Halls Country House

Halls Country House Guest House accommodation in Mooi River Kwazulu Natal

Description

Are you looking for Drakensberg or Midlands Meander accommodation?in a tranquil rural setting where you can relax and regenerate?where you can enjoy the spaciousness of 100 year old architecture?and relish healthy country cooking using only farm-grown ingredients?with sundowners or candlelit diners in front of blazing log fires?

Halls Country House offers elegant but reasonably-priced accommodation and fine food to travellers who wish to pander to their souls. Our 5-hectare estate is set in the heart of the Midlands Mist Belt within 45 minutes of the high Drakensberg.

With our deep rural setting and spectacular views we meet the needs of those who require seclusion, tranquillity and nothing more intrusive than the sound of a tractor in the middle distance or an owl hooting at night. It is set in a lush, colour-swathed and fragrant garden shaded by grand old trees. Bird life is prolific with 380 species identified.

For breakfast you can choose between American, English or Continental ? or have it all. If you like a big breakfast, tuck into pancakes, hash browns, farm-cured bacon, free-range eggs to order, sausages and fried tomatoes.

If not, go for the rich diversity of fresh fruit, locally produced yoghurt, homemade breads, buns and pastries. Don?t forget to sample the variety of jams and preserves we get from various country pantries.

In the evening, you can linger over a candlelit diner in front of a log fire in our highly rated … la carte restaurant, where fine wines accompany equally fine food. Country cooking is the theme, but the secret is the freshest, organic ingredients that are either grown on the estate or sourced from adjacent farms.

Our 4-Star grading guarantees extraordinary standards of cleanliness, comfortable beds and mattresses, crisply laundered linen and a wide range of high quality comfort and cosmetic accessories.

Accommodation

 All guest accommodation is accessed directly from the garden via private entrances. We can only accommodate 12 people so every guest will enjoy our warmest, personal attention.

"Sunbird"

Our first room features a queen-size bed, a large en-suite bathroom (with shower), a private courtyard and has excellent indoor / outdoor flow. A separate structure, situated at the eastern extremity of the house, this room is one of our most private and enjoys the warmth and light of the early morning sun.

"Bulbul"

 Our second room is attached to the west side of the house and is a cosy, afternoon suntrap. It too has a queen-size bed and an en-suite bathroom. Access and outlook are directly into the garden.

"Masked Weaver"

"Paradise Flycatcher"

Our fourth room caters for those who prefer single beds. It is the room furthest from the main house on the western edge of the complex. It has a bathroom and a separate toilet. It too overlooks the western garden.

"Crested Eagle"

It is extremely spacious and being integral to the house, has that “old world” feel with its 100 year-old Oregon pine floors and antique furniture. It has an expansive sitting area and opens onto the eastern garden, catching the early morning sun. It too has a large en-suite bathroom complete with shower.

We've made our first amateur video. It's not great but I think it'll give you a good feel for what it's like here. (If you've got a slow connection it might "stop & start" a bit).

Attractions

On the tarred road to Giant’s Castle in the Central Drakensberg. The Northern Drakensberg and the Amphitheatre are within easy reach. As is the Southern ‘Berg – Sani Pass and Bushman’s Nek. Then you’ve got the magic of the Midlands Meander on your doorstep.

1. Walking and Hiking Magic Drakensberg! We are the last guest house on the tarred road between the village of Mooi River and the Giant’s Castle nature reserve, where you can walk or hike in remote and dramatically beautiful surroundings. This is a Drakensberg “jewel”. It is a lot less “busy” than the Northern Berg because there are no big resort hotels here. The maps are good and there are dozens of well-marked trails. Something for everyone. R25 entrance fee.

2. Swimming Giant's Castle also provides magnificent swimming (also marked on the map) in crystal clear rock pools and rivers. Unless you’re very tough, this is a “summer thing only”.

3. Tugela Falls Visit the Tugela Falls and the Royal Natal National Park. It is only 2 hours away. At 948 metres, it is the second highest waterfall in the world, plunging in 5 distinct leaps to the base of the Amphitheatre. After Table Mountain, the Drakensberg's Amphitheatre is probably the most photographed spot in all South Africa. R25 entrance fee.

4. Bushman Paintings There are 3500 – 4000 Stone Age paintings in the caves and overhangs in the Drakensberg – irreplaceable treasures, slowly weathering away. South Africa’s three premier outdoor galleries of Bushman Rock Art: Game Pass Shelter in the Kamberg, Battle Cave at Injasuti and Main Caves at Giant’s Castle are all within easy reach (less than 1 hour). And the paintings at Game Pass Shelter are simply outstanding. A bit of Midlands Meander stuff…?

5. Anglo-Boer War Battlefield Tours One of the foremost authorities on the Anglo-Boer War is based in Mooi River and he would be happy to share your breakfast with you while he sets the scene and then takes you on a full-day tour of the Colenso and Spioenkop battlefields. This is another great day out in magnificent countryside with a superb raconteur who brings the whole thing to life for you. Cost? About R750 for the day.

6. Golf If you are a golfer, Boschoek is only 30 minutes away and it is a stunning course. Or you can play at the Mooi River Country Club, only 7 kilometres away. The Champagne Sports Resort is less than an hour away, with 2 fabulous championship courses.

7. Bicycle Through the Karkloof Forest Experience the countryside on a bicycle. Hire a mountain bike and a guide for a morning, afternoon or a day and explore the forest tracks and waterfalls in the area. R250 – R400.

