Durban - It’s hard to believe that, just four hours from Joburg and 2½ hours from Durban, you will find yourself in one of Africa’s most stunning mountain wilderness areas.
Taking its name from the distinctive mountain between Champagne Castle and Cathedral Peak that resembles a priest’s attire, Monks Cowl is the gateway to the Mlambonja and Mdedelelo mountain wilderness areas.
The scenic Champagne Valley, with its beautiful grassland, craggy mountains and crisp mountain air, is home to the Gooderson Monks Cowl Golf Resort, known for its cosy atmosphere and warm log fires in winter.
As soon as it snows, many city slickers who have not experienced snow before head to the central Drakensberg and Monks Cowl to experience this spellbinding winter wonderland for themselves.
The most wonderful thing about Monks Cowl is that it is beautiful in every season.
Year round, guests at the resort can enjoy the swimming pool, adventure golf, tennis courts, a nine-hole, 18-tee golf course, as well as the children’s play area, pool, darts, and board games.
Within a 15km radius, there are horse riding, paintball, trout fishing, river rafting, quad biking, and bowling greens, as well as a bird of prey display centre and the world renowned Drakensberg Boys’ Choir.
Whether you’re in a hot-air balloon or climbing a majestic mountain, you’ll wonder at the scenery, with its rolling hills, diverse rock formations and caves that conceal some of the oldest and most fascinating rock paintings in southern Africa. These document the rich culture of the San people stretching back 400 years.
Monks Cowl is within the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site. The region covers 242 813 hectares and includes the Royal Natal National Park.
It is just a stone’s throw from the Sehlabathebe National Park in Lesotho. This is part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, a second Unesco World Heritage Site.
When surrounded by beautiful scenery, a great way to enjoy it is by hiking – and some of the best walks and trails are a 10-minute drive from Monks Cowl.
l See www.gooderson leisure.co.za or call reservations at 031 337 4222
Saturday Star