LEON VAN NIEROP

Chuck, the head chef at Mount Sheba, gleams with pride as he announces: “I have been here for 35 years; my first pay cheque was R17. That has greatly improved. But I want to be nowhere else.”

A formidable waitress joins the conversation.

“I am Rebecca and I have been here 20 years. This is the best place on earth!”

A truer word has rarely been spoken, as I find myself in one of the most secluded and striking hotels in the country.

It’s time to set the record straight: Mount Sheba is one of those undiscovered gems of the Mpumalanga Lowveld that you want to keep to yourself.

It’s almost too good to be true.

It’s easy to get there. From Graskop, travel through Pilgrim’s Rest and follow the signs to Mashishing (Lydenburg). About 10km out of Pilgrim’s Rest, you will find the sign towards the hotel.

I have never seen such an abundance of walking trails, all sign-posted and laid-out, which is why people often stay here for a week.

This is the only way to fully explore and appreciate what nature has to offer as one takes in the tranquillity and beauty of the area.

The massive thatched main building and spread-out hotel overlooks kilometres of indigenous forest and nature reserve with fountains and streamlets cascading through the forest.

If you book in time, reception can pack a picnic basket and you can choose an exquisite hideaway somewhere deep in the forest to invigorate your soul.

Each path has a difficulty rating, so even the most ardent walkers will find a challenging walk ahead.

Or, if you decide to take the easier four kilometre hike to the waterfall at the bottom of the gorge, you can literally disappear from civilisation and take a shower in a forest that would leave James Cameron aghast.

The forest contains not only huge trees, but ferns, mosses and fungi, as well as giant fig trees and beautiful forest creepers.

And it goes without saying that there is an abundance of bird life.

Apart from the splendid menu, (prepared by Chuck) each room and cottage has a fireplace which is lit on request.

So when you retire to your room after dinner, you are greeted with a hotwater bottle, a crackling fire and rose petals on your bed. Luxury gets a new meaning at Mount Sheba.

There is a huge swimming pool as well as a trout dam, a tennis court, a squash court, a pool table and as many hiking trails as any nature lover can wish for.

The only problem is a rough patch of gravel road (about 5½km) on the way to the gate, but once you have conquered that, paradise awaits.

This is, without a doubt, one of the friendliest, most sophisticated and breathtaking hotels in the entire country.

You will not want to leave!