Every year, Champagne Castle Hotel hosts a Photo Competition open to everyone over the age of 18. First prize is a two night stay at Champagne Castle Hotel for two people.

The competition requires that all entrants submit an original photo that includes Champagne Castle (the mountain) and captures ‘a sense of place‘.

The Hotel puts a judging panel together, who select a winning photo.

This Year’s Winner

We had 283 entries this year, and our judges worked through all of them to finally get down to one winner.

Well done to Monique Pretorius

Monique’s winning photo was taken in front of the dam of our self-catering chalets. She definitely captured the magnificence, magnitude and ‘Sense of Place’ found at Champagne Castle Hotel.

Runners Up

Pieter Claassens

Matthew Frangakis

Enter Champagne Castle Hotel’s annual Sense of Place Photo Competition, and stand a chance to win a two night stay at Champagne Castle Hotel during 2026.

Enter via our online entry form by uploading your original photo that captures ‘A Sense of Place’ and includes Champagne Castle (the flat mountain to the left of Cathkin Peak mountain).

• The competition runs from 5 December 2025 – 18 January 2026.
• You can enter as many times as you’d like.
• While your photo does not have to be taken at Champagne Castle Hotel, it must include Champagne Castle (the mountain) to be considered.
• Entries close at midnight 18 January 2026.
• The Winning Entry will be selected by a panel of Judges from Champagne Castle Hotel
• The winner will be announced on the evening of 25 January 2026 on our Website, Facebook  and Instagram Pages.
• Competition Terms and Conditions are included below (the entry link is below the Terms and Conditions)

Examples from previous entrants can be found below:

THE LINK TO ENTER IS BELOW THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Competition T’s and C’s

Champagne Castle Hotel is running a ’Sense of Place’ Photo Competition (“the Competition”).

Participants in the competition are required to enter a photo (taken by themselves) that captures ‘A Sense of Place’ and includes Champagne Castle (the flat mountain to the left of Cathkin Peak).

One entrant will win a two night stay at Champagne Castle Hotel during 2026. All participants agree to be bound by the following Terms and Conditions:

• The Competition runs from 5 December 2025 to midnight on 18 January 2026 (both days inclusive). Only one person will get to win the Prize.
• To stand the chance of winning the prize as part of the Competition, participants must submit one photo that captures ‘A Sense of Place’ and must include Champagne Castle (the flat mountain to the left of Cathkin Peak).
• A participant may enter the Competition as many times as they like, but doing so does not guarantee that they will win the Prize.
• All participants must be 18 years old or older.
• The winner will be selected by means of a panel made up of 3 members of the Champagne Castle Hotel team, after the end date of the Competition, from all eligible entries which meet the requirements set out in these Terms and Conditions.
• Champagne Castle Hotel will use reasonable efforts to contact the winner using the contact details provided, during hours (08h00 to 17h00), as from 26 January 2026 – 26 February 2026 after the winning name is selected.
• All risks and ownership of the Prize shall pass to the winner on transfer / delivery thereof and hence all of Champagne Castle Hotel’s obligations in regard to the Competition as well as in regard to the Prize shall terminate. Champagne Castle Hotel will advise of delivery and/or collection arrangements in respect of the Prize at the time of contacting the selected winner.
• Should a participant not be available on the email address supplied during the time-frame stipulated or reject, forfeit or decline acceptance of the Prize, that person’s right to the Prize will be deemed to have been waived and the Prize will be forfeited.
• The Prize is not transferable and may not be used in conjunction with any other competitions.
• The Prize cannot be redeemed for cash in part or whole and is non-refundable, non-transferable and non-exchangeable.
• In the event of a dispute in regard to any aspect of the Competition and / or the Terms and Conditions, Champagne Castle Hotel’s decision will be final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
• Champagne Castle Hotel may refuse to give any Prize if the qualifying procedures or these Terms and Conditions have not been adhered to or if it detects any irregularities or fraudulent practices.
• Champagne Castle Hotel will not be obliged to notify participants that they are rejected.
• Champagne Castle Hotel will not use the winning participant’s contact details for any other purpose than for the execution of the competition only.
• Champagne Castle Hotel or any other person or party associated with the competition, their associated companies, agents, contractors and sponsors and any of its personnel involved in the competition, shall not be liable whatsoever for any loss or damage incurred or suffered (including but not limited to direct or indirect or consequential loss), death or personal injury suffered or sustained arising from either participation in the competition or from claiming the prize.
• Employees, directors and agents of Champagne Castle Hotel, their immediate families, life partners, business partners and associates and any person directly involved with the devising, producing, managing or marketing this competition are not eligible to participate and win in this competition.
• If Champagne Castle Hotel are required by law to alter or cancel any aspect of the competition or to terminate it as a result of changes in legislation, or for any reason whatsoever, will have the right to terminate the competition being offered, with immediate effect and without notice. In such event all participants hereby waive any rights which they may have against Champagne Castle Hotel.
• All information and photographs entered relating to the competition which is published on any marketing material will form part of these Terms and Conditions. In the event of any conflict between such marketing material and these Terms and Conditions, these Terms and Conditions shall prevail.

