Drakensberg Sun Resort hosts conferences, training sessions and team-building retreats for up to 250 delegates, with three combinable Summit Rooms, a boardroom, an outdoor conference setting by a lake for 100 and 78 hotel rooms. The resort is in the Central Drakensberg near Winterton, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and is operated by the Southern Sun group.
Seminars and company events
Conference rooms take groups of 15 to 250. A daily conference package covers the venue, standard equipment and refreshments. Standard equipment includes a data projector, a screen, a flip chart, a whiteboard, an in-house PA system and WiFi, with a lectern on request, subject to availability. Groups that want to work outside can hold a session by the resort's natural lake, with seating for up to 100.
The resort team helps plan and run team-building programs, either as a weekday excursion or as a weekend away. The grounds give plenty of material for them: hiking trails, horse riding, fishing, canoeing and rowing on a private lake, tennis courts and a multipurpose court. Organizers can request a proposal through the Southern Sun site, which also publishes a group conference matrix.
Rooms and capacities
The Summit Rooms can be used alone or combined. Summit Room 1, 145.5 square meters, takes 70 classroom style, 60 at banquet, 100 for a cocktail and 150 in a cinema layout. Summit Room 2, 87.5 square meters, takes 40 classroom style, 30 at banquet, 40 for a cocktail and 50 in a cinema layout. Summit Room 3, 57 square meters, suits 20 classroom style or at banquet and 30 in a cinema layout. Rooms 2 and 3 combined offer the same 145.5 square meters and capacities as Room 1. All three Summit Rooms together cover 294 square meters for 180 classroom style, 180 at banquet, 250 for a cocktail or 200 in a cinema layout. A separate boardroom seats 10 around the table or 18 theatre style. The resort publishes a floor plan of the venues.
Accommodation
The hotel has 78 en-suite rooms. The resort also has 30 self-catering chalets and 32 self-catering apartments, mainly used by timeshare owners. Delegates have an outdoor swimming pool, the Spoilt Green Eco-Spa, kids' play areas for family weekends and free uncapped WiFi.
Catering
The Lakeview Restaurant serves home-style buffet breakfasts and dinners, and breakfast is included in room rates. The Grotto Bar has a fireside lounge for evening drinks after a working day. Conference refreshments are part of the daily package, and the resort mentions tailor-made menus for groups.
History and setting
The resort sits on the R600 road in the Central Drakensberg, the mountain range of KwaZulu-Natal. Nearby attractions include the Drakensberg Canopy Tour, the Drakensberg Boys Choir School and Nambiti Private Game Reserve, which can be added to a group program for an afternoon or a full day.
Getting there
The address is R600 Central Drakensberg, Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal. Most groups arrive by road, by coach or by car. The nearest international airport is King Shaka International, north of Durban.
