KWAZULU-NATAL
The Whistling Goat Restaurant The Whistling Goat is one of those places locals can’ t resist recommending, like the best worst-kept secret. After eating there, the enthusiasm makes sense. Charisse runs the front of house with a warmth and personality that instantly makes you feel like you’ re home, while Paul sends out Pan-Asian dishes from the kitchen that are worth travelling for. I do not say this lightly. I’ d say it again. The food is that good. This is a genuinely exceptional restaurant that could hold its own in any big city in the country. That it exists here, tucked away in a small Drakensberg town on a road you might easily miss, feels like a delicious joke at the expense of city dining. And when you’ re finished, there’ s an antique shop and a small mohair weaving store next door – perfect for browsing while you walk off your meal. Find it. Go hungry.
Speirs Brasserie Speirs Brasserie is Shaun’ s domain – and Shaun knows exactly what he is doing. The menu is built around tapas and small plates, giving you the freedom to order your way through the evening, which is, frankly, one of my favourite ways to eat. The food is outstanding, the kind that makes you flag down the waiter, not because anything is wrong but because you need to order more – immediately. The space is beautifully decorated, the service, sharp and the atmosphere strikes that rare balance between relaxed and tasteful. And then there is Winston, Shaun’ s Jack Russell, who will find you, wag at you, and charm the room. Much like the food, you will want more of him before the night is out.
What I Did Last but not least, it’ s the adventures that made my time in the Southern Drakensberg truly unforgettable.
Milking Jersey Cows at Sani Lodge On paper, milking a cow sounds like the sort of activity reserved for people who’ ve run out of options. In practice, it’ s one of those simple experiences that catches you completely off guard. The milk, as it turns out, goes somewhere worthwhile: Sani Lodge produces their own dairy and cheese on site, served at the restaurant. And once you’ ve met the source personally, the cheesecake hits differently. I recommend the whole experience without a shred of apology. Nearby restaurants, like the luxury one at the Moorcroft Manor, buy their dairy exclusively from Sani Lodge.
22 | WINTER 2026 • rovesa. co. za