Champagne Valley, Drakensberg
Once you've booked your Champagne Valley accommodation explore our pages for info on attractions and what to do in Champagne Valley.
Lying in the central Drakensberg, the Champagne peak is one of the highest peaks in this mountain range, although the prominent peak from here is Cathkin.
But it is the enchantedness of the Champagne Valley that draws visitors away from city stressors to escape to a place of rare beauty that manages to remain almost entirely unaffected by development.
The town of Winterton marks the entrance to Champagne Valley, which is said to have received its name from the first climber’s need to celebrate at the peak with a bottle of champagne, only to drop it before he could commemorate his notable achievement.
Hot air ballooning in this part of the world is a fairly popular pastime and a wonderfully languid way to experience the ‘berg from a bird’s eye view. The valley, which is easily accessible from the N3 - the major route between Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal, is home to more than 150 species of bird making it popular with birders.
Champagne Valley is renowned for the number of activities available to visitors here. One can hike, horse ride, river raft, quad bike, mountain bike, abseil, glide, fish, and there are a number of golf courses from which to choose.
There are a few areas of local interest too, including the Anglo / Boer War battlefield sites of Spioenkop, and Winston Churchill’s capture and ambush site - all this only two hours from Durban and three-and-a-half hours from Johannesburg.
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Champagne Valley Reviews
"Our honeymoon was in Champagne Valley and it was just perfect! Its so romantic as its very quiet and secluded. And everything around us was just amazingly ..." - Vanessa Ashby, Knysna
Visitorials: We Love South Africa
Champagne Valley Visitorial
I Love Champagne Valley because ...
Featured in: Visitorials: We Love South Africa
We’ve asked those in the know to share their favourites things about Champagne Valley. Find out where locals go for the best cup of coffee, lunch suggestions and much more. We’re letting you in on all of their secrets ... I Love Champagne Valley because ...
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Featured Attractions in (or near) Champagne Valley
Cathedral Peak State Forest
The Cathedral Range, with its numerous free standing peaks and magnificent mountain scenery, is one of the most favoured parts of the Berg for backpacking and rock climbing. Bordered in the north and north-west by the Upper Tugela Location and in the south by the Mdedelelo Wilderness, the area is ... more information
Central Drakensberg
The beautiful Drakensberg range or Dragon Mountains, also known in Zulu as uKhahlamba or barrier of spears, is a voluminous stretch of mountains that covers over 1 000 kilometres from south-west to north-east, lying mostly in KwaZulu-Natal. Collectively this is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site... more information
Champagne Sports Resort Golf Course
Situated in the Central Drakensberg at Champagne Sports Resort this course has recently been extended to an 18-hole layout designed by Huch Biaocchi. The backdrop of Cathkin and Champagne Peaks makes it one of the most scenic courses in South Africa and it is a fair challenge for the low handicapper ... more information
Drakensberg Gardens
In the southern foothills of the Drakensberg the Gardens Area might be, but the views from here of the towering peaks of the Dragon Mountains is pretty spectacular. This is the part of the Drakensberg that benefits from all the flowing rivers that gush down the sides of the mountains, making the valleys rich with rivers... more information
Monks Cowl Country Club
Named after the Monks Cowl outcrop on the nearby mountain range, the Monks Cowl Country Club offers the chance to play its scenic golf course against wonderful views of the Drakensberg. This picturesque Monks Cowl Golf Course is nestled in the magnificent Champagne Valley with views of the ... more information
Monks Cowl State Forest
Monks Cowl is the gateway to some of the most magnificent mountain Wilderness areas in South Africa. Taking its name from the distinctive mountain between Champagne Castle and Cathedral Peak, Monks Cowl marks the access to the Mlambonja and Mdedelelo mountain Wilderness areas ... more information
Northern Drakensberg
People are divided when it comes to delineating the Northern Drakensberg. There are those who speak of its borders as the Natal Drakensberg National Park in the north, down to Cathedral Peak in the south, whilst others extend its upper western reaches to include the Golden Gate... more information
Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve
Lying virtually at the foot of the rugged Spioenkop Mountain, the dam was the site of one of the most bloody battles to ensue during the Anglo-Boer War in an attempt to lift the Siege of Ladysmith, Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve is 4 400 hectares of thorn savannah that contrast magnificently with the ... more information
Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park
The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park has exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts. Rolling high altitude grasslands, the pristine steep sided river valleys and rocky gorges also contribute to the beauty of this world heritage site ... more information
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Things To Do in Champagne Valley
Rainbow Gorge Trail
Where: Cathedral Peak
How much (per person): On Request
The Rainbow Gorge Trail is another hike that showcases the Drakensberg Mountain Range and Cathedral Peak. The beauty of this area is unrival ... more information
White Water Tubing or Geckoing
Where: Champagne Valley
How much (per person): R101 to R200
Tube down a 450m stretch of class 1 rapids twice - almost a kilometre of fun - something the whole family can enjoy - Champagne Castle Adven ... more information
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Restaurants in Champagne Valley
Scrumpy Jacks
Where: Champagne Valley
Travel along the R600 on your way to the Champagne Valley and you'll find Scrumpy Jacks adjacent the Nest Hotel and opposite the turn off to Ardmore Guest Farm. Well known to all who travel this r ... more information
The Valley Bakery
Where: Champagne Valley
Valley Bakery, Coffee Shop and Art Gallery is situated on the R600 which leads to the Champagne Valley in the Central Drakensberg. Filled to the brim with tasty treats, fresh pastries, cakes and t ... more information
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Events and/or Festivals in Champagne Valley
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On Holiday in Champagne Valley
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