Three Tree Hill Stories - Three Tree Hill

Fresh Looks with Flair

2025-09-12T00:00:00+02:00

We’re always looking for thoughtful ways to refresh the lodge before things start to feel a little worn. Throughout the year, we make a point of updating and rejuvenating guest spaces—keeping everything fresh, welcoming, and true to our style.

Staying true to our values, we’re committed to using only South African-designed products and love partnering with smaller companies that share our ethos. One of our favourite collaborators is Design Team Fabrics—a local textile company known for its iconic, easily recognisable prints. Their designs take centre stage in our decor, without the need for fussy trims or over-complicated structures.

Design Team is an accessible designer brand: unpretentious, contemporary, and grounded. Their work draws on African inspiration without relying on clichéd "ethnic" motifs—something that resonates deeply with us. Their aesthetic fits perfectly with the atmosphere we aim to create at Three Tree Hill, and we’re proud to support and showcase their work.

Culinary Adventures

2025-08-01T00:00:00+02:00

Our fabulous kitchen team is made up entirely of women, who know how to get things done and are always excited to learn new recipes and techniques.

Our chefs recently had the pleasure of attending an inspiring training session with Marazelda Breet from Cake Matters at the Cupcake Shop in Nottingham Road. The sessions were both informative and hands-on, and the team returned to the lodge brimming with excitement to put their new skills into practice.

We also took the opportunity to visit one of our wonderful regional suppliers, Just Cheese, where we experienced the full journey of traditional Dutch cheese-making — from curd to wheel. It was a deliciously educational outing that deepened our appreciation for the craft behind the ingredients we use and the importance of getting to know our suppliers.

Their small, family-run cheesery, where each batch is handmade the traditional way — with raw milk, time, and care. Guided by microbes, matured with patience, and crafted with heart. No additives. No shortcuts. Just Cheese. From the very beginning, this cheesery was a family affair — every curd stirred by hand, every wheel carefully tended. In time, Just Cheese is situated at Springvale Farm, a working dairy near Nottingham Road in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Here, surrounded by green pastures and morning mist, the cows graze freely and produce the rich, raw milk that forms the heart of every cheese they make.

Celebrating World Female Ranger's Week

2025-06-26T00:00:00+02:00

We are so lucky to have two of these powerhouse women leading the conservation teams in our neighbouring reserve, Spioenkop. Tebogo Mtshali is the Section Ranger and Ntombi Zulu, the Senior Field Ranger. After graduating from Mangosuthu Unversity of Technology, Tebogo was recruited to do a cadetteship for Ezimvelo. Before she had even completed the cadetteship she snapped up a post as Field Ranger in Hluhluwe - iMfolozi Wilderness Area, where she worked for 13 years before being promoted to her current position as Section Ranger in Spioenkop. She has always felt well supported by her teams and her supervisors, which has enabled her to shine at her job.

Ntombi started her career in a small reserve, oNgoye Forest, an ancient coastal scarp forest near Mtunzini, then spent 10 years patrolling the isiMangaliso Wetland Park area before being transferred to Spioenkop as Senior Field Ranger. She has found it challenging to navigate the cultural patriarchy of the Zulu men in our region, but she says that the training provided by Ezimvelo has given her the tools to cope, and adapt to these challenges. Eric Mlaba, Spioenkop Conservation Manager, says that it has been a pleasure working with these two women. They grasp new tasks quicker than the men and they adapt to challenges very well.

We will continue to support and celebrate these women for all the work they do for Conservation in our area.

Ready, Set, Solar

2025-06-19T00:00:00+02:00

After 7 years of planning and saving up, we are finally OFF-GRID. With assistance from the Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP) we have installed a 91 panel solar system which powers the entire lodge during the day and a 80 kwh lithium battery backup system, which powers the lodge during the night. Occasionally, it will be assisted with a 60 kva generator, when consumption is excessive or with prolonged cloud cover.

