History surrounding Sandford Park Country Hotel

Established as Bergville Mountain Village in 1897, Bergville is a small town in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountain range in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Known as the gateway to the Northern Drakensberg, Bergville now operates as the commercial centre for a 2500 square kilometre dairy and cattle ranching area. Although a small and quaint town today, the area of Bergville was the site of some of South Africa's most notorious and intensely fought battles. The area is steeped in battlefield history and has now been proclaimed a World Heritage Site.

Dating back to 1850, Sandford Park started its life as a coach house offering food and shelter for pioneers carving a road between KwaZulu-Natal and the Transvaal. The battles that took place in the Bergville area are iconic moments in the history of South Africa where fierce and bloody conflicts between Boer, British and Zulu troops were fought for control of land and water. 

Ultimately, this struggle for control evolved Sandford from a pioneer pit-stop to a British garrison residence whose men/ soldiers were sent to relieve the town of Ladysmith, causing the historical battle of Spioenkop. 

Sandford survived almost complete obliteration and the present true beauty of the property has stood the test of time. Generations have come and gone but Sandford Park still remains. Today, Sandford Park Country Hotel has been restored to a place of complete relaxation and tranquillity and offers guests a unique opportunity to experience the heritage of the property itself as well as the surrounding battlefields.