Beacon Vlei, Balgowan, KwaZulu Natal
Beacon Vlei Farm, Balgowan, Curry's Post, Natal Midlands, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Contact: Alex Drew, E-mail: click here
Telephone: +27 (0)33 234-4486, Facsimile: +27 (0)33 234-4367, Mobile: +27 (0)83 797-7180
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DESCRIPTION:

Nestled in the heart of the Kwazulu Natal Midlands, Beacon Vlei Guest Farm offers luxurious B&B and self-catering accommodation with a touch of history. Our 50 acre private dam, and the surrounding wetland area, is home to hundreds of beautiful bird species, as well as large brown and rainbow trout.

Two charming dwellings exist on the farm. The Boat House (self-catering) and The Manor House (bed & breakfast) are both elegantly, appropriately and comfortably furnished. Guests need not leave the farm to enjoy fly fishing, birding, boating or a picnic after a leisurely walk around beautiful Beacon Vlei. Other outdoor activities that can be arranged in the surrounding countryside include, hot air ballooning, mountain biking, horse riding, canopy tours, battlefield tours and even paragliding.

Beacon Vlei Guest Farm is a family friendly establishment centrally located on the famed Midlands Meander, and only 1 km from Michaelhouse School. The Midlands Meander offers visitors an abundance of art and craft shops. There are also many fine restaurants, delicatessens and cheese farms in the Balgowan district, within 3 to 5 km of Beacon Vlei.

Accommodation


The Boat House, situated 20 m from the edge of our 50 acre private dam, is a picturesque, fully equipped thatched cottage, which sleeps up to five people. It consists of one large and luxurious en suite bedroom and a large open plan living room with a bunk bed and sleeper couch, and a second bathroom. The Boat House is warmed in winter by a fireplace and heaters. Braai facilities are available, and the lounge is equipped with TV.

The Manor House is a large, elegant and comfortable farmhouse which has two en suite double rooms and one four sleeper family suite. All of the rooms take in sweeping views of our 50 acre private dam and the surrounding countryside. Breakfast is served in the dining room, around a striking, custom made White American Oak table. In winter, all of the rooms are warmed by roaring fires or heaters.

Facilities


Tea and coffee making facilities are provided in each room, and guests have full use of the spacious and comfortable lounge and other rooms in the house. TV is available. Braai facilities are also available on request.

Recreation


The dam provides excellent trout fishing! In fact, the 1965 Natal record rainbow trout was caught in this dam by Michaelhouse pupil Frank Stacey. The monster trout weighed 10.2 pounds (about 4.6 kg)! We stock our dam annually with only the healthiest brown and rainbow trout from the Drakensberg. Guests are welcome to fish and use the boats free of charge. Please note that we only allow fly fishing and rods are available to hire.

We are dedicated to providing our guests with a relaxing and therapeutic stay. Whether this means taking it easy at one of the top quality day spas in the area, or challenging yourself to something more adventurous, such as mountain biking, horse riding, canopy tours, birding the Natal Midlands Birding Route or hot air ballooning, Beacon Vlei and the KwaZulu Natal Midlands has it all! We can arrange bookings for these and other activities in the region, as well as advise on the many arts and crafts shops found on the Midlands Meander. We are also surrounded by a selection of great restaurants, and can make these reservations as well.

Wildlife


Beacon Vlei is registered with Birdlife South Africa as a Birder Friendly Establishment. Some of the birds of special interest found on Beacon Vlei include the Crowned Crane, Purple Heron, African Fish Eagle, Olive Woodpecker, African Jacana and Marsh Harrier. We are a birding site on the Midlands Birding Route and are confident that during the spring and summer months the multitude of birds that flock to our dam and the surrounding wetland will delight most birders. We are also extremely lucky to have a pair of Crowned Cranes nesting in the wetland around the dam. Trails, viewpoints and picnic spots around the dam and property provide our guests with hours of entertainment and relaxation.

Depending on the season, duiker, reedbuck and bushbuck can be sighted. Other wildlife on Beacon Vlei include otters, jackal, porcupine and genet.
CURRENT RATES / BOOKING FORM:

Available at: http://www.sa-venues.com/visit/beaconvlei/rates.php
DIRECTIONS:

From Johannesburg:
From Johannesburg, take the N3 (Toll Road) to Durban. Shortly after the Mooi River Toll-Gate there is an off-ramp to “Nottingham Road” At the top of this off-ramp go RIGHT to Nottingham Road. At Nottingham Road do NOT go Left or Right anywhere. Stay on the road you are on and follow the sign to “Balgowan” (Balgowan is where you wish to get to). 10km after Nottingham Road you will pass Michaelhouse school on your Right. Immediately after the school is a sign “Currys Post 12km”. Turn Left here and Beacon Vlei is 350m up the dirt road on your Left. There is a Beacon Vlei board. You have arrived. The Manor House and the Boat House are at the bottom of the drive which is about 800m.

From Durban:
From Durban, take the N3 (Toll Road) to Johannesburg. After Pietermaritzburg and after Hilton there are 2/3 turn-offs to Howick. Take the “HOWICK (NORTH) / TWEEDIE” off-ramp. At the top of the off-ramp turn LEFT. You go under a railway bridge, up a hill and come to a T junction. At the T junction go RIGHT. You will now be on the R103. You will shortly see a sign BALGOWAN 19km. (Balgowan is where you wish to get to.) After 19km you will see a sign “Currys Post 12km”. Turn RIGHT here up a dirt road and Beacon Vlei is 350m up the dirt road on your Left. There is a Beacon Vlei board. You have arrived. The Manor House and the Boat House are at the bottom of the drive which is about 800m.

MAP:

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