Babanango Valley Lodge, in the Natal Battlefields area, is set in a 10,000 acre Natural Heritage Site in one of the loveliest valleys in Zululand with magnificent valley views. The lodge offers warm and attentive hospitality with nine country-style bedrooms and delicious dinners are served with silver, crystal and candlelight. John Turner, (who has a doctorate in ecology and a passion for Zulu history), and his well-trained team conduct Battlefield tours, which really bring history alive. Guided tours include the Battlefields of Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, Blood River and the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. Other activities include include 30km of well-marked walking trails, complete with handbook, a community-based Zulu Heritage Village on the reserve, 4x4 nature drives and superb bird watching. Children love Babanango with obstacle courses, trampoline and swimming pool. They're accommodated with one or two extra beds in the bedroom.
Family
Romantic
Spa
Walking
Country: South Africa
Region: KwaZulu Natal
Area: South of Isandlwana
Accommodation Rating: Premier
Rooms: 9
Meals: Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Location: Rural
Contact us for more information or book your trip by clicking on the appropriate button below. One of our consultants will gladly help you with any questions you may have.
Additional Information on RockPools Bush Lodge: The more affordable RockPools camp is situated in the riverine bush next to the river (with rockpools for swimming in but no swimming pool). The rooms are bricked/plastered sides and tented roofs to give a tented feel. They are pleasantly decorated with a similar feel to the lodge (country style with Oregon pine furniture) and very simple. However they do have electricity. There’s a thatched dining area with open sides and a campfire circle. Great for those on a budget plus I think many families would enjoy it.
Kate and Maddy visited in May 2005: "Babanango's location is not as central as some of the other lodges and therefore the battlefields tour is done as a full day out with a picnic lunch rather than two half days. It is situated 11km down a track in a beautiful valley. The main lodge has a crisp fresh look though still with a gentle country feel which was, I thought, entirely appropriate.
Given its location, Babanango has broadened its appeal and now offers battlefield tours, game drives into Hluhluwe via the southern gate (which is about 1 hour away, horseriding for beginners and intermediates, walking and the new cultural tour. The cultural tour is very interesting and can be a half day tour or a longer 6 hour tour including lunch. The tour consists of looking at how the Zulu people used to live using a traditional zulu village and also how they live now by visiting a modern village. Visitors can also choose to ride to the village on horseback if they wish as well (and get a road transfer back).
Babanago is very child friendly. They are alone in allowing children to take part in the battlefields tour (which I think would appeal to many older children from say 10 years or so). However if the parents don’t want to take their (smaller) children or if the kids aren’t interested, they are happy to keep the children amused back at the lodge and to take them horse-riding, or walking or swimming in the rockpools etc. which is an appealing option. Try to stay 3 (even 4) nights.
