The 4 Day Champagne Castle Hike

The 4 Day Champagne Castle Hike leaves from the Monk’s Cowl car park. I like to stay at Monks cowl camp site the night before so that we can get an early start walking up the mountains. On the first day, we walk past the Sphinx and then head on to lunch with a view at Blind Man’s Corner. After lunch, we have a gentle stroll along the contour path for about 3 km and start to get our very first views of the magnificent Champagne Castle.

This hike is an opportunity to enjoy some of the most beautiful parts of the Drakensberg with us!

Until now it had been hiding behind Cathkin Peak…

This night, we camp in the valley at Keith Bush Camp with these huge cliffs and mountains that tower above us, so it is quite beautiful. From our campsite we can easily see the famous Monks Cowl Peak that Keith Bush, after whom the camp is named, fell from.  Here we can also see the stunning Dragons Back. Up ahead is Gray’s Pass which we will use to get to the top of the Drakensberg Escarpment.

I like to take 4 days to do the Champagne Castle Hike, and we camp on top of the pass near Vultures Retreat.

However if you are pushed for time, the Champagne Castle Circuit Hike can be done in 3 days with just 1 day spent walking up and down Gray’s Pass.

Once on top of Grays pass, we walk up the 3rd highest peak in South Africa,

Champagne Castle is 3377m above sea level, and the views from up there are amazing. We can look South past Injisuthi and on the Giant’s Castle and North past Cathedral Peak and even see the Devils Tooth. Gray’s Pass is 4 km long and rises 900m above Keith Bush Camp. Short and sweet. Once on top, we have lunch at the small Nkosazana River and then take a walk to the top of Champagne Castle. There is also a big Cape Vulture colony which is well worth a visit. Plus the Nkosazana River falling over the edge is beautiful. Check here to see how to prepare for your hike.

The Zulus also call Monks Cowl Nkosazana, the “Princess”.

After a lovely night under African stars on top of Grays Pass, we head back down and along the contour path to camp near Blind Mans corner. Finally, the last day is a stroll back to the cars at Monks Cowl arriving in time for tea. And there we have the Champagne Castle Hike.

• Intermediate-Challenging Drakensberg Hike

The 4 Day Mnweni Circut Hike

The Mnweni circuit hike is certainly my favorite part of the Drakensberg. Usually we stay at the Mnweni cultural center the night before and enjoy a braai while being in the mountains. We leave our cars at the Mnweni cultural center and get a lift to the end of the dirt road. Here we start off along one of the most beautiful valleys in the Drakensberg mountains. In the spring the flowers are absolutely stunning.

We cross the Ntonjelana river a few times so can have a dip in some of the pools and have lunch next to a small forest of Protea trees. About 2 hours after lunch we make camp at the ‘station” below Rockeries Pass. Here we have huge cliffs all around us with Rockeries pass on one side and Nguzu pass on the other. Up above us is the amazing Cape vulture colony. We can even see the huge birds circling above us. Check here to see how to prepare for your hike with Drakensberghiker.

Day 2 is up Rockeries pass in time for lunch at the top. Only 3km long but we climb from 2200m to 2950m above sea level. The mighty Orange/Senqu river is nearby waiting for a visit. Then after a 1 hour stroll we arrive at our camp near a huge Cape vulture colony overlooking the whole Mnweni valley 1000m below.

This is one of my favorite places in the world.

Up close with nature and lovely quiet views. Day 3 is along the escarpment behind the Saddle for lunch at Alice’s restaurant while enjoying the stunning views. We can see all the way from the Devils tooth near the Ampitheater to Cathkin peak near Champagne castle. Along the way we pass a lovely pool where sweaty people can cool off. After lunch we head back down Ntonjelana Pass to camp near another mountain stream.

Finally the last day is short back to our cars waiting at the end of the valley. We have just hiked the Mnweni circuit hike in the Northern Drakensberg. Home to my Zulu porters.

Intermediate to Challenging Drakensberg Hike