Staying at Brahman Hills in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands

After a recent girls’ weekend in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, I realized how much I needed the time away.  In anticipation of this getaway, I couldn’t hide my childlike excitement. Then, closer to the weekend, I got really nervous that it might not be as amazing as I hoped. But I’m happy to report that it was even better than I hoped for!

Our home for three days was Brahman Hills. Previously known as Windmills Hotel, the property was given a proper facelift, renamed & opened its doors again in December 2015. Situated in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, Brahman Hills perfectly marries luxury & comfort with country charm. It is only a stone’s throw away from the N3 Highway but feels like you’ve escaped to a way more remote place when you sit & gaze over the rolling hills. An idyllic spot for a ladies weekend away.

Brahman Hills offers hotel accommodation & 12 luxury self-catering cottages. And although I loved the child-free time away, I was also delighted to learn that Brahman Hills is kid-friendly so children under 12 are welcome. They will even arrange a babysitter if needed.

It is also a unique wedding venue – with a chapel on a lake & modern venue options. Or you can host your team building/corporate getaway here & prove your agility on the high ropes course. Or take along your mountain bike to explore the distant reaches of the farm. Or join the Park Run every Saturday.

Back to our girls’ weekend though:

Day 1: Jozi to Brahman Hills

The drive to Brahman Hills is a fairly easy one & after about 4,5  hours on route with a few coffee stops, lots of chatting & tangible excitement we arrived at Brahman Hills where we headed straight to our luxury cottage. The perfect setting for a chilled weekend. Beautiful beds from where you can watch zebras & springboks graze just outside your bedroom. Roaring fireplaces. A jacuzzi. WiFi. DSTV.  And comfy couches to soak up the winter sun.

As a pamper junkie, my favourites at Brahman Hills are The Spa & the jacuzzi (at each self-catering cottage).

A heavenly Thursday afternoon followed with mani’s/pedi’s, a full body massage, full body scrub & a luxury bath. All with bubbly in hand, of course. Did I mention how heavenly this was? The spa’s architecture & decor is also right up my alley. Modern farm-style.

A really awesome part of Brahman Hills is that you have various dining options; with 2 restaurants on the property (89 on Copper and Brahman Café) plus the option of cooking or braaing at your cottage, you will never go hungry, You can even request a private picnic, have food delivered or make use of the convenient chef service in your cottage (at an extra charge). Our first night’s dinner at the Brahman Hills Café was the ideal end to our day. I can totally recommend the lamb curry & malva pudding.

Day 2:  Getting to know Brahman Hills better

After breakfast at our cottage, we set out on a guided morning walk to explore some of the 1000-hectare Blue Crane Reserve on which Brahman Hills is situated.

A fab winters morning indeed: walking 8 km’s as zebras, springboks, Brahman cattle & wildebeest graze around or run past. Despite a strong wind & fairly low fitness levels, our group of city gals soaked up the open spaces & the much needed Vitamin D.

Lunch at The Midlands Kitchen (adjacent to Brahman Hills) was up next. If you’re after variety, then this is where you need to stop because you can literally order something from 15 different kitchens. Similar to a food court. The Falafel Salad, the Nachos, Chicken kebabs & curries are really yum. Just be sure to leave some space for the most gorgeous gelato too.

An afternoon of much needed relaxing in bed, with a book followed. Our evening out at 89 on Copper – the wonderful intimate cellar at Brahman Hills – was another highlight. A five-course gastronomic feast with wine pairing.

Day 3: Midlands Meander Exploring

After a casual stroll on the property & breakfast at the Agility Hub, we were off to explore the Midlands Meander which is divided into five routes, so technically you need a day for each, but we managed to make some awesome stops & enjoy some Midlands gems & little unusual stops. We also made a stop at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site.

A couple of hours in & around the jacuzzi with a glass of bubbly in hand, had us all really lazy, so it was early dinner by the fireplace, some chatting before we crawled into out delightful beds (with electric blankets) for one last night.

Day 4: Saying an unwilling goodbye to The Midlands

Waking up to Springboks grazing outside my window made me want to just roll-over & sleep further. But life back home was calling. After a quick buffet breakfast at the Brahman Café, we couldn’t actually say goodbye just yet, so we made one last coffee stop.

At 3pm, as we pulled into Joburg again, new friendships were made, my tank was full of inspiration & as I drove to work on Monday I felt revitalized.

Wow. Amazing what only three nights away can do.

For specials, rates & more info about Brahman Hills, check out their website. Or follow on Instagram or Facebook for a good dose of Midlands inspiration.

Yolandi ♥

My stay at Brahman Hills & all meals was hosted. As always, my review is honest & sincere. 

Images: my own & supplied