Around the Valley
On most days at iKhayalamafu, the mountain is enough. Sooner or later, though, someone wants a proper milkshake, a jar of local honey or simply a reason to drive down into the valley. The Champagne Valley has plenty of those. These are the places I send guests, starting with my own favourites.
My favourite stops
If I could only choose one, it would be Scrumpy Jack’s. Marelize, the owner, welcomes everyone like an old friend. The menu is good, there are shelves of honey and honey products to take home, and, unexpectedly, there’s a massage section under the same roof. Plan to stay longer than you meant to.
The Waffle Hut does exactly what you’d hope, and I never leave without a slow wander around the nursery.
At Cedarwood, Little Mac’s Café is small and friendly, and you’re always greeted with a smile. Order a hot drink on a cold day or one of their milkshakes when it’s warm. Either way, you’ll leave happy.
Thokozisa is the place to browse. The shops are worth an unhurried hour for local crafts and gifts.
More to eat, drink and take home
Fresh bread from the Valley Bakery on your way up the mountain. A craft beer at Drakensberg Brewery in the afternoon. Free tastings at Drakensberg Chocolate, where walking out empty-handed takes real willpower.
If you want adrenaline
The Drakensberg looks completely different from above, and you can get up there by helicopter, hot-air balloon or, for the brave, a skydive. Back on the ground, Four Rivers Adventures runs quad biking, river trips, archery and ziplining. Vertical Rush handles abseiling and climbing, and the Drakensberg Canopy Tour sends you along cables across cliff faces and over forest streams.
Slower days
Play nine holes at Monk’s Cowl Golf with the Berg as your backdrop, or watch eagles and falcons in flight at Falcon Ridge. Catch the Drakensberg Boys Choir if there’s a performance on. Dragon Rock Reptile & Nature Centre gives you a close look at the valley’s scalier residents, and the small Winterton Museum fills in the area’s history.
Then come home
Whatever you get up to, the drive back up to the reserve is the best part of the day. Stock up while you’re down there, because the cabins are self-catering. And if you’d rather not leave at all, the hiking starts at your door.
Tiffany, Property Manager
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