Saturday, September 27, 2014

Champagne Valley walking club Tuesday 30 September walk

This Tuesday 30 September the Champagne Valley walking club will be doing a moderate walk from the car park of Cathkin estates to Ardmore Guest farm and back. We will enjoy tea and scones and hospitality  at Ardmore. Meet at the Cathkin Estates Car park at 8.00 am.  All welcome. Phone Carol Knowles on 036 4681010 or 082 4946062 for details.  

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Champagne Valley walking club Tuesday 23 September walk

This Tuesday 23 September the Champagne Valley walking club will be visiting an early Iron Age site on the banks of the Bushman's River. Meet at Thokozisa at 8.00 am from where we will take cars to Moor Park for an most interesting easy walk followed by tea and a picnic. This week we will be joined by local retired geologist Jens Jacobson who always gives us a most interesting perspective on topics of this nature. All welcome. Phone Carol Knowles on 036 4681010 or 082 4946062 for further details.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Tuesday 16 September walk by Champagne Valley walking club.

This Tuesday 16 September we will be walking in the uKhahlamba world heritage site. The walk to Sterkspruit falls and on to Nandi's falls is a moderate walk of about 3 hours. Phone Carol Knowles for details 036 4681010.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Hikes in the Central Drakensberg 9 September

The Champagne Valley walking club will be visiting the Black Ox shelter on 9 September. This delightful cave, although close to the beaten track is secluded and unless one knows the whereabouts is hard to find. It contains a few Bushman paintings one of an Ox with a black head, possibly a touch up of the original. The cave although threatened by alien wattle  encroachment is in a beautiful setting with a waterfall flowing over the top and a rock pool below. The walk starts at Champagne Castle hotel at 8.00 am and is a moderate walk of about 3 hours. Please note that painted caves may only be visited by an AMAFA  approved guide. All welcome
 Phone Carol Knowles on 082 4946062 for details.    

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Tuesday 2 September walk in the Central Drakensberg.

This Tuesday the Champagne valley walking club will be visiting Barry's grave and the Blue Grotto. John Barry a pioneer mountaineer died in a tragic climbing accident in the early part of the last century and he was buried in a spot with full view of his beloved mountains. Our walk goes to the grave and starting point of the Drakensberg canopy tour and back along the Nkwakwa river via the Blue Grotto to Drakensberg sun hotel. We meet at the Drakensberg Sun Car Park at 8.00 am. Visitors welcome.Phone Carol Knowles for further details. 036 4681010 or 082 4946062

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Central Drakensberg walking club August walking schedule

The Champagne Valley walking club is a group of local hikers who do a walk in the Champagne Valley area each Tuesday. Hikes range from easy 3 hour walks to longer 7 hour hikes and visit various places of interest in the area.Visitors are welcome and will enjoy meeting the locals and the conversation ranging from "No till agriculture" to 'alien" visits with a bit of useful banter in between. Phone Carol Knowles on 036 4681010 or 0824946062
August program.


19 August- Meet at Cedarwood Village at 8.00 am. We will take cars to Cayley Lodge and walk to the painted cave above the Ama Swazi settlement and view the paintings with an AMAFA approved guide and then have morning tea on the rock ledge above.
26 August.- Meet at Champagne Castle hotel at 8.00 am. We will walk past the Henderson's house and on to the top of  Cathkin Estates to visit a small cave for tea and then back again.        

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Central Drakensberg walking club- Tuesday walk

This Tuesday 12 August we will meet at Thokosisa at 8.00 am and take cars to Drakensville for a walk to the plateau above for tea . A moderate 3 hour walk.