How's This Look?
Your home away from home
Our intimate accommodation features 10 different rooms and cottages.
OUE STORY
Love for the outdoors and their relaxed outlook on life.
Ashbourne Escape is a lodge built and run by owners Rob and Dawne Topham and is located in the town of Hazyview between the Kruger National Park and the scenic ‘Panorama Route.’ Named after Rob’s grandmother Ashbourne and also after one of the many different homes Rob’s family owned in Pietermaritzburg. Ashbourne Escape is set in a malaria free area, high on a hill with views of the Kruger Park and the Sabi River Valley, and catches the cool afternoon breeze and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.
Rob and Dawne Topham hail from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal where both their families lived from the year 1842. After deciding it was time for a change they relocated to live and work in the Cape before moving to Mpumalanga to farm citrus in the Sabi River Valley. Having always had a love affair with the Lowveld, when they decided to downscale from citrus farming, it took just one look at the site to inspire them to build a typical old South African farm house from all the rocks on the property.
“We wanted to take all that’s good about South African farmhouses, but tweak the design to get rid of passages, poor lighting and lack of bathrooms,” Rob comments. “I wanted our house to disappear amongst the trees and rocks and definitely didn’t want anything ostentatious,” says Dawne, adding that they were determined to use the land’s natural resources. While this led to cladding the exterior of the house with rocks found on the farm, it was the couple’s love for thick walls and deep windows that decided the structure. “Besides keeping the place cool in summer and warm in winter, thick walls create a feeling of permanence,” says Rob. So it was, that armed with a water cart, one Landrover and the assistance of Mandross the local builder and four helpers, the project was eventually finished “18 months and 10 divorces later”!
The result is a home that reflects the couple’s love for the outdoors and their relaxed outlook on life. And given that they decided to build according to the lay of the land instead of levelling the site, they’ve made the most of views that extend as far as the Kruger Park and Drakensberg Escarpment. Our vision was to create a comfy space where people could feel at peace and be close to all the attractions of the Lowveld, such as; Kruger, Sabi Sands and The Panorama Route. We hope that your visit with us will be a memorable one, and that you will enjoy Ashbourne as much as we do.
Hazyview, Mpumalanga
Our Location
Our lodge is nestled amongst thick indigenous forest, high on a hilltop overlooking the sunrise and Kruger National Park as well as the sunset and the Sabi River Valley. Just a short drive away from the town of Hazyview and the Kruger Park, there are endless sights to see, activities to enjoy and wildlife to enjoy when visiting Ashbourne.
View Google MapOur Location & Directions
From OR Tambo International Airport
(Johannesburg)
Approximately 4 hours +/- 386,6 km
From Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
(White River)
Approximately 1 hour
Follow the well-marked Ashbourne signs either on the R40 between White River and Hazyview or from Hazyview turn left into the Sabi Road R536 and follow the signs to Ashbourne thereafter.
Don’t be alarmed when you get to the dirt road, just a few kilometers later and you’ll be at Ashbourne where mountains, valleys, sunsets and wine await you.
Our GPS Co-ordinates are : -25.047842 | 31.089956
Activities around Ashbourne
Hazyview is well known for it’s wide range of great outdoor adventure activities
GAME DRIVES
A trip into the Kruger National Park during your stay at Ashbourne is an absolute must and a safari in an open vehicle isn’t to be taken lightly! Enjoy close sightings of the Big 5 amongst other African wildlife. Get collected from Ashbourne in the open vehicle and driven into the Kruger National park for your safari. Please contact us to arrange your game drive.
RIVER RAFTING
Explore every nook and cranny of the great and beautiful Sabie River. Known for being one of the cleanest river systems in South Africa, you are certainly in for a rafting treat, whether you’re a novice or a pro when you take a trip down the Sabi River and enjoy it’s outstanding birdlife, beautiful waters and diverse fish population.
ELEPHANT WHISPERS
Elephant Whispers are dedicated to securing the future of the African Elephant, and welcome people of all ages to share in the excitement of close encounters with these magnificent creatures. The interaction with the elephant offers you the opportunity to touch the elephant, exchange trunk greetings and offer tasty treats. Experienced Elephant Handlers share their in-depth knowledge of fascinating elephant behaviour.