Our primary objective has always been to reduce all consumption, and this has been achieved by conscious use of electricity through staff training and guest awareness. All our appliances are bought with energy-saving in mind, energy-sapping equipment turned off when not in use or fitted with a timer to run at peak times, solar cooking meals outside, retaining heated meals & slow-cooking with a Wonderbag, linen dried with fresh Drakensberg air and buildings designed with air-movement in mind to regulate the temperature.

Our water is pumped from 120m below the earth’s surface by a pump, which is also powered by the sun. The water then flows into large storage tanks, which have a smart level sensor that ensures it only pumps water when needed & only during the day when the sun powers the panels.

GTIP is a resource efficiency incentive programme managed by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) on behalf of the Department of Tourism, whose objective is to encourage and support private sector tourism enterprises to adopt responsible tourism practices by moving towards the sustainable management and usage of energy and water resources. The installation was done by the All Solar team from Harrismith.

This solar initiative further enforces our commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism, aligning our performance with Fair Trade Tourism.

Full Circle Sustainability at Sakhile Centre of Learning

2025-05-24T00:00:00+02:00

Our collaboration with the team started in March 2020, when we were looking for a sustainable waste to energy partner for this Early Childhood Development Centre. We had already built two classrooms out of recycled shipping container material, a third classroom was built out of cement-free dry-stack walls made from secondary raw materials, a kitchen and ablution facility for the centre, but needed a solution for waste and energy. We approached ICES, an engaged scholarship flagship of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at UNISA. Their Waste to Energy Engagement Scholarship’s main goals are to disseminate knowledge in rural and urban communities and schools about sustainable and clean alternative energy sources. The emphasis is on turning domestic garbage, including organic trash, animal manure and other waste, into a clean energy source that may be used immediately in the home.

Biogas is an environmentally friendly, renewable energy source produced from organic matter, such as food waste, animal manure & human waste. This is broken down by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen. For this to take place, the waste material needs to be enclosed in an environment where there is no oxygen, so this waste is all channeled into a large, specialized, sealed canvas bag. This results in the formation of a combination of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane gas (CH4), which is referred to as biogas. The biogas is extracted above the biodigester, then connected to a gas stove in the kitchen and used for cooking meals for the children. The overflow of the waste slurry (organic fertilizer) is eventually pumped from the biogas digester through an outlet and into the organic vegetable garden, which is tended to by the community.

The project is the largest of its kind that the team has worked on, situated in a remote area, and started just at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused delays. There were also significant structural and geographical challenges, such as the biobag design, structural issues with the wall supporting the bag (because of unstable soil), the low environmental temperatures in winter, lack of water to create the slurry and the long distance the team had to travel to work on the project (380km each way) Prof Celestin Sempuga, Kamogelo Sehoole, Humphry Mbatha and Mandla Mngomezulu were so committed, persistent and professional throughout the entire project. Their dedication was truly remarkable.

A very special mention and heartfelt gratitude to two key donors Ms. Cheryl Grace, Founder and the Hubers Foundation – your generosity, belief in our cause, and commitment to rural education and sustainability has made a lasting impact on this project and on the lives it will touch for years to come. We are so incredibly grateful.

There were many other stakeholders that made the project successful, namely Grundfos, Mr Rishaad Ebrahim, who sponsored the borehole & booster pumps to give us water. Eco Tanks, Mr Justin Lindsay, sponsored the water tanks. Mrs Mabel Madonsela, Sakhile principal, who owns the land and the buildings now.The school staff and leadership, Mrs Joyce Shabalala school board Chair for embracing this initiative and preparing the groundwork for its success. The local authorities, tribal and community leaders, for their support and collaboration throughout the journey. Mr Elijah Mbonane, Founder and Tour Guide who co-ordinated all the tourism and community stakeholders.

The unveiling of the biogas digestor on the 22nd May was not just to celebrate a piece of infrastructure. It was a statement—a statement that tourism, innovation and sustainable development are not reserved for far-off places or big cities. They belong right here, in rural Amazizi, in our schools, and in the hands of our youth.

It is also about transformation.

For the school, it means lower energy costs, more reliable cooking fuel, and a new practical learning resource for the learners.

