedrooms, bathrooms, lounge of a high standard. Thank you Dora and Frans for being such lovely people and a huge thank you to Frans for helping us change the tyre when we were a short distance down the gravel road on our way to our next stop in the Drakensberg. If you want to visit the Battlefields or just relax and unwind for a while this is the place to stay.…
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Date of stay: February 2019Trip type: Travelled
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: You can self-cater and book the whole lodge or have any of the other lovely rooms on a B and B...
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Helpful
Response from Dora J, Manager at Nxala Ranch
Responded 05 May 2019
Thank you for staying at Nxala. We always enjoy sharing this beautiful piece of our country with our guests.
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It comes as no surprise that every reviewer before us has given Nxala Ranch an excellent rating. Nowhere in South Africa have we experienced such warm and friendly hospitality coupled with such amazing meals on the stoep in front of a blazing log fire. Frans and Dora gave us a fascinating insight into the area in which they grew up and have brought up their family. Our trip around the farm and our visit to the rock paintings with Frans was unforgettable and a welcome antidote to the tensions we encountered at the Blood River museum which seemed to have little understanding of the Ncome Museum across the river which told the story of the battle from the Zulu perspective. (We had visited nearby Rorkes Drift and Isandawala on a previous occasion.) As visitors from Britain, we need to understand the land we are visiting. We were privileged to have Frans and Dora as our guides. …
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Date of stay: February 2019Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
Response from Dora J, Manager at Nxala Ranch
Responded 07 Feb 2019
Thank you for the positive review, we are humbled by your comment. We try to be objective and positive to the situation we are facing in the country. We do have hope for the future.
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Nxala Ranch is an absolutely beautiful place! We chose the location because we wanted to stay on a working cattle ranch. We raise cattle -- and when we travel to different countries we always try to leave the cities and tourist spots and talk to the people who live and work and appreciate the land around them. Frans and Dora were delightful, thoughtful people! We very much enjoyed our drives with Frans, both on the game side of the properly and on the cattle side of the property. Dora's food was amazing! The landscape is absolutely stunning and it is just a very peaceful and relaxing place. The lodge was very clean and comfortable. We would recommend Nxala to anyone!
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Date of stay: January 2019Trip type: Travelled
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This is such a special place,13km from the nearest tarmac road in a very beautiful, peaceful valley, with a carefully managed population of predator-free game (zebra, giraffe, ostriches, springbok, kudu etc). It's a convenient base for visits to Rorke's Drift and Islawanda, but it is so much more than that: Dora and Franz are the kindest and most generous hosts imaginable. Franz took us on an unforgettable two hour drive around the farm to show us some of the animals as well as some very interesting San rock paintings. Poor Dora was out of action with a broken leg, so it was again Franz who served us a delicious meal on the wonderful thatched veranda the evening, in front of a blazing log fire. We had the lodge to ourselves, and stayed in a lovely, airy and stylish room with a balcony overlooking two ponds and the veldt beyond. A time to treasure - thank you so much.…
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Date of stay: March 2018Trip type: Travelled
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Dora J, Manager at Nxala Ranch
Responded 25 Mar 2018
Thank you for the positive review, and for visiting us. I should be back on my two feet soon and hope you will come and visit us again.
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What a Stunning place , Dora and Franz Superb Host's nothing to much Trouble, amazing Birds Lovely Lodge Great Company, one of my Two Best Places Ever , Amazing Views Food , Stunning , Scenery Room Perfect, Balcony View From Bedroom,Like A Child in A Sweetshop, reference to the Birds
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Date of stay: February 2018Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
Response from Dora J, Manager at Nxala Ranch
Responded 10 Mar 2018
Many thanks for the positive review. We really enjoy sharing this beautiful piece of our country with our guests.
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Our second visit and still our favorite place on the planet! Nxala is all about relaxation. Take a couple of hours to acclimatise to the bird life and it's range of species will astound you. The food by Dora is exceptional, the drives by Franz are interesting and informative. The accommodation is wonderful, evenings in front of the fire place watching and listening to the wildlife are a thing I'll cherish for the rest of my life.
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Date of stay: February 2018Trip type: Travelled
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
1 Helpful vote
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LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalDundee
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Nxala Ranch
What are some of the property amenities at Nxala Ranch?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a lounge, free parking, and laundry service.
Which room amenities are available at Nxala Ranch?
Top room amenities include a minibar, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Nxala Ranch?
Guests can enjoy a lounge and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Nxala Ranch?
Yes, free parking and secured parking are available to guests.
Are pets allowed at Nxala Ranch?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.