Champagne Castle
| Champagne Castle | ||
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 Cathkin Peak in the foreground and Champagne Castle on the left in the background, shrouded in clouds. |
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| height | 3377 m | |
| location | South Africa | |
| Mountains | Drakensberg | |
| Coordinates | 29 ° 4 '53 " S , 29 ° 19' 41" O | |
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| rock | basalt | |
| particularities | Second highest mountain in South Africa | |
The Champagne Castle is a mountain in the Drakensberg and with 3377 m the second highest peak in South Africa . It is surrounded by a number of other peaks, including Giant's Castle (3315 m), Cathkin Peak (3149 m), Monk's Cowl (3229 m), Sterkhorn (2973 m), Mount Memory and Dragon's Back.
First ascent
The first ascent took place in the early years of the 20th century by Reverend AH Stocker and his brother FR Stocker. You were also the first to climb the Sterkhorn.
Origin of the name
The story of the naming goes back to the two mountaineers David Gray and Major Grantham, who wanted to celebrate the ascent of the summit with a bottle of champagne, which, however, broke on a rock, whereupon the mountain was named Champagne Castle.
Location and surroundings
Champagne Castle is located in the central Drakensberg near the village of Winterton.
Routes to the summit
Experienced hikers can reach the summit in two days. The tours generally start at Monk's Cowl Camp, lead up to the base of Cathkin Peak and from there along a contour path to Keith Bush Camp on the Mhlwazini River. Most hikers spend the night there. The ascent on the second day is over the very steep Gray's Pass, at the end of which you reach the summit plateau.
Web links
- Champagne Castle at Peakware (English)