For learners, it offers real-life exposure to sustainable technology—giving them knowledge and skills they can take into the future.

For the community, it creates a model that can be replicated, inspiring similar initiatives in homes, farms, and businesses.

We are empowering learners not only to study science, but to live it—to see how environmental stewardship and innovation go hand in hand.

Legacy of Grace and Three Tree Hill Foundation are extremely proud of all that has been achieved and built with donors, both small and big. We thank you.

First Lodge in KwaZulu Natal to be Vegan Certified

2024-11-01T00:00:00+02:00

1st November 2024 is #WorldVeganDay and we are celebrating as the FIRST lodge (or hotel) in KwaZulu Natal to achieve Vegan Hospitality Certification!

Our VEGAN GUEST PHILOSOPHY is that we believe every guest deserves a seat at the table. We aim to include plant-based delights throughout all our menus, provide cruelty-free guest amenities & lodgings so that all guests can have a stress-free stay with us.

We have designed our menu to reflect the rich cultural heritage of our region, utilising ancient African grains (that have mostly been forgotten by recent generations), indigenous herbs & sustainable alternatives to animal products. Our Vegan Journey has been assisted by Wild Dreams Hospitality and is a work-in-progress. We have all learnt so much and are excited to share this with our guests!

Although we live on a working Brahman Cattle Farm, and do serve animal products to our other guests, we are very aware of the source of these products. When we have Vegan Guests staying with us, we remove any animal products from their room and replace them with non-animal alternatives, so they may feel welcomed. It is all about balance and inclusivity. We are not able to remove every animal product and only serve plant-based products, we would like to make an effort for everyone.

Straight from the horses mouth...

2023-07-26T00:00:00+02:00

The first horses imported into the fledgling Cape colony were cross Berber-Arabian ponies imported from Java. Inbreeding was countered by the fortuitous stranding of a ship en route from Java to Persia. This ship carried 14 Arabian horses, among the best in Shah of Persia's stud. These horses swam ashore and were caught by Jan Van Riebeeck's men. Augmented by the infusion of a number of Andalusian and Isabella horses en route to South America, more than a century later, these Persian Arabs, and the original horses from Java, formed the basis of what eventually developed into a recognized breed, known at the time as the Cape Horse. It was to become well-known for its sound temperament, bravery, intelligence, endurance, extreme sure-footedness and hardiness. The period 1836 to 1899, other breeds, such as the Flemish Stallions from the Netherlands, as well as Hackneys, Norfolk Trotters and Cleveland Bays, were imported and bred into what eventually become known as the Boerperd. The stamina, hardiness and mobility of the Boerperd had been tested and refined during the Second Anglo Boer War. The Boers were skilled riders, and it was, to a large extent, these tough, agile horses that allowed them to prevail against the overwhelming might of the British army for as long as they did.

Revealing some misconceptions

2023-06-26T00:00:00+02:00

Rob grew up in KwaZulu Natal and has spent the past 40 years visiting the sites of the battles of the Upper Tugela River, interviewing people and researching information for his book, The Spioenkop Campaign. He will be discussing this often-overlooked campaign to relieve the besieged town of Ladysmith during the early stages of the Boer War. In this eagerly anticipated talk, he will use eyewitness accounts and battlefield research to put Spion Kop into its proper context and address common misconceptions about the larger campaign.

18 August 2023, 12h00
National Army Museum, Chelsea, London
Entrance is FREE, but pre-booking essential.
You can also join online if you cannot make the physical event.

Click here for further information

Access Road Upgraded

2023-02-26T00:00:00+02:00

Over the past 15 months our local municipality has been hard at work re-building the infrastructure in the area, following the devastating KZN floods of April 2022. We are thrilled to see the successful upgrade of our access road to the lodge, and particularly for the residents in our neighbouring community, Hambrook.

Career Opportunities at Three Tree Hill - November 2022

2022-10-10T00:00:00+02:00

We are looking for people who share our vision for tourism through Fair Trade Tourism principles. Three Tree Hill is a four-star, family run & owned lodge that places great emphasis on Responsible & Sustainable Tourism. The position is full time, live-in & will require early mornings, late nights & busy days with a small team in a spectacular natural environment. If you think you would add value to our team, please email your CV with contactable references to cheryl@threetreehill.co.za.

