Owned and run by Richard and Mouse Poynton, Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse is a luxury hotel nestled in the spectacular surrounds of the Kamberg Valley in the KwaZulu-Natal region of the Drakensberg Mountains.
Overview
Built on the site where Richard’s pioneering grandfather settled in the early twentieth century, Cleopatra is packed with history, and this is reflected in the aesthetic approach. Looking out over a large private dam and up at the stunning mountains above, there is a luxurious deck, library, lounge and dining-room, all with a quirky yet tasteful Victorian-colonial style ambience that reflects the owners’ heritage. Decorations include a charming family collection of Victorian crockery and other artefacts of the owners’ extensive travels, and there are wood-burning stoves that make for a cosy atmosphere when the weather is chillier. There is a charming English-style garden in which guests can wander.
Food & service
Recipient of unstinting praise, the focal-point of a stay at Cleopatra is Richard’s cosmopolitan, sophisticated yet hearty cuisine, including 7-course dinner menus and an extensive wine cellar.
Rooms
Each of the eleven en-suite double bedrooms at Cleopatra is comfortable, clean and includes another wood-burning stove, but beyond that each is given its own unique, themed character, from the Scandinavian room to the Italian (decorated with Leonardo Da Vinci prints) and the Garden Room. All accommodation at Cleopatra Mountain Guesthouse offers a rare level of individual character combined with professionalism and comfort.
Activities
Activities at Cleopatra are plentiful, including trout fishing, mountain walks and horse riding, and there is even a helicopter and pilot on-call.