By Tahlia Wyngaard
The Cavern, a family-owned retreat in the Drakensberg Mountains, is one of many tourist establishments expanding its efforts to protect the environment through solar energy, water conservation systems and eco-friendly construction techniques. The surrounding Drakensberg region, pictured below, further serves as a sanctuary for endangered wildlife and endemic plant species due to its status as a nature reserve.
“We’ve always believed that sustainability isn’t just a trend, but a responsibility,” says Megan Bedingham, a third-generation family member and manager of The Cavern. “Our mission has always been to create a place that respects the environment, supports our local community and offers an authentic and memorable experience.”
Sector Insight: Southern Sun Hotels secures 50-year lease on iconic properties.
On the North Coast, Zimbali Lodge has been revamped. A Dream Hotels & Resorts property since 2020, Zimbali’s rooms, restaurant and conference centre have been comprehensively upgraded with the intention of achieving five-star status. The conference centre now comprises three main venues with landscaped terraces and informal breakout zones connecting to the estate’s forested landscape.
In October 2025, a R1-billion 50-year lease was signed by the eThekwini Municipality and Southern Sun Hotels which keeps the management of the Elangeni and Maharani Towers under the latter’s control, with a pledge to invest in the two hotels and other beachfront amenities. Southern Sun runs 13 establishments in KwaZulu-Natal, with Durban (five) and Umhlanga (four) making up the majority.
Hotels are located at each of Tsogo Sun’s three casinos in the province, with two at Suncoast Casino Hotels & Entertainment in Durban. The other two are in Newcastle (Blackrock Hotel) and Pietermaritzburg (Golden Horse Hotel).
Premier Hotels & Resorts has nine properties in the province, including the restored Cutty Sark in Scottburgh and the Himeville Arms, which is located in the tiny village of the same name and a short distance from another Premier property, the Premier Resort Sani Pass.
The International Hotel School in Westville is part of the international group, Sommet Education.
The project to improve regional airports is continuing. Upgrades at Pietermaritzburg, Newcastle and Richards Bay have been authorised and terminals at Margate and Mkuze, where R72-million was spent, have been completed. Located in the far north of the province, Mkuze holds great potential for the distribution of agricultural produce into the SADC market and for tourism, given its proximity to several private reserves and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Online resources
- Durban International Convention Centre: www.icc.co.za
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife: www.kznwildlife.com
- Tourism KwaZulu-Natal: www.zulu.org.za