Only short-listed applicants will receive a reply.

Battlefield Adventure Guide
Horse Trail & MTB Guide
Maintenance Supervisor Lodge Hospitality Manager

Battlefield Guiding

Basic knowledge of the events leading upto the Anglo Boer War & then specifically the Battle of Spioenkop, Colenso & Three Tree Hill. Information & training will be provided, as long as the interest is there.

Nature Guiding/Conservation

Guide guests on Nature Trails on the farm (fun, informative walks with kids & families) Game can be spotted in the distance in the neighbouring Spioenkop Reserve. Safely guide guests on foot into the neighbouring Spioenkop Reserve. (if you have Lead Trails qualification) White Rhino & general game prolific.

Ensure that all the walking/MTB trails are clearly marked, maintained & cleared on a regular basis.

Assist with the delegation & management of alien vegetation & erosion control.

Mountain Bike Guiding

Ensure bikes are all in good working condition & ready for guests to use anytime. Ensure helmets, gloves, water bottles are always clean, packed & ready for guests. Guiding guests by bike on the technical trails on the farm between 4km – 30km.

Drakensberg Mountain Hike Guiding

Plan & prepare all equipment needed for mountain hikes. Discuss & ascertain guest hiking ability & choose appropriate route to suit their needs. Drive guests to mountains & safely guide them on day hikes suited to their abilities & the weather conditions

Horse Trail Guiding

Safely guiding guests on trail rides on the farm. Sometimes it requires guests to be lead, other times could be experienced 1,5 – 2 hour fast-pace rides. Herding, catching, grooming & saddling horses for rides Make sure all general care is maintained – farrier, deworming, dipping, AHS injections, dentist. Make sure tack is clean & well maintained

Hosting & Entertaining

Be presentable & available for hosting guests during their stay over afternoon tea & dinner specific hosting. Entertain & inform guests about all the experiences available in the area.

If there are no guiding duties, then you would be expected to assist with below.

Lodge Maintenance

Assist with lodge maintenance jobs & sometimes small building projects. Keep up with regular preventative maintenance schedules of all buildings, machinery, vehicles & equipment.

Grounds

Supervise Grounds staff duties & responsibilities. Maintain permaculture vegetable garden. Ensure that lodge indigenous gardens are maintained & nourished. Supervise egg-laying chickens. Ensure that their living quarters are clean, safe & conducive to production.

Hospitality Manager

Ensure that guests receive a world-class experience with warm hospitality, providing exceptionally professional service through non-materialistic luxury.

To grow the existing team into an independent, strong, driven & reliable unit that operates at this exceptional standard.

Provide quality control of the product & experiences.

Enforce adherence to SOPs and quality standards

Supervise, evaluate & motivate hospitality & guiding staff

Train existing food, service and housekeeping teams

Perform relief duties for F&B management

Supervise procurement of consumables in accordance with Fair Trade principles

Assume responsibility for expense monitoring according to budget, record keeping, and reporting

Monitor guest feedback, report both positive & negative comments, and take corrective action.

Skills & Personal Attributes for Hospitality Manager

Excellent organizational and leadership skills

Outstanding interpersonal & communication skills (verbal and written English

Energetic, outgoing personality

Problem-solver (think out of the box)

Motivated and pro-active (takes initiative)

Ability to handle pressure and still operate effectively

Good time management; meet deadlines and keep on top of things

Empathetic and ability to see and listen to ‘both sides’

Attentive to detail

Willing and able to share information, and teach and inspire others

Mature, sound personal values system to lead by example and ‘walk the talk’

Women in Wine Business

2021-11-20T00:00:00+02:00

We love good stories at Three Tree Hill. 📚
🍷 And... we love good wine!

