Things to Do in Champagne Valley

An easy 35-kilometre drive from Ladismith or 14 kilometres from Winterton will get you to Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve, a popular weekend getaway for watersport junkies. The savannah landscape around the dam is home to interesting wildlife including white rhino, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, numerous antelope and prolific bird life. The views from the summit of Spioenkop Mountain are breathtaking. You can spend hours gazing out over lush green plains to the mesmerising Drakensberg peaks extending from Giant’s Castle to the Sentinel in Royal Natal Park. The Discovery Trail presents two wonderful hiking options, a 3 or 6 kilometre loop around the southern shore in an area free of dangerous game. Various picnic sites are dotted around the dam’s edge.

Sublime mountain scenery and exhilarating hiking steals the show at Giant's Castle Nature Reserve, but that’s not all this historic park has to offer. Giant's Castle is home of the largest antelope in Africa, the eland, and the impressive bearded vulture. Watch these broad-winged beauties and some of South Africa’s rarest birds swoop down for meaty treats at the Vulture Restaurant during the winter season. Situated in the central region of the UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the reserve is a spectacular fusion of grassy plateau and deep valleys careering down from the lofty Drakensberg peaks. Other attractions are the rather commercialised but wonderful rock-art sites and the Main Caves Museum, providing alluring glimpses into the past lifestyle of the San people.

The lofty spire of Cathedral Peak soars above several craggy pinnacles of the Cathedral range. This region of magnificent mountain vistas is one of the favourites in the ‘Berg’ for hiking and rock climbing. The most trodden hiking trails include Cathedral Peak, the Organ Pipes and Ndedema Gorge boasting a variety of San rock art. The landscape is dominated by what is known as the massive Ridge of the Horns. Stretching four kilometres, this range features some of the most spectacular peaks in South Africa including Cathedral Peak, Bell, Outer Horn, Inner Horn and the Chessmen. If you have a 4WD vehicle venture to the top of Mike’s Pass to see superb views of the Central Drakensberg. The Rainbow Gorge as well as the Didima Resort and San Art Centre; an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Project is well worth a visit. Photo credit: Cathedral Peak Hotel.

Weenen Game Reserve presents many scenic and game viewing opportunities for visitors on foot or from their vehicle. The Bushman’s River surges through a spectacular gorge carved into undulating hills and valleys of KwaZulu-Natal thornveld. Black and white rhino as well as giraffe, red hartebeest, eland, zebra, kudu, ostrich and common reedbuck have been re-introduced. Other species to spot include grey duiker, bushbuck, steenbok, mountain reedbuck, hyena and black-backed jackal. With more than 251 bird species, stunning scenery and the rich wildlife and vegetation, Weenen is growing in popularity as a small but worthwhile wildlife destination for both day trippers and stopovers. Features include a hide at one of the waterholes, a vulture feeding site and three picnic sites all equipped with braai facilities, one with a magnificent view site. Accommodation facilities at the camp include 12 camping or caravan sites, some with electricity connections; and ablution facilities. There is also a fully-equipped cottage with a braai spot and an exclusive picnic site next to a waterhole. Weenen has three self-guided trails, and guided walks can be arranged.

Royal Natal National Park easily features some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Africa. The star of the show is the famous Amphitheatre, a massive 500-metre high rock wall that stretches for five kilometres. Standing like a sentinel above the Amphitheatre is Mont-aux-Sources peak. From here, Tugela Falls, the second highest waterfall in the world cascades down the face of the Amphitheatre on its journey to the Indian Ocean. The park is a hiker’s paradise offering a network of hiking paths ranging from a gentle stroll to Fairy Glen and the challenging Crack and Mudslide. A detailed hiking guide is available at the visitor centre, Thendele Camp office and the main entrance gate. Trout fishing is also a popular activity with options of the Mahai River, Thukela River or in a dam. There are some lovely spots for picnicking and swimming in sparkling mountain streams. Rugged Glen stables offer horse rides into the mountains with stunning views and sightings of mountain reedbuck and grey rhebuck.

