Three Trees Fact Sheet Location, Distances
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THREE TREES FACT SHEET LOCATION, DISTANCES & TRANSFERS S 28 deg 39’ 41.6” E 29 deg 29’ 13.6” Altitude 1207m / 3959ft Mid-way between Johannesburg & Durban westwards towards the Drakensberg mountains. 27km from the N3 highway. 8km of gravel road. No 4 x 4 necessary. 360km from OR Tambo (4 hours drive) 260km from King Shaka International (3 hours drive) Nearest Airstrip Ladysmith 1200m / 3937ft – grass surface Transfers arranged on request. DESCRIPTION Against the magnificent backdrop of the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa, and overlooking the secluded Mfazimnyama Valley of the Spioenkop Game Reserve lies Three Trees at Spioenkop, also known as Three Tree Hill lodge. This Eco-friendly lodge, which is Fair Trade Tourism certified, places great emphasis on responsible travel and offers spectacular scenery, locally grown farm-style country food with superb hospitality. It is the ideal environment in which to unwind and be rejuvenated. This intimate, luxury 18 bedded lodge is owner-managed by Simon & Cheryl Blackburn whose passion and enthusiasm for Africa’s wildlife, history and culture is immediately evident. You are welcomed into their home, and invited to experience the warm hospitality and relaxed atmosphere in their 4-star family-run lodge. Close to the base of Van Reenen’s pass, the lodge is also the ideal half-way stop between Johannesburg & Durban, only 27km from the N3 highway. This lodge is the perfect location to base yourself exploring the major Anglo-Boer War battlefields in Kwa Zulu Natal (Battles of Spioenkop and Colenso), the Northern Drakensberg mountains (world heritage site), and within easy 2-hours reach of the Anglo-Zulu War battlefields (Battles of Isandlwana & Rorkes Drift) Page 1 of 8 ROOM TYPES The lodge consists of 1 x Family Suite easily accessible to main facilities for children or people with disabilities. Master bedroom has a fireplace & walk-in closets, bathroom en-suite. Children’s (2nd) bedroom has bunk beds and a single bed, with separate toilet/basin room. Cozy kitchenette with tea/coffee making facility, microwave, small fridge, washing up area. Maximum 2 adults with 2 or 3 children (under 12 years) sharing. 6 x Twin rooms (king size on request) stand alone buildings with separate bath & shower en-suite. Rooms situated down fairly steep gradient from main lounge/dining facility. 1 x 2-bedroomed self-contained luxury cottage (Churchills) which sleeps 4 adults only, each with private en- suite bathrooms. No children under 8 yrs of age due to high balustrade. Self contained kitchen with open plan living area, private pool, braai & entertainment area. Ideal for honeymooners, couples travelling together or families with teenagers. ROOM AMENITIES The bedrooms are equipped with all the modern conveniences such as heated towel rails, overhead fans and panel room heaters. 100% cotton percale linen with hand-embroidery, cotton blankets, duck down duvets & pillows add to your comfort. Torches, umbrellas and hot water bottles supplied. These luxuries do not detract from the colonial design, but merely enhance your turn of the century South African colonial life experience. Private Verandah attached to each room. Guest amenities (shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, bubble bath, bath salts) consist of a unique range of exquisite hand-made virgin olive-based African Botanical body care products. They are 100% natural, botanically active, ph-balanced, cruelty free products with no harmful chemicals or parabens. Tissues, cotton wool, ear buds & hand clothes-wash gel also supplied. Tea/coffee making facilities. Electronic safes, hair dryers & British square 3-prong plugs. Also 2-prong type. Private verandah attached to each room. LODGE FACILITIES Main lounge/dining area linked by central fireplace. Lounge adorned with historical memorabilia & collection of Africana for guests to enjoy. Communal dining unless otherwise requested. The colonial design of the lounge/dining area with its large verandahs, creates an ideal environment in which to wind down and enjoy nature. Meals are often served outside where one can soak up the views while enjoying the exquisite local cuisine. Sheltered Swimming Pool, Croquet Lawn, Sunrise Viewing Deck, Sundowner Viewing Point, Childrens outside play area with jungle gym, trampoline, obstacle course, sand pit & fantasy house Page 2 of 8 FOOD & BEVERAGE A buffet style breakfast & lunch is served either outside on the viewing deck or on the verandah. Dinners are a set menu with 3 homely farm-style courses followed by port or cognac in front of the fireplace or out under the stars around the boma fire. Fresh, farm ingredients sourced locally or grown on site. Vegans, coeliacs, omnivores all catered for provided we receive prior notification. Gold & Platinum Diners Club Wine List – Best of South African wines to choose from at reasonable prices. ACTIVITIES ON SITE Please allow