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LUXURY SELF-CATERING FARM STAYS ON THE MIDLANDS MEANDER

Escape to the Heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands

Welcome to River Bend Farm – your peaceful country escape in the heart of the beautiful KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Nestled along the renowned Midlands Meander, and just 3.5 km from Lidgetton and 18 km from Howick, our self-catering accommodation offers the perfect blend of comfort, relaxation, and natural beauty.

Set on a secluded bluff at the end of a quiet country road, the farm overlooks the winding Lions River and is surrounded by rolling forests, open countryside, and an abundance of birdlife. Wake up to the sound of birdsong, breathe in the fresh country air, and, if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of buck grazing peacefully nearby.

Whether you’re escaping for a romantic weekend, enjoying a family holiday, catching up with friends, or simply looking to slow down and reconnect with nature, River Bend Farm is a place where you can truly relax. Spend your days exploring the Midlands, enjoying the outdoors, or simply soaking up the peace and quiet before ending the day beneath a sky full of stars.

We look forward to welcoming you and helping you create memories that will bring you back time and time again.

River Bend Farm is primarily powered by a modern solar energy system, allowing guests to enjoy uninterrupted comfort during most load shedding and power outages. We also have an Eskom connection available as a backup should prolonged usage require additional power.

To help us maintain a reliable power supply for all guests, we kindly ask that high-energy appliances such as hairdryers, electric blankets, and similar devices are used responsibly, particularly during periods of load shedding. Excessive power consumption may temporarily deplete the battery system, in which case power will be restored once the grid supply returns.

As we are located in a peaceful rural setting, mobile phone reception and Wi-Fi connectivity may occasionally be limited during widespread power outages.

OUR STORY

River Bend Farm forms part of the original Aboyne 16757 farm, which was owned by Mondi during the 1980s. In the early 1990s, Mondi established a sawmill on the property to process its own timber and constructed ten buildings to accommodate staff working at the mill.

Around 2000, the property was purchased by Chris Griffiths, who made the decision to close the sawmill. Once operations ceased, the staff housing was vacated and the buildings were left unoccupied.

Over time, the vacant structures were illegally occupied and extensively vandalised, leaving them unsuitable for use. Years without maintenance further accelerated their deterioration. During this period, Chris Griffiths subdivided the original farm into smaller portions, with what is now River Bend Farm becoming Portion 4.

Today, River Bend Farm has been transformed into a welcoming countryside retreat, where the property’s rich history is honoured while breathing new life into a once-forgotten corner of the Midlands.

BOOK YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY AT RIVER BEND FARM

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