CHAMPAGNE VALLEY Attractions

KwaZulu Natal Destinations

Champagne Valley, Drakensberg

Hiking in the 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.

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

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

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

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

Visit African Loom

Where: Champagne Valley
How much (per person): Free to Browse

A showcase for the talents of local Zulu women, our business thrives on the sound relations with the women who produce the warm and vibrant ... more information

Ardmore Ceramic Art Studio

Where: Champagne Valley
How much (per person): Free to Browse

The vibrant ceramics of Ardmore, ranging from functional domestic ware to sculptural art in the decorative African tradition, offer a fine i ... more information

On Holiday in Champagne Valley

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Champagne Valley

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