Drakensberg House - Champagne Valley Sleeps 1-8 persons.

In the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE - Drakensberg House is differentiated by its quality, 50m from the resort it offers a unit rate for 1 to 8 guests, maximum of all ages. Safe and secure it is a security-patrolled estate where all kinds of African wildlife abound. Zebra, Impala and Wildebeest roam free, a unique “Vulture restaurant” where at feeding time, invitations extend to the rare and endangered Cape Vulture. Drakensberg House is a stone cottage with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Beneath, Cathkin Peak 3181m & Champagne Castle 3.337m lies the beautiful setting of Drakensberg House, a stone cottage in the Champagne valley of the Central drakensberg. Offering a unit rate for 1-8 guests of all ages inside the “Unesco World Heritage Site”. A security-patrolled estate within the Drakensburg sun Resort boundary. With all kinds of African wildlife, Wildebeest roam freely on the slopes and uniquely there is a “vulture restaurant” where at feeding time, invitations extend to the rare and endangered Cape vulture.

Drakensberg House is a four bedroomed and three bathroom cottage on the slopes of the berg. There is a separate apartment which sleeps two guests to a total of 8 persons, of all ages. We would not rent the property to more than one family or group at any given time. The cottage has a traditional wood-burning stove and a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge, dishwasher, microwave, hob and gas plates. There is an open-plan dining room with a four-seater dining table and a comfortable lounge. The patio includes a 8 seater table & benches There is just under an acre of manicured gardens with an outdoor braai and a seating area. There is adequate covered parking. A maximum of eight persons of all age groups is allowed and a minimum 3 night stay.

Taking a walk in the garden or the surrounding area you may stumble across blue wildebeest, duiker, blesbok, Egyptian geese, servals, porcupines, jackals, baboons, vervet monkeys and several species of mongoose, as well as Cape clawless otters. We are just a stone’s throw from international hotels with swimming pools, a lake, boating, fishing, canopy tours, hot-air ballooning, helicopter rides, hiking, tennis, squash, bowls, pub and golf.
Johannesburg 3hours /Durban 2-2.5hrs
Surrounded by 100 year old oaks, secure, private and of a quality above the average.
The region is the jewel in South Africa's tourism portfolio with activities aplenty. Hot air ballooning, helicopter rides into Lesotho, canopy tours , numerous golf courses, hiking, fishing, canoeing. The famous Drakensberg Boys Choir performs to audiences in season. At the discretion of the Drakensberg Sun Resort and a mere 50m from the cottage are the pub, pool and restaurant facilities.
The Drakensberg mountains border Lesotho and runs down to the Eastern and Southern Cape. The peak reach over 3000m. 'The Mountain of Dragons” is the highest peak in Southern Africa and is where the mighty Tugela River rises on the Mont-aux-Sources Plateau, cascading & forming the “Tugela Falls”. Ukhahlamba is the Zulu word for “Barrier of Spears”, once home to ancient Khoi San hunter-gatherers. Their legacy of 35 000 rock art paintings is a reminder of the fate of these small and resourceful people. Now a world heritage site in 2000 its diverse climatic conditions give rise to a flora and fauna unique to the Drakensberg region. Playing host to a large number of smaller animals including small antelope, reptiles, Lynx, African wildcat, black-backed jackals, Cape fox, large spotted genets, eagles vultures and the endangered lammergeyer. Eland can be found within the reaches of some of the National Parks. Home of the famous . Falcon Ridge - bird of prey sanctuary.
HIKING AND WALKS IN THE CHAMPAGNE VALLEY AND FURTHER.
LOCAL FROM DRAKENSBERG HOUSE
The Monk's Cowl is the starting point to the spectacular peaks. If you're looking for a good, easy walk, try the Hlathikulu forest trail as it winds through indigenous forests and the spectrum of Drakensberg wild flowers. Rest in the mist at the base of the magnificent Nandi's Falls and explore the pools along the Mpofane river.
Another great day hike takes you up past the sandstone rock faces of the valley to the grasslands at the base of Cathkin peak where Rhebuck, Eland and bird life flourish.
For fit hikers, two mountain peaks can be reached on day hikes. Rock scrambling at the end of a four hour ascent will put you on the top of Sterkhorn (2970 m) -- a stone's throw from mighty Catkhin peak and perched over the Mwhlazini river valley. The views are fantastic and you'll be able to see the Devil's Tooth at the Amphitheatre in the north and Giant's Castle in the south.
Toughing it is the 10 hour round trip that will take you up to the plateau of Champagne Castle (3337 m), one of the highest mountains in the Drakensberg. Here you can rest at the top of a 1000 m drop and watch rare bearded vultures circle before heading back down Gray's Pass.
A DRIVE AWAY
• The Cathedral Peak area is defined by a freestanding set of peaks extending from the escarpment, and is a 45 minute drive from Inkosana Lodge. Try the day walk to Rainbow Gorge where the spray from waterfalls form beautiful rainbows. Hard-core hikers can try the day hike to the top of Cathedral Peak (3007 m), one of the best day walks in the Drakensberg.
• The Injasuthi area holds the highest peak in the Drakensberg and is especially notable as having one of the best sites of Bush men rock art in the area. This art can be explored with a guided walk to Battle Cave, which displays a battle scene between two Bushmen tribes. Injasuthi is only 45 minutes by car.
• Royal Natal National Park is 90 minutes north and lies at the northern end of the Drakensberg range, at the base of the Amphitheater. Day hike up the beautiful Tugela river gorge, or drive an additional hour and walk up to and along the top of the escarpment to the Tugela falls, second highest waterfall in Africa!
• Giant's Castle is another great site for Bushman rock art, with the caves only a 1.5 km walk from the entrance gate. Here you'll also find a museum which recreates Bush men life. Serious hikers can reach the top of the Drakensberg escarpment via Langalibalele Pass.