Three Tree Hill

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Common questions

• Does Three Tree Hill Lodge offer Big Five game drives, and what wildlife will I see?

  Three Tree Hill Lodge does not offer game drives or the Big Five; the adjacent Spioenkop reserve holds white rhino, giraffe, zebra and antelope but no large predators such as lion or leopard. The reserve is explored on foot through guided walking safaris rather than from a vehicle.

• Is Three Tree Hill Lodge in a malaria-free area?

  Three Tree Hill Lodge sits in the Drakensberg foothills above the Spioenkop reserve near Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, which is a malaria-free region. No antimalarial prophylaxis is needed for a stay here.

• How do I get to Three Tree Hill Lodge, and what is the nearest airport?

  Three Tree Hill Lodge is near Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal, about 27 km off the N3 highway roughly halfway between Johannesburg and Durban. The drive from King Shaka International in Durban is around three and a half hours and from OR Tambo in Johannesburg about four and a half; Ladysmith airfield is the nearest airstrip for private charters.

• What is included in the rate at Three Tree Hill Lodge, and what costs extra?

  Three Tree Hill Lodge is full board, so the rate covers accommodation, all meals, teas and coffees, the set three-course dinner, and use of the farm and birding trails, pool, decks and library. Guided activities, beverages, community and conservation levies, and transfers are charged separately, and a minimum stay of three nights is recommended.

• Are children welcome at Three Tree Hill Lodge?

  Three Tree Hill Lodge welcomes children of all ages, with no minimum-age restriction. Three of the nine cottages are two-bedroom family cottages, and evening childminders can be arranged on request.

• What activities can I do at Three Tree Hill Lodge?

  Three Tree Hill Lodge centres on guided walking safaris in the Spioenkop reserve, birding across 25 km of trails with 280 recorded species, and guided tours of the Spioenkop Anglo-Boer War battlefield. Horse riding, mountain biking, village walks and self-guided farm trails round out the options, and guided experiences should be pre-booked.

• When is the best time of year to visit Three Tree Hill Lodge?

  Three Tree Hill Lodge is a year-round destination, with the lodge highlighting May for clear skies and mild hiking weather and November for peak wildflowers. The dry winter months from June to September concentrate game in the Spioenkop reserve and suit walking safaris.

• Is there Wi-Fi or cell signal at Three Tree Hill Lodge?

  Three Tree Hill Lodge provides what it calls farm-paced Wi-Fi in all cottages, the library and the deck area, suited to basic browsing and messaging. The cottages have no televisions, in keeping with the lodge's slow, off-grid pace.

• Is Three Tree Hill Lodge wheelchair accessible?

  Three Tree Hill Lodge has one cottage, Kiplings, with a wheelchair-friendly bathroom. The lodge sits on a working cattle farm with trails over uneven terrain, so guests with mobility needs should discuss specific requirements with the lodge before booking.

• What makes Three Tree Hill Lodge different from other safari lodges?

  Three Tree Hill Lodge is an owner-run, Fair Trade in Tourism certified farm lodge of nine cottages on a working cattle farm facing Spioenkop, built around walking safaris, birding and Anglo-Boer War history rather than vehicle game drives. It holds a 3,000-book Molly Blackburn library, employs staff from the neighbouring Hambrook village, and has been family-run since 2007.