Every year, Champagne Castle Hotel hosts a Photo Competition open to everyone over the age of 18. First prize is a two night stay at Champagne Castle Hotel for two people.

The competition requires that all entrants submit an original photo that includes Champagne Castle (the mountain) and captures ‘a sense of place‘.

The Hotel puts a judging panel together, who select a winning photo.

This Year’s Winner

We had 306 entries this year, which is a new record. Our judges worked through all 306 to finally get down to one winner.

Well done to Adam Spagnoletti

His winning photo was taken during a solo hike, while completing the Sunset Trail. He definitely captured the magnificence, magnitude and ‘Sense of Place’ found at Champagne Castle Hotel.

Runners Up

Evert Wielsma

Nicci Collier

Every year, Champagne Castle Hotel hosts a Photo Competition open to everyone over the age of 18. First prize is a two night stay at Champagne Castle Hotel for two people.

The competition requires that all entrants submit an original photo that includes Champagne Castle (the mountain) and captures ‘a sense of place‘.

The Hotel puts a judging panel of 3 people together, who select a winning photo.

This Year’s Winners

This year we had 286 entrants. Well done to Sam Choles for her stunning photo that captures a ‘lonely hiker’, walking towards Blind Mans Corner.

The mountains of the Central Drakensberg are some of the most beautiful mountains in South Africa, and are filled with trails leading hikers to some incredible destinations, with absolutely stunning views.

The 3rd place image is on the back side of Champagne Castle, as you look from the Hotel. It’s a 2 or 3 day journey to get to the top of Champagne Castle (3rd highest mountain in South Africa).

During the course of the year we’ll be posting other entries from this year’s competition.

Sam Choles
1st Place

Sebastian Walker
3rd Place

Every year, Champagne Castle Hotel hosts a Photo Competition open to everyone over the age of 18. First prize is a two night stay at Champagne Castle Hotel for two people.

The competition requires that all entrants submit an original photo that includes Champagne Castle (the mountain) and captures a sense of place.

The Hotel puts a judging panel of 3 people together, who select a winning photo.

This Year’s Winner

This year we had a record 154 entrants. For those who took their pics during December / January, the weather wasn’t all that friendly. We surely must have had our wettest rain season ever, and the clouds often dominated the landscape, hiding Champagne Castle and Cathkin Peak.

In spite of this, we had some incredible photos entered, which made the task for the judging panel all the more difficult.

Well done to Kobus Reyneke for his absolutely stunning photo, that perfectly captures the ‘Sense of Place‘ our guests experience at Champagne Castle Hotel.

During the course of the year we’ll be posting other entries from this year’s competition.

Every year, Champagne Castle Hotel hosts a Photo Competition open to everyone over the age of 18. First prize is a two night stay at Champagne Castle Hotel for two people.

The competition requires that all entrants submit an original photo that includes Champagne Castle (the mountain) an captures a sense of place.

The Hotel puts a judging panel of 3 people together, who select a winning photo.

This Year’s Winners

This year we had 123 entrants. For those who took their pics during December / January, the weather wasn’t all that friendly. We’ve had one of our wettest rain seasons, and the clouds often dominated the landscape, hiding Champagne Castle and Cathkin Peak.

In spite of this, we had some of the most incredible photos entered, which made the task for the judging panel all the more difficult.

The quality of entries was so good, that in the end, it was decided that we would extend the First Prize to two deserving entrants.

Well done to Pieter Claassens and Chad Morillion for their absolutely stunning photos, that perfectly capture the Sense of Place our guests experience at Champagne Castle Hotel.

During the course of the year we’ll be posting other entries from this year’s competition.

Pieter Claassens