8. Balloon Safari If you don’t mind getting up at 4 in the morning, this is something special. The views are incredible. So is the silence. And it is followed by a champagne breakfast. A balloon safari will set you back about R2000 per person. More on Balloon Safaris?

9. Eating Out What about dinner at Hartford House? It is regularly voted one of the top 10 restaurants in the country. A 5-course menu (not counting the canapés and the sorbets) created by young and talented chefs, who are encouraged to be innovative. It is hard to beat at R200 per head.

10. Groundcover Leather Company When last did you buy something that you knew was going to last 10 years? Buy a pair of handmade shoes at the Groundcover Leather Company and plan on bringing them back in about a decade for new soles.

11. Mooi Loft / Linen Loft Both the Mooi Loft and the Linen Loft are just down the road. Women love these shops. Outstanding quality and good prices.

12. Karkloof Canopy Tours If you need an adrenalin jump, or you’re an adventure junky, try a Karkloof Canopy Tour. It’s guaranteed to take 10 years off your life.

13. Culamoya Wind Chimes Culamoya make precision-tuned wind chimes in all shapes and sizes. You are bound to find one that harmonizes with your soul.

14. Hydros and Day Spas How about a pamper session? There are 3 spas on the Meander. You can choose between Brookdale, Fordoun and Granny Mouse. (Gentlemen too!).

15. Wine Cellar Not to be missed! The Wine Cellar is the largest boutique wine cellar in the country. More Drakensberg stuff…?

16. Fly Fishing Fly fishing in the Drakensberg? You bet. If you would like us to recommend a good guide for a fly fishing day, we can certainly do so. It costs about R600 for the day but the guide is worth every cent. And we will cook whatever you catch. For rivers it is the headwaters of the Bushman’s River (in the Giant’s Castle nature reserve) or the Big Mooi (in the Kamberg Valley). Both in the foothills of the Central Drakensberg. Dams? Too many to count. If you have never tried fly-fishing, it is a fabulous day out in beautiful surroundings.

17. Hlatikulu Crane Sanctuary Take a guided tour around the Hlatikulu Crane Sanctuary. It’s free. But donations are appreciated. There are only 200 – 300 Wattled Crane left (in the world) and they’re working hard to try and bring these magnificent birds back from the verge of extinction. This is a Drakensberg conservation effort that deserves your support.

18. Horse Riding Perhaps a horse trail through the rivers and forests of the Drakensberg foothills? It costs about R175, starts at about 10 a.m. and ends at about 2 p.m.

19. The Drakensberg’s Sani Pass 2874 metres. And it does most of that in the last 8 kilometres. And you can see the rusting wrecks in the crevasse. Driving the Sani Pass focuses your mind. But do it soon – they’re going to blacktop the road.

20. Drakensberg Boys’ Choir If you have the flexibility to be here on a Wednesday afternoon (not in the school holidays) you could take in a Drakensberg Boys' Choir concert. For R75 it really is a sublime experience. You will need tissues. And a jersey for the goosebumps.

Accolades

:Tourism Council of SA Star Grading

Facilities

Restaurant

We’re justifiably proud of our breakfast – you won’t get better anywhere. Bold statement you say? Well, we know it’s true because our guests keep telling us, time and again. This is one Drakensberg restaurant on the Midlands Meander where you won't go hungry.

Start with fresh fruit. Varied and lots. Freshly squeezed fruit juice. Homemade yogurt. Follow that with with bacon and hash browns, eggs to order, fried sausages, tomatoes and mushrooms along with lots of toast.

And there is a large selection of marmalades, jams and preserves that are all sourced from home industries on the Meanderor made right here in our kitchen. We don't do instant coffe. You probably won’t need lunch.

Here’s a sample dinner menu. Start with a cold vichyssoise – a thick, creamed potato and leek soup garnished with a dash of paprika and freshly chopped chives – served with warm, crusty homemade bread. Follow that with oxtail slowly braised in sherry until it falls off the bone, served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and veg of the day. Round off with a homemade cheesecake garnished with a seasonal berry sauce. How’s that for country cooking!

We lived in France for three years. We didn't do any cooking courses there, but ate out a lot, I have always been a keen cook and was inspired by the simple French approach to food. Most of the famous French dishes, like Boeuff Bourguignon was actually "peasant food" made with the bits that "rich folk" didn't want. Now imagine what you can achieve when you use the best and freshest ingredients! This fits with my take on food, so fast food is not what we're about. Rather, everything is cooked slowly and carefully with the emphasis on taste and appearance. I love cooking and I cook with love.

I derive a lot of inspiration from the "foodie" channel on DSTV - I love Delia for her "fussiness" and Jamie for the "real food" touch. And they've both got great web-sites!”.

“My food philosophy is simple: the freshest, best quality ingredients (organic wherever possible) carefully prepared, with an eye on technique to preserve taste. Colour and texture too, are important. Presentation does count, but it’s last on my list…”

Our restaurant has been created by linking what used to be two separate rooms using archways. This provided the required space but also created an “island” of back-to-back fireplaces and, in the Midlands Mist Belt and close to the Drakensberg, these fireplaces are frequently in use, even in summer!

The restaurant looks out over rolling hills through a bay window on the one side and over the west garden, towards the Drakensberg, on the other. The 100 year-old Oregon pine floor has been restored and partially covered with an inset carpet for a softer and quieter feel. The interior décor has been carefully co-ordinated and the ambience is warm and rich.

Directions