Location: South Africa » Kwazulu Natal » Natal Midlands » Midlands Meander » Balgowan

Beaconvlei - The Manor House

Beacon Vlei Luxury Guest Farm

Contact Details

Name of hostsRobyn Hulley or Alex Drew
Tel:+27 (0)33 234 4486
fax+27 (0)33 234 4367
Cell+27 (0)83 245 7123
4 Star
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Description

The Manor House is a large, elegant and comfortable farmhouse which has two en-suite double rooms and one four sleeper family suite. All of the rooms take in sweeping views of our 50 acre private dam and the surrounding countryside. Breakfast is served in the dining room, around a striking, custom made White American Oak table. In winter, all of the rooms are warmed by roaring fires or heaters.

Tea and coffee making facilities are provided in each room, and guests have full use of the spacious and comfortable lounge and other rooms in the house. TV is available in the lounge. Braai facilities are also available on request.

Nestled in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and situated centrally on the famed Midlands Meander, Beacon Vlei boasts one the largest private dams in the area, affording panoramic views of water and beautiful countryside.

The dam provides excellent trout fishing! In fact, the 1965 Natal record rainbow trout was caught in this dam by Michaelhouse pupil Frank Stacey. The monster trout weighed 10.2 pounds (about 4.6kg)! We stock our dam annually with only the healthiest brown and rainbow trout from the Drakensberg. Guests are welcome to fish and use the boats free of charge. Please note that we only allow fly fishing and rods are available to hire.

Beacon Vlei is registered with Birdlife South Africa as a Birder Friendly Establishment. Some of the birds of special interest found on Beacon Vlei include the Crowned Crane, Purple Heron, African Fish Eagle, Olive Woodpecker, African Jacana and Marsh Harrier. We are a birding site on the Midlands Birding Route and are confident that during the spring and summer months the multitude of birds that flock to our dam and the surrounding wetland will delight most birders. We are also extremely lucky to have a pair of Crowned Cranes nesting in the wetland around the dam. Trails, viewpoints and picnic spots around the dam and property provide our guests with hours of entertainment and relaxation.

Depending on the season, duiker, reedbuck and bushbuck can be sighted. Other wildlife on Beacon Vlei include otters, jackal, porcupine and genet.

We are dedicated to providing our guests with a relaxing and therapeutic stay. Whether this means taking it easy at one of the top quality day spas in the area, or challenging yourself to something more adventurous, such as mountain biking, horse riding, canopy tours, birding the Midlands Birding Route or hot air ballooning, Beacon Vlei and the KwaZulu Natal Midlands has it all! We can arrange bookings for these and other activities in the region, as well as advise on the many arts and crafts shops found on the Midlands Meander. We are also surrounded by a selection of great restaurants, and can make these reservations as well.

A good night's sleep is one of the most important of life's luxuries. All our beds are of the highest quality and we only use the finest cotton linen and down duvets. We offer our guests a choice of down and synthetic pillows and we adhere to strict hygiene standards as stipulated by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. Our soaps are handmade using 100% natural ingredients by La Source Soaps, a KZN Midlands based company.

Awards:
  • Tourism KwaZulu-Natal
  • Pietermaritzburg Tourism
  • BirdLife South Africa (Birder Friendly Establishment)
  • Midlands Meander Member

Rates

STANDARD RATES - 2008

MANOR HOUSE – WKEND

Feb – May

Adult

R295.00

 

Child <16

R255.00

 

Child <12

R200.00

Jun – Aug

Adult

R255.00

 

Child <16

R235.00

 

Child <12

R180.00

Sept– Jan

Adult

R295.00

 

Child <16

R255.00

 

Child <12

R200.00


MANOR HOUSE – WK DAY

Feb – May

Adult

R245.00

 

Child <16

R220.00

 

Child <12

R180.00

Jun – Aug

Adult

R220.00

 

Child <16

R200.00

 

Child <12

R160.00

Sept– Jan

Adult

R245.00

 

Child <16

R220.00

 

Child <12

R180.00


Minimum 2 nights over the weekend

Additional breakfasts – R50.00 pp


Beaconvlei - The Manor House
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Directions

Directions from DBN From Durban , take the N3 (Toll Road) to Johannesburg. After Pietermaritzburg and after Hilton there are 2 or 3 turn-offs to Howick. Take the "HOWICK(NORTH)/TWEEDIE" off-ramp. At the top of the off-ramp turn LEFT. You go under a railway bridge, up a hill and come to a T junction. At the T junction go RIGHT. You will now be on the R103. You will shortly see a sign BALGOWAN 19kms. (Balgowan is where you wish to get to.) After 19 Kms you will see a sign "Currys Post 12kms". Turn RIGHT here up a dirt road and Beacon Vlei is 300m up the dirt road on your Left. There is a Beacon Vlei sign board. You have arrived. The Manor House and the Boat House are at the bottom of the drive which is about 800m long. NB. There is more than 1 road sign to Currys Post. Be sure only to take the turn at the sign "Currys Post 12 kms" sign. Directions from JHB From Johannesburg , take the N3 (Toll Road) to Durban. Shortly after the Mooi River Toll-Gate there is an off-ramp to "Nottingham Road". Take this off-ramp. At the top of this off-ramp go RIGHT to Nottingham Road. Follow the road for 8kms into Nottingham Road. At Nottingham Road keep left. Stay on the road you are on and follow the sign to "Balgowan" (Balgowan is where you wish to get to.) 10Kms after Nottingham Road you will pass Michaelhouse School on your Right. Immediately after the school is a sign "Currys Post 12Kms". Turn Left here and Beacon Vlei is 300m up the dirt road on your Left. There is a Beacon Vlei sign board. You have arrived. The Manor House and the Boat House are at the bottom of the drive which is about 800m long.