Last weekend, we headed to the Southern Drakensberg for a chilled weekend with family. Having been invited, we stayed at a resort new to us: Castleburn and it was so wonderful and absolute haven for the kids!

As chilly as Winter comes, the early mornings and evenings were very fresh but we were blessed with the most beautiful clear and sunny days.

Friday. We packed the car to the brim, we collected the girls from school and we hit the road. Our first error was leaving after ZB’s nap time so she was awake for the full 3 hour duration and with a fever and tonsillitis, she wasn’t the happiest passenger. We arrived, unpacked the car and settled in for the evening – the girls bundled up in their pjs and slippers and got the fire going. We enjoyed a delicious braai and a birthday cake for the two birthdays (EN’s and my stepdad).

Saturday. Our two older rascals were up at the crack of dawn (5am!) and begging their Pops for a walk. As they set off in the freezing cold, we enjoyed a cup of tea in bed with ZB. We had a delicious fry up breakfast and then set off to explore. We spent the morning walking through the resort, admiring the Autumn/Winter leaves and colors, pony rides, and endless laughs on the kids jungle gym and trampoline (ZB befriend a little boy 8 years her senior!). Pops then offered to entertain the older girls whilst we took ZB back for her nap – THREE AND A HALF hours later, they returned and we woke ZB from her nap (definitely sick!) – and the girls returned with great stories of rock painting, putt putt, a hole-in-one, a scavenger hunt, and even a paddle on the dam. We enjoyed a late lunch and then back to the chalet to start another fire, watch the rugby and have an early night.

Sunday. A lazy morning (ZB slept until 7.30am), another delicious breakfast and then packed the car to hit the long road home. Although this time better timing to coincide with ZB’s nap – and someplace and quiet all the way home.

Always so lovely to get away, try new resorts and fresh air and quality time with our family.

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