With the temperatures rising we started to head across the province and closer to the East coast. We were going to be basing ourselves for a few days at Ghost Mountain Inn to enable us to enjoy both the hotel grounds and the wealth of activities nearby. I have been banging on to anyone that would listen that this is a great little property for a family holiday so clearly when I decided to book us all on a family holiday to KZN, it would have been a bit remiss of me not to book us a few nights here to “practise what I preach!”
On arrival we were met by the jovial Jean and Bea who welcomed me back like family. The children looked on slightly bemused! As our rooms were not quite ready it gave us a chance to wander straight out into the gardens. For the children, it was key to start to explore the property taking in the pontoon at the end of the lake walkway, the Zulu Huts, playpark, very climbable trees and the pool. For Steve and I, it was the opportunity to sit under a tree with a drink in hand and just relax whilst waiting for lunch to arrive. I must admit that it was the burgers that took our fancy and they did not disappoint.
After lunch our rooms were ready and we were fortunate enough to be staying in the new wing that has just been completed. We had a ground floor room which led straight out to the gardens and the new pool area. What a bonus that was! Having stayed in the original part of the hotel previously it was great to be able to make the comparison. All the rooms have now been upgraded and are looking lovely, with this new Mountain View Wing fitting in beautifully as if it had always been there.
Dinner was served in the main restaurant and was a wonderous buffet.
After dinner we would head off to the bar for a game of cards or Top Trumps. We always chose the area by the fire as it does get a little chilly in the evenings. As our little ones started to yawn we would wander back to our room to be fresh for our adventures ahead. This would be the format for every night spent at Ghost Mountain Inn.
Each day we would head out for a different activity – a cultural tour to a homestead, where the children got an insight into how Zulu families still lived. Their traditions and their way of life.
A boat cruise on Lake Jozini, where we would spot hippo and their new born calves in the waters and the children would get the chance to drive the boat.
A game drive in Mkuze to see giraffe and zebra, or the highlight of our stay here – a game drive in Hluhluwe to see more rhino than you could count. Little would the children be able to appreciate how lucky they were to see such endangered animals. It is obviously something that we continue to stress to them however as the fate of these beautiful animals lies with the next generation.
In the afternoon, we would relax on a sun-lounger or a hanging chair watching the children swimming, climbing trees or reading. Reading – well, that’s what I like to tell myself as a good parent, but I do think a fair amount of taking selfies did also occur rather than the reading!
On our last day, we waved good bye to Jean and though we left Ghost Mountain Inn with a heavy heart, we did have one final adventure to look forward to which Jean had managed to organise for us. We were heading for Richard’s Bay and for what would be the most incredible Whale Watching boat trip we could hope for.