Tick off the highest waterfall in Africa and the planet's second highest waterfall in the Drakensberg (Dragon's Mountains). The Tugela Falls drops 947 meters down the rock-face of the Amphitheatre in three free-leaping falls. The source of the Tugela River is at Mont-Aux-Sources, several kilometres from where the falls cascade down. Situated in the Royal Natal National Park, the falls are easily seen after heavy rains from the main road into the park. The best time for viewing is during the summer rainfall season. Two superb hiking trails lead to the Tugela Falls. The most spectacular trail is a full day walk to the summit of Mount-Aux-Sources and to the top of the falls. The other trail leads to the foot of the falls up the Tugela Gorge though indigenous forest. A climb up a small chain ladder takes you to a stunning view of the falls rushing down the Amphitheatre in a series of spectacular cascades. KZN Wildlife +27 (0) 33 845 1999

The vast expanse of water which is the Sterkfontein Dam lies a few kilometres from the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment in the topmost reaches of the Vaal Dam catchment on the Nuwejaarspruit. The cool, fresh, deep waters are ideal for trout and other fish and it is a popular angling spot. It is the third largest dam in South Africa providing a perfect playground for sailing and other watersports. The surrounding landscape is scenically stunning - characterised by rugged mountains, lush ravines and rolling grasslands.In this beautiful setting is the Sterkfontein Dam Reserve covering 18 000 hectares. Perfect for long walks, hiking (there is a two-day hiking trail) and biking, it also offers excellent game viewing and bird watching. You can tick off oribi, reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, grey rhebuck, the bald ibis, the blue and whitebellied korhaan, the buffstreaked chat, the ground woodpecker and the sentinel. Gaze up to the sky and you could spot bearded and Cape vultures as well as Verreaux's (black) and martial eagles soaring. Secretary birds can also be spotted in treetops or stalking in the grasslands.The precipitous ravines are populated with yellowwood, wild peach, koko, silky bark, and black bark trees as well as bush guarri. Wild grape has twined into the tree tops where they form a dense leafy canopy. Fungi and lichen nestle against living and rotten tree trunks. Mountain slopes are adorned with wild myrtle, redwood, ouhout, hush guarri, highveld protea, silver sugarbush and the scarce tree fern.

The spectacular Nambiti Private Game Reserve offers a malaria-free wilderness retreat near the southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal. Guests can experience the romance, adventure and excitement of Africa in this private reserve that is home to the Big Five. Along with exciting sightings of lion, elephant, leopard and buffalo, you have the opportunity of seeing cheetah, numerous hippos, zebra and numerous species of antelope. Nambiti also features amazing biodiversity, supporting savannah, grasslands, thornveld and acacia veld. A number of rare bird species will keep ardent birders scanning the sky and bushveld for many hours. Of course, you could just sit back, relax and watch as Africa unfolds from one of the nine luxurious lodges on the reserve.

The Platberg Stadium lies at the foot of a great Eastern Free State landmark - the 9 kilometre long, 2 377 metre high Platberg Mountain. This majestic mountain range forms a stunning backdrop to the stadium.

Have a blast in the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg. Situated 4 km from the country village of Underberg, Sani Spoors is the ideal mountain biking and trail running venue. The diverse trails range from single track through pine forests to riverbanks, offering some of the finest mountain biking trails in KwaZulu-Natal. The routes are on private property; traversing farmlands, pine plantations, the Mzimkulu River and open pastures. Routes of 3 km, 8 km, 10 km and 15 km are colour coded and clearly marked. All routes start from the Sani Spoors office where a permit must be obtained and clearly displayed before setting off.

Madiba fans and struggle history buffs all make their political pilgrimage to the Mandela Capture Monument. This significant site is where the world's most famous anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela, was apprehended while driving incognito from Durban to Johannesburg. On the 5th of August 1962 Mandela was arrested at a point on the main R103 near Lions River and was imprisoned in the Johannesburg Fort. He had been on the run from the Security Police for seventeen months. The monument has been erected at this spot, the place where he said goodbye to freedom for 27 years.Need to know? Look for the road sign on the R103.

The Funky Cow is a quaint, eclectic little shop rooted in Underberg opposite the local Spar. Its well worth a visit as it sells gorgeous traditional Basotho blankets (since they’re on the border of Lesotho and the famous Sani Pass). You’ll also find funky jewellery, antiques, vintage clothing, awesome gifts and souvenirs to take home.

Situated just seven kilometres from Howick and 24 kilometres from Pietermaritzburg, the Midmar Dam Nature Reserve is a great spot for locals and visitors alike. The large fresh water dam is fed by the uMngeni River, offering a fun water sports and fishing venue. Day trippers often make use of numerous shady picnic areas and braai facilities along the shoreline. Windsurfing, canoeing, swimming and mountain biking are popular activities around the Midmar Dam. In certain areas it is zoned for yachts and powerboats. The world’s largest open water swimming event, the Midmar Mile, draws over 16 000 international and local competitors annually to swim the dam in record time. The reserve is also home to numerous red hartebeest, blesbok, reedbuck, black wildebeest, oribi and zebra. Carp, bass, scalies and bluegill fish proliferate in the dam. Pick up a freshwater fishing licence at the office near the entrance gates. Below the dam, the uMngeni River plummets over the Howick Falls on its way to the Indian Ocean.