So, this one fits both perfectly.Ntsiki Biyela (the fabulous woman winemaker & owner of Aslina Wines) grew up in a rural village, Mahlabathini, KwaZulu Natal. After matriculating, she worked as a domestic worker & was then awarded a scholarship to study winemaking in Stellenbosch. Ntsiki went on to become the head winemaker at Stellekaya Wines, where she became the first black female winemaker in South Africa.

Eventually she teamed up with American wine importer, Mika Bulmash from Wines for the World, whose goal was to support emerging winemakers through partnerships with US winemakers. After a few label & name changes she settled for Aslina. This is the name of Ntsiki's grandmother, who was and still is her inspiration for life. Her grandmother's nickname was Umsasane, which refers to the 'umbrella tree' or 'flat-crowned Acacia' This is the inspiration for the name of her Bordeaux-style red blend. She also makes an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon plus Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc.

🇿🇦 If you would like to taste her proudly South African outstanding wines, come & stay with us at Three Tree Hill.

Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency

2021-11-07T00:00:00+02:00

We are a signatory and launch partner of THE GLASGOW DECLARATION on climate action in tourism.

A COMMITMENT TO A DECADE OF TOURISM CLIMATE ACTION

We have long known that our dependence on fossil fuels, unsustainable land use, and wasteful consumption patterns drive climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Rebalancing our relationship with nature is critical to regenerating both its ecological health and our personal, social and economic well-being.

It is also critical for tourism, which relies on and connects us with flourishing ecosystems. Restoring nature - and our relationship with it - will be key to our sector’s recovery from the pandemic, as well as its future prosperity and resilience.

We commit to:
- Support the global commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero as soon as
possible before 2050;
- Deliver climate action plans within 12 months from becoming a signatory (or updating existing
plans), and begin implementing them;
- Align plans with the five pathways of the Declaration (Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate,
Collaborate, Finance) to accelerate and co-ordinate climate action in tourism;
- Report publicly on an annual basis on progress against interim and long-term targets, as well as
on actions being taken;
- Work in a collaborative spirit, sharing good practices and solutions, and disseminating
information to encourage additional organisations to become signatories and supporting one
another to reach targets as quickly as possible.

Find our CLIMATE ACTION PLAN here.

New teacher at Sakhile

2019-08-20T00:00:00+02:00

Sad Goodbye to our loyal, furry friends…

2018-07-20T00:00:00+02:00

SA Gin collection grows

2018-06-09T00:00:00+02:00

Exciting new development for Sakhile Centre of Learning

2018-05-05T00:00:00+02:00

Family friendly fun for the French!

2018-03-04T00:00:00+02:00

AFRIQUE DU SUD – UN LODGE KID FRIENDLY DANS LES DRAKENSBERG : LE THREE TREE HILL

Dans la région nord des Drakensberg, fabuleuse chaîne de montagnes située entre le Lesotho et l’Afrique du sud, se cache un véritable petit paradis pour les petits ; un endroit où il est tellement facile de voyager avec des enfants que l’on pourrait y rester (trèèèèès) longtemps : Le Three Tree Hill lodge (il se pourrait quand même que ce soit une erreur de s’y éterniser, car on y mange tellement bien qu’on aurait vite du mal à rentrer dans nos maillots).

Le Kipling, cottage familial du Three tree hill lodge : un cocon où l’on se sent comme chez soi

Des canapés moelleux, une décoration chaleureuse, un poêle à bois (avec du bois tout prêt à être utilisé dedans), des pommes du verger qui nous attendent dans une coupelle, un vase rempli de fleurs fraîchement coupées, des bonbons, du café, des gâteaux maison dans différents bocaux … dès que l’on pose un pied dans le cottage on s’y sent bien !

Ajouté à cela deux chambres (dont une avec lit XXL) ayant chacune leur propre salle de bain et donnant chacune, comme le salon, sur une maxi terrasse – avec une belle vue, cela va de soit – et vous pouvez tout de suite changer la date de votre billet d’avion retour : vous ne voudrez plus partir !

