Cayley Mountain Resort, set in Cathkin Park among some of KwaZulu-Natal’s most dramatic mountain scenery, has been named South Africa’s Leading Lifestyle Resort for 2026 at the World Travel Awards. For the families who return year after year to the Central Drakensberg, a familiar holiday spot has just been given a new reason to be proud. It is the fifth consecutive year the resort has taken the category, a streak confirmed at the World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony held in Zanzibar in September 2026.
For guests, the recognition reflects what a stay actually feels like: days filled with activities, children occupied from morning to evening, and mountain views from nearly every corner of the property. The resort overlooks landmarks including Sterkhorn and Cathkin Peak, and its position beside Bell Park Dam shapes much of what visitors can do there.
That dam is central to one of the resort’s more unusual attractions. The Cayley Beach Club has created a beach-style recreational area on the water’s edge, an unexpected feature in a setting surrounded by mountains. Guests can try stand-up paddleboarding, take out pedal boats, or join cruises on the dam. The water adds to a long list of on-site options that also includes hiking trails, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a multi-court, table tennis facilities and an outdoor fitness gym. There is a games room, a convenience store, a restaurant and bar, and the Body Bliss Day Spa for those seeking quieter pursuits. Adventure-minded visitors can take up archery or quad biking without leaving the property.
Families, in particular, have plenty to keep them busy. The resort offers a playground, a jumping pillow, bumper boats, canoeing, kayaking, basketball and volleyball, as well as a floating waterpark on Bell Park Dam. Children can also join Max’s Fun Club, a dedicated programme that brings together several of the resort’s facilities and activities under one banner. The games room has recently been refurbished with retro arcade machines, PlayStation consoles, pool and table soccer, alongside a dedicated children’s entertainment area.
Where guests sleep matters just as much as what they do, and the accommodation options range widely. Double and twin rooms sit alongside self-catering chalets, villas and larger units suited to families and groups. At the top end, some units include four-bedroom villas with private spas and five-bedroom manors with splash pools. According to Daily Investor, these larger units can cost up to R14,595 per night.
Meanwhile, the award did not arrive out of nowhere. It follows a period of expansion and upgrades stretching back to May 2025, when new self-catering accommodation was introduced, including chalets, suites and a villa designed for couples, families and groups. Existing facilities have been refreshed too. The Steam Café received a refurbishment with additional indoor and outdoor seating and an updated menu, and an outdoor gym was added overlooking the surrounding mountains.
The resort is part of the Beekman Group, which also received awards for The Kingdom Resort near Pilanesberg and San Martinho Beach Club in Mozambique. But for the people who holiday in the Drakensberg, the wider corporate picture matters less than what has changed on the ground: more places to stay, more to do, and better facilities than before.
The recognition also comes as the resort continues to position itself as a destination where guests can combine the scenery and outdoor activities of the Drakensberg with the convenience of a resort-style stay. For travellers weighing up a mountain getaway with plenty to do on site, Cayley Mountain Resort now offers a mix of accommodation, family activities, adventure and relaxation in one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most scenic regions, backed by five straight years of national recognition. Whether the streak extends to a sixth year in 2027 is a question the resort’s returning families will watch with particular interest.