Fordoun Hotel and Spa

CEDARBERG RATING

Premier

PRICING FROM

₤ 64 (Pps)

Overview

  • Fordoun Hotel offers a top quality spa
  • Other activities include country walks, fly-fishing and mountain biking
  • Fordoun has some superb country accommodation on offer
  • Also offers visits to a traditional African healer

Fordoun Hotel and  Spa is situated in the green pastures of a dairy farm in the Natal Midlands with views up to the Drakensberg mountains. It is the perfect place to relax at the start or end of a holiday.

The original stone farm buildings have been painstakingly adapted into the atmospheric and gracious Fordoun Hotel & Spa. The aim is to fuse state-of-the-art spa facilities with the timeless tranquillity of a country lodge.

The estate lies on the Midlands Meander route with its charming little shops and art galleries. You can enjoy gentle walks around the farm, visits to the herb garden of Dr Ndlovu, or ride on mountain bikes along designated routes through the Fordoun estate. Fly-fishing is available on three still waters, or in season, in the pristine waters of the nearby Bushman's or Mooi River.

Accommodation

Fordoun hotel comprises 22 luxurious, individually appointed suites with 3 room categories. The luxury rooms have  a king-size bed, bathroom with bath and shower, under floor heating in the bathroom and bedroom, tea and coffee making facilities and mini bar area. There is also a luxury room with wheelchair access and specially adapted bathroom. All rooms have a TV and DVD player.

There are three deluxe dam-facing suites with views over the lawns to the dam. These rooms have a king-size bed, dressing room area, full bathroom with bath and shower, under floor heating in the bathroom and bedroom, private balconies, tea and coffee making facilities and mini bar area.

The Superior suites are the newest rooms – standalone suites with majestic views of the Drakensberg mountains. Each has a king-size bed, separate lounge area, fireplace, dressing room area, under floor heated bathroom with bath as well as indoor and outdoor showers, private balconies with loungers, air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities, mini bar, as well as wireless internet.

The Fordoun Spa

One of the major attractions at Fordoun is the spa with its full range of treatments and facilities including an indoor heated pool, rasul chamber (a Turkish steam and clay treatment room), a saline Floatation pool with starlit 'sky', gymnasium, sauna, steam room, Vichy shower, hydrotherapy room, and a couples' treatment suite with hydrotherapy bath.

What is unique about Fordoun Spa is that in addition to well known international treatments such as hydrotherapy baths, thalassotherapy and massages, they also offer Africa-inspired treatments such as the Inkomfe African Potato healing wrap.

Fordoun Hotel and Spa also works very closely with Dr Elliot Ndlovu, herbalist and ethno-botanist, who is a traditional African Healer. Under his guidance, a signature range of products has been created from indigenous traditional healing plants, especially for Fordoun Spa. You can visit his garden where there are over 120 different species of healing plants. Fordoun Spa also has two African therapy rooms and Dr Elliot's consulting room, all built and designed in Zulu style.

At A Glance

  • Good Food & Wine
  • Garden
  • Swimming pool
  • Restaurants
  • Beautiful Landscapes
  • Spa
  • Walking Trail
  • Wifi on premises

Fordoun Hotel and Spa on the map

African healing influences at Fordoun…

What a fantastic property  Fordoun is! I have to confess that before my visit I had assumed that Fordoun was just a lovely relaxing country house hotel with a great spa. Nothing wrong with that, and these places are wonderful at the start or end of a holiday. But in fact there is so much more to do there...

Fordoun Hotel & Spa is a family-owned and run property in the heart of a dairy farm so you get a good slice of rural life in South Africa. However they have taken the whole Spa concept one step further by introducing African healing concepts. Fordoun works very closely with Dr Elliot Ndlovu, a herbalist and ethno-botanist, who is a traditional African Healer. You can visit Elliot’s garden where there are over 120 different species of healing plants. Fordoun Spa also has two African therapy rooms and Elliot’s consulting room, all built and designed in Zulu style. Under his guidance, a signature range of products has been created from indigenous traditional healing plants and apparently they really work for conditions like eczema and asthma etc.

Outside you can be as active or as chilled as you like. As well as their wellness centre, you can enjoy gentle walks around the farm, ambles around the herb garden of Dr Ndlovu, or mountain biking through the estate. Fordoun Hotel has set up a Crane Foundation to protect the endangered African Blue Crane and this makes for a fascinating visit. They are also happy to take you to the local school which they support which is an authentic and positive experience. If you are keen on fishing, they offer fly-fishing on their lakes complete with tackle provided.

Fordoun Hotel has three types of rooms ranging from supremely comfortable to positively decadent. The newest suites have stunning vistas over the nearby Drakensberg mountains. Though the hotel is not in the mountains, it is an easy hour’s drive to Giants Castle from Fordoun so this can be your base for exploring.

Overall I think Fordoun would be perfect at the beginning or end of your holiday as it is supremely relaxing (with things to do for the chronic over-achievers amongst us). I also think that the fascinating mix of African and western wellness influences & healing is so interesting.

Cedarberg : Kate Bergh