Zimbete Country House

Zimbete Country House is the perfect place to stay in the Richard's Bay Area. Our luxury bed & breakfast accommodation has 5 rooms, and serves delicious food in the surroundings of a gracious Natal pioneer homestead. We are ideally situated between Durban and the Northern Natal game reserves, such as Phinda and Pakamisa, and are an ideal stopover en-route after a long flight.

We also offer prime accommodation to those travelling in the Richard's Bay / Empangeni area on business. We give guided tours around the local Hluhluwe/Umfolozi game reserve, as your host - Nicky Nicolson - is an expert on the local animals, birds and trees.

Zimbete Country House is situated just over an hour away from the bustling city of Durban and about 20 minutes away from the Port of Richard's Bay. This gracious country home has been in the Nicolson family for three generations, and nestles in a magnificent tropical garden filled with indigenous plants and at least 130 species of birds.

Your hosts, Andrew and Annie Nicolson, welcome you to their home, and as descendants of the original Settler families of Natal, are happy to share with you their wealth of local knowledge, and invite you to browse through their library, which has a valuable collection of Afrikaner books.

Special emphasis is given to superior comfort in luxurious surroundings, and food is of the utmost importance. Evening meals can be eaten in the dining room or outside in the rustic boma, where guests can converse around an open fire under the African stars

Zimbete Country House is situated on a sugar and macadamia nut farm, adjoining the quaint mill village of Felixton. Guests are accommodated in the original farmhouse, which has 4 luxuriously appointed, air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms. Each room is individually furnished, and reflects the graciousness of colonial living. Personalised service will ensure that guests will be served with refreshments whilst lounging around the swimming pool, or reading in the comfort of the drawing room.

An air-conditioned wine cellar houses an exciting selection of Cape Wines - read about the various wine estates and the wines they produce, in the monthly magazines and books, which are provided for your enjoyment and enlightenment.

Conference facilities are available, and delicious meals are provided for delegates should they require them.

Enjoy game drives or guided walks in Zululand's internationally recognised game reserves. These vast, rugged areas of unspoiled indigenous bush support a profusion of wildlife including the Big Five, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Giraffe and many species of buck. Just one hour away from Zimbete Country House is the Umfolozi and Hluhluwe Reserves, the oldest proclaimed Game Reserves in South Africa.

Wilderness hiking trails and well known camps abound in this area, This is a birders' paradise for those twitchers on the lookout for a variety of species including Eagles, Kingfisher, Fish Eagles, Palmnut Vultures, Storks, Spoonbills and many others. A birding route has been established in Zululand where different habitats have been identified.

Accommodation a Zimbete Country House part of a fruit and macadamia nut farm, accommodation comprised o air-conditioned guest rooms in an original farm house.

Cape Wines read about the various estates and wines they produce, in monthly magazines and books.

They also offer prime accommodation to those traveling in Richards Bay and Empangeni

Area on business.

Dive the coral reefs of Sodwana in Maputaland and experience a magical underwater world teeming with vividly coloured tropical fish, turtles, corals and whale sharks.

Zimbete Country House Expanses of golden beaches and the warm Indian Ocean provide one with ample opportunity to fish, snorkel and enjoy the variety of water sports which are available.

Visit Battlefields Sites, Forts and Museums commemorating the historical events that shaped Zululand and South Africa. Trips can be arranged to Isandlwana or Rorke's Drift for a better understanding of the Zulu War.

Dinner by prior arrangement. No Smoking inside house or build.