Things to do near Monks Cowl and the Champagne Valley | Ondini
Walks, the Drakensberg Boys Choir, birds of prey, horse riding, spas and restaurants, with distances from Ondini's gate at the top of the Champagne Valley.
Everything is closer from the top of the valley
Ondini sits at the head of the Champagne Valley, where the R600 ends and the mountains begin. Most of what people drive into the valley for is a few minutes from our gate.
Walk
| Walk | From our gate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monks Cowl gate and the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park | 2 km | Permits at the gate [confirm hours and fees] |
| Sterkspruit Falls | [x] km | [Easy; swimming in summer] |
| The Sphinx | [x] km | [Moderate] |
| Breakfast Stream | [x] km | [Moderate] |
| Blind Man's Corner | [x] km | [Full day] |
A registered mountain guide can be booked for any of these. Ask us.
See and do
| Activity | From our gate |
|---|---|
| Falcon Ridge birds of prey | 1 km |
| Drakensberg Boys Choir concerts (Wednesdays and many Saturdays in term) | 3 km |
| Drakensberg Wellness Spa (also comes to Ondini) | 1 km |
| Khotso Horse Trails, Four Rivers Rafting, canopy tours, helicopter flips | 7–17 km |
| Golf at Champagne Sports | [x] km |
| [Chocolate factory, crafts, brewery — your favourites] | [x] km |
Eat
| Restaurant | From our gate | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Champagne Castle Hotel | 250 m | [Group dinners] |
| Dragon View | [x] km | [ ] |
| Thokozisa | 18 km | [ ] |
| Swallowfield | [x] km | [ ] |
Further afield
Didima and the San rock art of Cathedral Peak; the battlefields of Spioenkop, Ladysmith, Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift; Winterton (28 km) for shops and fuel.
Seasons in the Berg
Summer (November–February): green, warm, afternoon thunderstorms; walk early. Autumn (March–May): clear, settled, the best walking. Winter (June–August): crisp days, cold nights, snow on the peaks and fires every evening. Spring (September–October): wildflowers and new growth after the first rains.
[Check the seasons note against your own experience.]