Une multitude d’attentions portées aux enfants

Un coffre rempli de jouets, des savons et lotions écologiques destinés aux petits, des petits canards dans la baignoire, des parapluies pour enfants, des mini-peignoirs, … à chaque nouveaux placards ouverts on y découvrait de nouvelles attentions destinées aux enfants, et franchement, on a trouvé ça vraiment agréable, surtout en voyageant depuis plus de deux mois dans des endroits pas forcément pensés pour les petits.

Des repas adaptés aux petits, et des délices pour les grands

Le Three tree hill comprend parfaitement que les enfants n’ont pas le même rythme que les grands ; une des premières choses qui nous est demandée en arrivant, c’est l’heure à laquelle on souhaite les faire manger. A l’heure convenue, ce sont deux petites assiettes en forme de bonhomme qui nous ont été apportées au cottage, le rêve.

Une fois les petits rassasiés, bordés, et le baby-phone enclenché, c’est à notre tour d’aller manger dans le salon du lodge, sans petits bonhommes dans les assiettes mais avec des plats dignes d’un restaurant gastronomique. Le chef est un tueur, que ce soit pour les menus élaborés du soir, pour les salades en buffet plus light du midi, ou même pour les petits-déjeuners (Sur la photo ci dessous, du pain perdu aux herbes avec bacon grillé et sirop d’érable.. Heuuuu, est-ce qu’on pourrait rester un peu plus longtemps s’il vous plaît ?.. – Ah non, c’est vrai, l’histoire du maillot de bain, tout ça tout ça..).

Une belle aire de jeux extérieurs, avec cabane et trampoline

Toboggan, balançoire, parcours d’équilibre, méga trampoline, et SURTOUT : une cabane avec une cuisine équipée digne des rêves les plus fous de toute ménagère ! Les petits étaient comme des dingues, des vrais chefs cuisto en devenir. Je n’ai eu qu’à m’asseoir et attendre qu’ils m’emmènent toutes sortes de délices imaginaires. Bref, l’endroit parfait pour les petits – tellement parfait qu’ils ne voulaient plus en bouger…

… du coup, j’ai profité de l’arrivée de Daddy pour qu’il se fasse servir à son tour des oeufs et des légumes en plastique, et j’ai (très vite) filé à la piscine #petitemaline.

Un bel environnement en pleine nature

Le Three tree hill lodge se situe à proximité immédiate de la réserve de Spioenkop, où se côtoient rhinocéros, zèbres et antilopes. Pour les grands (à partir de 12 ans) il est possible de faire des « Game Walks » pour aller à la rencontre des animaux. Pour les plus petits il y a plusieurs trails à faire au départ du lodge, avec de jolies vues sur les montagnes du Drakensberg. En qui nous concerne notre plus grand objectif était d’atteindre le « Magic Faraway Tree » à 600 mètres du lodge… et on a réussi 😉

En dehors des animaux, des jolis trails et de la balançoire de l’arbre magique – et en allant un peu plus loin que 600 mètres – il y a également plein de choses à voir et à découvrir dans les alentours, comme les champs de bataille de la guerre Anglo-Boers, le Royal Natal National Park (Nord Drakensberg) ou la Champagne Valley (Central Drakensberg).

En bref une belle adresse à l’atmosphère paisible, où les petits s’éclatent pendant que les parents peuvent se détendre, et où les activités alentours ne manquent pas. Que demandez de plus ? (à part avoir envie d’y retourner?…)

Un grand merci à Cheryl et Simon pour nous avoir invité à découvrir leur hâvre de paix 🙂

Botshabelo breaks barriers

2018-02-05T00:00:00+02:00

What a fabulous way to end the year…

2018-01-04T00:00:00+02:00

Solar Panels for Hambrook

2017-10-05T00:00:00+02:00

Breaking News of the Decade!

2017-09-12T00:00:00+02:00

2017 Lilizela Awards

2017-09-10T00:00:00+02:00

Lost in the Dust Art Exhibition

2017-07-13T00:00:00+02:00

Service Training can be Fun

2017-06-25T00:00:00+02:00

Sakhile grows from strength to strength with help of guests

2017-06-05T00:00:00+02:00