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Central Drakensberg · Multi-Day Hike

Champagne castle

Starting point: Monks Cowl nature reserve

Strenuous

Distance

36.8 km

Elevation Gain

+2356m

Duration

2N/3D

Difficulty

Strenuous

About this Trail

Explore the high ridges and stunning rock formations of Champagne Castle, the third-highest peak in South Africa. This strenuous trek takes hikers through forests, river valleys, and steep ascents before reaching the summit at 3,377 meters. Champagne Castle offers dramatic views and a sense of achievement few peaks in the region can match.

Trail Highlights

Crystal Falls
The Sphinx
Cathkin Peak
Sterkhorn Peak
Gatberg Peak
Grey’s Pass

Route Profile

1482 m

at 0.0 km

Alt. m1,5002,0002,5003,000
0.0 km9.2 km18 km28 km37 km

Drag the marker, or tap anywhere on the chart, to read elevation at any distance along the trail. Numbered points mark waypoints along the route.

Distance

36.8 km

Highest

3379 m

Gain

2356 m

Duration

14h 33m

Avg slope

12.8%

Max slope

122%

Difficulty

Strenuous

Crux rating

Moderate

Slope distribution

0–5% · 40%
5–10% · 21%
10–15% · 14%
15–20% · 4%
20–30% · 10%
30%+ · 11%
Advanced route statistics

Longest climb

3.1 km

Longest descent

3.1 km

Steepest climb

122%

Steepest descent

-122%

Average altitude

2454 m

Running pace

10 min/km

Climb angle

7.3°

Total descent

2356 m

Daily Breakdown

Day 1

Day 1

Moderate

Distance

Elevation Gain

Monks Cowl Car Park - Keith Bush Camp The day start with a moderate trail after you have passed the Sphinx, proceeding to breakfast stream, where you start your long relatively flat stretch to Blindman's corner. The views are 360 all round, seeing the greenery of the little Berg and the higher Berg, Cathkin Peak warmly welcomes us with its immerse shape like Table mountain. The day ends after following the contour path all the way to the bottom of Grey’s Pass, where Keith camped.

Day 2

Day 2

Moderate

Distance

Elevation Gain

Keith Bush Camp - Summit/Inkosazana River Camp Short day begins with nice breakfast with views and the steep incline up Grey’s Pass steadily. As we ascent the pass we get elevated to see the Mhlwazini Valleys and the behind of Cathkin Peak, Sterkhorn & Monks Cowl Peak. This is our summit day before we camp, leaving our backpacks along next to Inkosazane River to summit and get back to listen to the river and call it a day.

Day 3

Day 3

Moderate

Distance

Elevation Gain

Keith Bush Camp - Monks Cowl Nature Reserve A long day with an early start, before we do breakfast, we explore the golden hours from the top of Grey’s Pass next to the ledge, where we see the Monks Cowl Peak. Get back to camp, have breakfast, and start to make our way down. The trail gets easy as soon as we finish the pass, and we contour along towards civilisation.

Gallery

Where to Stay

Things to Do Nearby

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Trail Info

RegionCentral Drakensberg
Route typeOut and back
Distance36.8 km
Elevation+2356m
Duration2N/3D
Days3
DifficultyStrenuous