Dog Friendly Accommodation - Drakensberg (Winterton)

Tucked away between the rolling hills of the Drakensberg, just outside of the small town of Winterton you will find the Tugela River Lodge and Hideaway, perfectly situated on the banks of the Tugela River. It is a pet friendly, self-catering, eco lodge and almost halfway between Durban and Joburg which makes it the perfect getaway or halfway stop.

If you are looking for a place to escape to with the whole family (including the dogs), then this is the place to go. I have searched high and low for beautiful, pet friendly accommodation in KZN but I am often underwhelmed with options and most accommodation that is dog friendly, is better suited for small dogs. However, this place really is great for any size dog or families with multiple dogs.

There are four self-catering cottages that range from an 18 sleeper to a 4 sleeper. They each have their own fenced in garden for doggies to safely enjoy the outdoors without wondering off while you are at your cottage and there are also dog friendly trial walks along the river. If you don’t have a dog, there are also hikes and trial runs you can do through the game farm. We stayed at the River House which is the only cottage with WIFI but other than that, all cottages are completely off the grid. Powered solely by solo energy and gas you get to turn off and experience a truly sustainable getaway. They have recently built a chicken coop and you can buy fresh eggs from the happy hens. They are also in the process of building veggie patches and animal pens so kiddies will be able to feed the animals and you could buy fresh, organic produce for your stay. This honestly sounds like the dream to me!

Pack your swimsuits as you can go tubing, borrow the canoes or go fishing along the river. And as there is no aircon this is the way to cool down on a hot summer’s day!

Top Tips

If you have a baby pack a picnic blanket and umbrella as you can spend the day fishing down by the river. Which is also a hit if you have a dog that loves water.

The small town of Winterton isn’t too far but I would suggest bringing your own food rather than hoping to find it all in Winterton.

Best dog friendly places to stop along the way:

• The Windmills is a great place to stop if you need to refuel as they have dog areas for your dog to have a pitstop and stretch their legs. There are also a number of little stores to explore or you can pick up a snack for the road. The coffee is average though. Rather stop at one of the places listed below.
• Blueberry Café (best suited for small dogs)
• Village at Yard 41
• The Old Mushroom Farm (they have their own dogs on the property so only go here if your dog is good with other dogs)