Royal Natal National Park Hotel

Over the long weekend we took a walk through the old RNNP hotel which is in a shocking state of disrepair and neglect. How this can be allowed to happen I don’t know. The last I heard was that The KZN Parks Board (Ezemvelo) had issued a request for Expressions of Interest to redevelop the hotel. I know this topic has been raised before on the forum but wonder whether anyone has any further information or latest news on this? It is so sad to see when I remember how beautiful and gracious the building and grounds used to be. See link: www.heritageportal.co.za/article/inside-royal-natal-national-park-hotel

Hi Elinda

Ja...this is sad and frankly an eye sore, especially knowing what used to be there.

I am afraid, given the economy, that redevelopment is unlikely to take place here. I don't think there is a good enough business case. Having said that, I also did not think there was a good enough business case for the re-development/upgrade of Witsieshoek, glad I was wrong there (although the actual commercial success still needs to be determined in the coming years).

Besides the economic climate, the success of Thendele is in my opinion the main reason they are not interested in redeveloping the hotel.

Highlands Fanatic wrote: Besides the economic climate, the success of Thendele is in my opinion the main reason they are not interested in redeveloping the hotel.

Perhaps Thendele's popularity would imply that a similar development may be feasible. Perhaps destruction of what is there and building of self-catering chalets isn't a bad idea. (not a professional opinion - simply an observation regarding a hypothetical that may warrant investigation).

One way or another - until the R74 is fixed, Witsieshoek is too far from KZN to be worth a visit and RNNP is too far from Gauteng. That road needs to be fixed if anyone actually takes Drakensberg tourism seriously.

Here is the link to a related posting on RNNP hotel
two postings down from the top of this page...
www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/14-drakensberg-general/55316-drakensberg-cable-car.html?start=300

ghaznavid wrote:
Witsieshoek is too far from KZN to be worth a visit

Ag nee man, the walk up Basotho Gate is a breeze....

Jokes aside, yes agree 100%. It has already been a major contributing factor to 4 tourism businesses we know of that closed down, as well as the Sterkfontein Vulture feeding scheme diminishing to something of no value. I am further sure it causes significant decline in tourism figures for the Northern Berg retreats (RNNP, M.A.S hotel etc).

Offcourse the topic here being the RNNP hotel, this was offcourse derelict way before the R74 became the way it is. I do however believe the same reasons apply....

I've done RNNP to the Bilanjil River and back again (admittedly cheating on part of the road though). Did it as a 2 day hike with young Hobbit over the easter weekend last year (full story somewhere on this site). Left RNNP at about 9AM, set up the tent at 7:30PM, started walking at 7AM the next morning and got back to the car just after sunset to find the guys at the office busy calling mountain rescue. Bagged 3 khulus (Amphitheare, Crows Nest and Beacon Buttress), went up the chain ladders for the first time (I had been down them once before - end of GT2012), and did Beacon Buttress Gully on the way back.

I tend to agree with your comments @Highlands Fanatic as regards why RNNP is not being redeveloped................Thendele makes a lot of money and is mostly always fully occupied. This despite being in dire need of a renovations and a makeover. When I stayed there in December, there were mushrooms ( I kid you not) growing in the carpet outside the bathroom