Property

The South African resort in the mountains named among the best in the world

Kirsten Minnaar • 8 October 2026

Cayley Mountain Resort in KwaZulu-Natal’s Central Drakensberg has been named South Africa’s Leading Lifestyle Resort for 2026 at the World Travel Awards.

The award was announced at the World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony in Zanzibar in September 2026.

It is the fifth consecutive year that Cayley Mountain Resort has won the category, and adds to a series of awards received by its owner, the Beekman Group.

The family-owned hospitality group also won South Africa’s Leading Family Resort for The Kingdom Resort in the Pilanesberg area and Mozambique’s Leading Family Resort for San Martinho Beach Club.

The group operates almost 40 destinations across five countries and serves more than 80,000 vacation ownership members and guests.

Wayne Beekman, Director at The Beekman Group, said the three awards reflect the different types of destinations operated by the group.

“To receive three World Travel Awards across three very different destinations is an incredibly proud achievement for everyone at the Beekman Group,” he said.

Beekman explains that the group’s attention to detail is what makes their resorts memorable long after guests have gone home.

“We have been welcoming people on holiday for more than five decades, and our greatest achievement is seeing families return to our destinations year after year, often creating new generations of holiday memories along the way.

“Winning three World Travel Awards is a tremendous honour, but it also reminds us of the responsibility that comes with being entrusted with someone’s precious holiday time.”

He added that they want every guest who chooses a Beekman destination to leave feeling that their time with us was genuinely special, and to look forward to coming back.

Cayley Mountain Resort

Cayley Mountain Resort is located in Cathkin Park in the Central Drakensberg and offers views of Sterkhorn and Cathkin Peaks. Bell Park Dam is located near the resort and forms part of its recreational offering.

The resort caters to families, couples, and groups, offering a variety of accommodation options to suit everyone’s needs. These range from double and twin rooms to self-catering chalets, villas and larger five-bedroom units.

Some of the larger options include four-bedroom villas with spas and five-bedroom manors with splash pools, which can cost up to R14,595 per night.

There are many facilities spread across the property, including The Bell and Whistle restaurant and bar, Body Bliss Day Spa, a swimming pool, outdoor fitness gym, hiking trails and a convenience store.

The resort also has a games room, multi-court, tennis and table tennis facilities, as well as activities such as archery and quad biking.

One of its more unusual features is the Cayley Beach Club, which uses the resort’s access to Bell Park Dam to create a beach-style leisure area.

Guests can use the dam for activities including stand-up paddleboarding, pedal boats and cruises.

Notably, this recent World Travel Award comes after the resort upgraded and expanded many of its facilities.

From May 2025, Cayley Mountain Resort introduced new self-catering accommodation, including chalets, suites and a villa designed for couples, families and groups.

The new units were added alongside upgrades to several existing parts of the resort.

The games room was refurbished with retro arcade machines, PlayStation consoles, pool and table soccer, and a dedicated entertainment area for children.

The Steam Café was also refurbished, with additional indoor and outdoor seating and an updated menu.

An outdoor gym was added to the resort, allowing guests to exercise while overlooking the surrounding mountain landscape.

The resort also has a range of family-focused activities, including a playground, jumping pillow, bumper boats, canoeing, kayaking, basketball, volleyball and a floating waterpark at Bell Park Dam.

Children can also take part in activities through Max’s Fun Club, which links resort facilities and activities through a dedicated programme.