Champagne Valley

Drakensberg, South Africa

Home to Drakensberg Sun Resort, suited for families and couples after a day on the trails.

Places in Champagne Valley

Drakensberg Sun Resort cafe Comfortable facilities for families and couples after a day on the trails.

Best time to visit: March to May (autumn foliage) and December to February (summer wildflowers) offer the most scenic hiking conditions, while June to August brings snow and winter sports.
Getting around: Cathedral Peak, Champagne Valley, Cathkin Valley, and the Spioenkop Nature Reserve area are the main lodging hubs, each offering different trailhead access into the 1,000-kilometre range.
Currency: South African Rand (R)
Language: English, Afrikaans, isiZulu and isiXhosa are all widely spoken.
Timezone: SAST (UTC+2)
Current trends: The Drakensberg's lodge scene continues to centre on multi-day hiking bases, with Cathedral Peak Hotel's direct-below-the-peak position and Cathedral Peak Wine Estate's tastings anchoring the range's most popular hiking hub, while the Chain Ladders route to Tugela Falls remains the signature trek for reaching the world's second-highest waterfall.

Cathedral Peak district — Home to Cathedral Peak Hotel, situated directly below the peak, and the Cathedral Peak Wine Estate.
Cathkin Valley / Spioenkop district — Home to Inkungo Lodge and Spion Kop Lodge, backing onto the Spioenkop Nature Reserve.