yourself enough time to enjoy the lodge surroundings and facilities when making your reservation. Recommended minimum stay is 3 nights. Please pre-book battlefield tours & game walks. Nature Walking Trails – Marked trails (ranging between 2 – 6km) on the farm can be done self-guided or the company of a guide can also be requested free of charge. Bird Life is rewarding in both the summer and winter months, with a bird list of 270 species. Mountain bikes are available for the use of guests at a nominal rental fee. Guides are always willing to accompany guests for a more challenging off-road experience. Rhino Tracking in the neighbouring Spioenkop Game Reserve can be arranged with our resident guides. These are more strenuous than the Nature Trails on the farm, as the route does not follow a set trail. Uneven, rocky, hilly terrain will be encountered and walks may last between 1.5 – 2 hours. Guided Horse Trail Riding can be arranged to suit the experience of the riders. Cemetery Walk Self-guided walks or bicycle rides to Rangeworthy Cemetery 2km down the road. BATTLEFIELD TOURS Please note that it is advisable to pre-book battlefield tours should you be particularly interested. We do not run every single tour type every day, so it is therefore recommended to stay a minimum 3 nights should you wish to cover some of these tours. The American Professor Shelby Foot said, ‘You cannot hope to understand the American people without understanding the Civil War.’ It could likewise be said that you have little chance of understanding modern South Africa and South African people if have no understanding of the South African War, aka the Great Anglo-Boer War. Three Tree Hill Lodge specializes in the history of the South African War, (2nd Anglo-Boer War 1899 – 1902) with Page 3 of 8 the Battle of Spioenkop being our focal point. One cannot however hope to understand this watershed event (not just for South Africa, but also for Great Britain, being the ‘the longest, the costliest, the bloodiest and most humiliating war that Britain fought in between 1815 and 1914’) without studying what caused one of the smallest countries in the world to declare war on the world’s greatest empire of the time. Our guides, Simon Blackburn and Ron Gold, bring this dramatic period of our history to life, presenting world class, holistic, evocative and insightful tours. 1. Battle of Spioenkop – Three Trees Flagship Tour – half-day (4 hours) This tour tells of the bloodiest single day of the entire South African War. During January, General Sir Redvers Buller was joined by Lt General Sir Charles Warren, but their renewed attempts to breach the Boer defense line along the Thukela River were unsuccessful. Spioenkop was the highest point on the Boer defensive line and on 23 January 1900, a British attempt to capture it began. Astonishingly, Louis Botha, Winston Churchill and Mohandas Ghandi all played a role in this battle. The result of this battle confirmed that those early disasters of ‘Black Week’ were not merely beginners luck on the part of the Boers. Spioenkop, together with Majuba, are arguably the best known of all the battles between the British and the Boers. 2. Battle of Colenso & Churchill’s Capture – half day (4 hours) The Boers, in response to the anticipated arrival of thousands of British troops in Durban, took up defensive positions along the Thukela River near Colenso. In mid December a British force of over 15,000 men, under Sir Redvers Buller, suffered a humiliating defeat in attempting to break through to Ladysmith. In this battle 7 Victoria Crosses were won, contributing to two of only three father & son VCs ever to be awarded. Young Winston was contracted by the Morning Post to cover the war in South Africa. However, his capture near Frere and subsequent remarkable escape, thrust him into the political and public limelight, and arguably launched his political career. Less than a year later, aged 25, he became a MP for Oldham. The following tours must be arranged prior to arrival. 3. Ladysmith Siege, Battle of Caesar’s Camp & Wagon Point – half/full day (4/8 hours) – season dependant. The siege of Ladysmith lasted 118 days from 02 November 1899 until 28 February 1900. The town was the northern post of the British garrison in Natal, chosen for its strategic position on the Klip River and the junction of the railway lines from Durban to both the Free State and Johannesburg, providing communications between the harbour and the interior. 4. Anglo-Zulu War Tours: Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift – full day (10 hours) The British army under Lord Chelmsford had moved from the Eastern Cape border to the Zululand Page 4 of 8 border during 1878. When the British ultimatum to the Zulu king, Cetshwayo, expired in January 1879, the British invaded Zululand in three separate columns. The Battle of Isandlwana took place when the central British column came into contact with the Zulus and suffered a humiliating and bloody defeat at the hands of a spirited Zulu army.