CROCODILE FARM
Seronera Crocodile Farm is a working farm in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, that offers a memorable opportunity to view thousands of Crocodiles on a farm which is beautifully treed and has abundant birdlife. Duration: 1-2 hours. Contact us today to book your tour.
AERIAL CANOPY SLIDE
Experience the thrill of ‘flying’ through the trees along the Sabie River on an exhilarating cable trail. Enjoy the wide variety of birdlife, wildlife and indigenous forest as the track takes you down into the valley basin adjacent to the Kruger National Park, stopping along the way on a number of elevated.
HORSE TRAILS
Pass through wide open fields, river valleys, forests and rolling hills on horseback alongside experienced guides that will assist you according to your horseriding skills. Your riding experience will be one to remember as you take in the fresh air, sights and sounds of wildlife and birds as well as a diverse array of indigenous trees.
QUAD BIKING
If it’s a racing pulse you’re after, then the Quad biking trails near Ashbourne will be right up your alley. Enjoy an exciting day riding through scenic trails, indigenous bush and farmlands in and around the Sabie River Valley with the optional natural obstacles to negotiate.
GECKOING
White Water Tubing takes place on the upper-Sabie River, where the scenery is spectacular and the rush of rapids is exhilarating. Feel the waters of the Sabie River rushing underneath you while you face the rapids. This is a high adrenaline activity.
Places to visit in the surrounding area
Hazyview is an ideal base from which to explore many of Mpumalanga's famous points of interest.
Kruger Park
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Bourke’s Luck Potholes
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Panorama Route
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Blyde River Canyon
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Pilgrims Rest
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Gods Window
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Located in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, Hazyview is a small farming town well-known for its thriving banana industry. Situated nearby to the Kruger National Park, the town derived its name from the sparkling haze that occurs during the summer's heat. There are plenty of things to do and places to see in Hazyview that will amuse and delight you.
KRUGER PARK
The world renowned Kruger National Park is the most important game reserve in Southern Africa. Home to the famous ‘Big 5’ amongst 147 species of mammal, over 500 bird species and 336 species of trees that span nearly 2 million hectares of land, there certain is no African wildlife experience quite like the Kruger Park.
PANORAMA ROUTE
The Panorama Route is a scenic road in South Africa connecting several cultural and natural points of interest, taking you through amazing scenery and quaint villages close to The Kruger Park. This popular self drive route is steeped in the history of South Africa.
PILGRIMS REST
Nestled on the majestic Panorama Route in the Kruger Loweld region, Pilgrims Rest is a unique historic village that is home to rich diversity, and an array of cultural and historic gems. The beauty of this village lies in its museums and historic sites, dating back hundreds of decades. It offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the past and truly embodies the spirit of a bygone era, it’s people and their quest for gold.
BOURKE'S LUCK POTHOLES
Marking the beginning of the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes are a majestic natural water feature formed through countless eons, the swirling whirlpools which occur as the Treur River plunges into the Blyde River caused waterborne sand and rock to grind huge, cylindrical potholes into the bedrock of the river. Named after a gold digger, Tom Burke who staked a claim nearby, the pools are a must-see for any visitor to the area.
BLYDE RIVER CANYON
The Blyde River Canyon, forming part of the Panorama Route is the third largest canyon in the world at 25 kilometers long. It lies at the convergence of the Blyde River (River of Joy) and the Treur River (River of Sorrow) and was formed by water erosion into one of the most breathtaking geological sites in the country.
Arguably one of the best views of the whole Blyde River Canyon is of the “Three Rondavels,” three massive round rocks, thought to resemble the ‘huts’ of the indigenous people known as rondavels.
GOD'S WINDOW
With sheer cliffs plunging 700 meters into the loweld, God’s Window is an exceptional vista along the Panorama Route with scenic views and unforgettable vantage points with hills and forests as far as the eye can see. Named after its Eden-like appearance, this really is a piece of heaven that seems to stretch on for eternity.
