Mount Park, Dargle

We had missed the first Skipper camp of the year due to illness, but Mount Park kindly issued a voucher which we decided to use before the winter chill set in.
Kevan and Marcella, who also hadn’t made it to the Skipper weekend, joined us in their Skipper Oyster.

We left home early-ish on Thursday 21st and met up with K&M near their home in Hillcrest.

I had ordered some porky treats from Dargle Valley Meats, which is on the route to Mount Park, but since I couldn’t collect until after lunch time, we had a great excuse to stop at the Belgian Choclate and Waffle Shop and Nature’s Gifts outside Howick. After stocking up on essentials such as biltong and honey, we treated ourselves to waffles. It was a little concerning that they seemed to only be able to make 2 waffles at a time, so our party of four had to eat in relay!

On to Dargle Valley Meats, where I collected my boxed order: some to be enjoyed at the camp, and the rest for the freezer.

Family heritage …

Mount Park is the oldest and one of the best loved establishments of its kind in the Dargle Valley. The Speirs’ family owned the farm until well into the 20th Century and created the friendly guest farm atmosphere everyone comes for. It is now owned by the Field family. Hosts Sally and Ian have been running Mount Park since 2015.

Mount Park offers beautiful grassed and shaded camp sites, along with the main house (built circa 1850), cottages, cabins, caravans and safari tents – so there’s a spot for everyone’s needs.

Three mountain streams flow through the farm. A beautiful oak tree (now around 180 years old) stands guard over the camp sites. Free-roaming bunnies lazily chew on the grass, apparently unconcerned by campers setting up their tents!

Mount Park has a variety of activities for the whole family, including a little farm-yard which is home to some cute piggies, sheep, and other friendly beasties! Grab a bag of bunny or donkey food at the reception shop before heading up to the Animal farm for a visit.

There are seven hiking trails marked out on the farm. These range from Easy to Advanced, and meander through the indigenous forests of the KZN Midlands, past trickling waterfalls and even up to the top of the iNhlosane.
Unfortunately, James and I only got to enjoy the Lourie’s Flight trail – a relatively easy circular route with some boulder hoping over streams. We enjoyed strategising our way across the streams – looking for the driest rocks within reach, steadying ourselves on tree branches as we went. At the apex of the trail, we had the choice of turning back or taking the metal ladder up out of the stream. We decided on the latter and returned to camp via the Pass Trail.
On route, we passed the Spiers family graveyard – a fascinating glimpse at the history of the people who built this farm.

If you’d like to take a break from the braai, pop into Mount Park’s own Bull & Speir Restaurant. For breakfast, lunch, or dinner you’re certain to find your favourite on the menu. We opted for a light breakfast on our last day, and I must say the French Toast did not disappoint.

About Mount Park

Mount Park Guest Farm is situated in the beautiful Upper Dargle region of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, at the foot of the iNhlosane Mountain. Mount Park is known for affordable Midlands accommodation, as well as a range of fun activities for the whole family. They are also popular as a reasonable and affordable wedding venue on the Midlands Meander.