Hartford House is the only world class hotel on a world class stud farm in the world. Welcome to South Africa's Number One Boutique Hotel and National Top Ten Restaurant.

There are too many luxury hotels in the world offering the same: a chocolate on the pillow, canned romance, and cuisine called "haut" because it's spelled in French. Hartford stands apart for its integrity. Its architecture, views, dining, sounds, smells, its racehorses and its people are all exhilarating surprises, unique to this Zululand, this culture, to Africa. Yes, you come here to be pampered, but at Hartford luxury is the journey, not the destination.

The 5-star Hartford House is located in the picturesque Natal Midlands in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, about 2 hours' drive inland from Durban. It is an ideal venue for weddings, conferences and other special occasions.

Renowned for its fourteen incomparably-styled luxury suites with underfloor heating, heated towel rails and generous bathrooms. All suites are uniquely decorated with a fusion of colour, style and texture and are equipped with a telephone, TV (with M-Net and satellite channels) and a mini bar.

4 LAKESIDE SUITES - EZULWENI These "eco" suites making up Hartford's Ezulweni ("in the heavens") collection. Perfectly positioned on a picturesque trout lake. Uninterrupted views of the lake and a section of the farm. Each uniquely built and decorated with their own character and charm. This is the ultimate in luxury and relaxation.

MAIN HOUSE SUITES These luxurious suites are situated in and around the manor house, opening onto the garden, verandah and pool area. Elegantly decorated, the names of the suites reflect Hartford House's fascinating history.

There is little value in living in one of the world's most bounteous environs without taking advantage of all that it offers. We have yet to taste lovelier chicken than Stonehavens; the beef, lamb and game ranks with the best anywhere; you'll spend an age finding finer cheese; our vegetables and herbs are superb, we have renowned producers of pork and parma ham. For eight consecutive years, we've had "Platinum" emblazoned on our wine list. Local is lekker. Absolutely.

Dinner is a spectacular five course affair, served in candlelit splendour, either in our historic dining room or on our rambling colonial veranda. Saturdays are accompanied by the best traditional dance display in Africa. You have to see it to believe it.

Breakfasts are celebrations of the creative spirit, individual masterpieces inspired by the freshest local produce. Authenticity and originality are hallmarks of everything Hartford represents.

Lunch menus are purposely light and seasonal, providing a respite for the gap between breakfast and dinner. To satisfy non-resident visitors, the weekend menu includes additional options.

Hartford's beauty was discovered by the Moor family some 130 years ago when the land was granted to them by Queen Victoria in the mid 1870s. This property, which was home to the family of Sir Frederick Moor, the last prime minister of the Colony of Natal, is now part of the greater Summerhill estate, the former domain of Colonel Richards, who served as Sir Frederick's deputy and as a senator in the first government of the Union of South Africa. The families' endeavors left their mark on what the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal represents today.

Some 70 years later, Raymond Ellis founded his all-conquering thoroughbred enterprise on these historic acres - and any horse carrying his black and green silks was as good as money in the bank, so they said! Such was their dominance that the Ellis horses carried off every major prize on the southern African turf. Their exploits compare with those of the mighty strings of England's Lord Derby, the Agas Khan and the Sheikhs Maktoum, France's Boussac, Italy's Tesio, or those of America's Phippses and Calumets.

The Summerhill farmstead hosted the British Royal Family for a period of their 1922 visit and the acceptance of their copy of the Treaty of Vereeniging by the local Boer kommando, took place on its veranda.

The Summerhill Stallion Barn is a showcase for some of the finest thoroughbreds in the southern hemisphere. Most of them are the property of the Maktoums, the First Family of Dubai, who rank among the world's most successful owners of the modern era. The farm's labour force is predominantly Zulu. History remembers them as revered warriors and gifted stockmen.

This is the only world-class hotel on a world-class racehorse stud in the world. A personalised tour of Summerhill Stud includes the stallions of the Rulers of Dubai.

The Hartford Wellness Centre offers a range of therapies, body treatments, holistic massages and facials.

Trout and bass fishing, including trophy-sized fish. Masterclass tuition with Wildfly can be arranged, preferably in advance.

Horse riding (guided on request).

Hartford offers personalised trips to the battlefields, Drakensberg World Heritage Site, Giant's Castle, Lotheni, Injisuthi and Kamberg reserves, as well as the Weenen Game Reserve (by arrangement).

Swimming pool, tennis court, historic gardens and close proximity to quality golf courses.

Traditional Zulu dancers and singers perform on selected evenings.

Walks on the extensive game conservancy; several rare wild animal and bird species inhabit the estate.

In the vicinity of Hartford House:

• Drakensberg Boys' Choir
• Easy access to Anglo-Zulu and Boer War battlefields
• Mountain, game and nature reserves
• Excellent Bushman paintings and artifacts
• Midland's Meander : Assortment of arts and crafts, pubs and restaurants
• Golf and squash: Boschhoek and Mooi River Country Club
• Picturesque Drakensberg drives and picnicking
• Hot air ballooning
• Karkloof Canopy Tours
• Helicopter flights
• Clay pigeon shooting
• Day trips to Clarens, the artists' capital of South Africa, and the Golden Gate National Park.

We know the value of a good conference, and we understand the extra dimension a rare venue and slick organisation adds to the event. We're in business ourselves, and in each of the four business disciplines we're engaged in, we're industry leaders.

This positions us to provide for the needs of any relatively intimate, top-level, executive conference at the most demanding level, and if there's anything we don't have in the way of equipment, we can get it given reasonable notice.

Besides, the range of discretionary activities and interests on the property (which is part of one of the world's great racehorse stud farming success stories, Summerhill) is broad, often unique, and engaging.

For clients such as the boards of Mercedes Benz, BMW, ABSA and Investec, we've even arranged private race meetings on our full-size race track, as part of the after-hours' entertainment. This includes horses, jockeys, trainers, race-cards, bookmakers, race-callers etc.

If that's not the extra mile, tell us what else we can do for you.

• Rates are inclusive of VAT and Breakfast
• Double rates are per person sharing
• Winter rate: 1 May - 30 September
• Summer rate: 1 October - 30 April
• No children under 12
• No pets
• Tourism levy not applicable.