Giant’s Cup Hiking Trail
When I received the invite to join a group of friends to hike the Giant’s Cup Trail, I had to search for information about it – I had never heard of it. The lack of information and photos made the experience even more special – this trail is stunning!
Beauty: 5/5
Difficulty: 7/10
Technical rating: Standard trail walking with one or two rocky sections that require balance and sure-footedness. Small river crossings.
Distance: 59.3km
As far as I know, the Giant’s Cup Trail is the only fully “hutted” trail in the Drakensberg. This, combined with glorious panoramic views, grassy plains, spectacular valleys with beautiful streams and pools, weathered rock formations, varied terrain, and a well-laid-out, well-marked trail, makes for a 5-star hiking experience.
The scenic landscape of the Giant’s Cup Trail.
Getting There
There are no overnight huts at the start of the trail, so coming from Cape Town, we spent a night in the Himeville Arms Hotel, which was functional, albeit a bit neglected. The Sani Lodge Backpackers might be a better option.
The trail is not circular, so transport needs to be arranged to get back to your vehicles.
Day 1: Sani Pass to Pholela Hut (13.3km)
A 20-minute drive from Himeville, up the start of the Sani Pass, got us to the trailhead. We hadn’t even begun hiking and were already in awe of the picturesque views.
Day 1 is the longest but not particularly challenging. It starts with a gentle climb and then descends to Ngenwa Pool, which makes for a great lunch spot. Alternatively, you can continue another 2km to a viewpoint.
Ngenwa Pool
The views just kept coming as we traversed from one valley to the next. Any thoughts or stresses about work completely disappeared in the wide-open landscape and breathtaking beauty.
After dropping down to the Pholela Valley, we reached Pholela Hut – an old farmhouse with electricity and hot showers – a very pleasant surprise at the end of Day 1.
Pholela Hut
Day 2: Pholela Hut to Mzimkhulwana Hut (9km)
Shortly after leaving Pholela Hut, the trail ascends to a plateau – all the huts are in valleys, so each day starts with a warm uphill stretch.
We took a break at Tortoise Rocks and enjoyed magnificent views.
We were excited to spot a couple of Bearded Vultures gliding above us. These endangered birds stand almost a metre tall with a wingspan of over 2 metres!
Bearded Vulture in flight above the trail
The trail then descends towards Mzimkhulwana Hut – the descent was, once again, breathtaking.
The Siphongweni River flows very close to the hut and has a lovely pool for cooling down after a hot day.
Day 3: Mzimkhulwana Hut to Winterhoek Hut (12.2km)
Day 3 dawned sunny and warm, which made for a sweaty start as we ascended towards Little Bamboo Mountain. Then, as if on cue, we came to Crane Tarn – a beautiful mountain pool in the middle of a grassy field, perfect for coffee and a swim.
Crane Tarn
The path along Killiecrankie Stream is picturesque, passing a few waterfalls as it descends into the valley.
The final stretch includes 2km of tarred road and a steep hill, but the stunning Winterhoek Hut location makes it all worth it.
Winterhoek Hut beneath Garden Castle
The view from Winterhoek Hut
Day 4: Winterhoek Hut to Swiman Hut (12.8km)
Day 4 starts with a 300m ascent in the first 4km, rewarded with spectacular views from the top of Black Eagle Pass.
Views from Black Eagle Pass
We noticed a change in flora as we entered the Garden Castle section, with Protea trees dotting the slopes. The route offers striking views of Rhino Peak (3051m).
Rhino Peak seen from the trail
We had been lucky with the weather, but by the time we reached the flat grassland towards Swiman Hut, the rain finally caught up with us.
Swiman Hut is advertised as having hot showers and a shop, but both were out of order when we arrived. Despite this, we enjoyed a cozy evening by the fire as the lightning flashed outside.
Day 5: Swiman Hut to Bushman’s Nek
The rain continued into Day 5, and with limited visibility we pushed on steadily. After a climb to about 2100m ASL, we reached Langalibalele Cave – the perfect shelter for a break from the rain.
Langalibalele Cave
After a warm drink and some snacks, we hiked the final 3km to Bushman’s Nek, where our car awaited.
Conclusion
The Giant’s Cup Trail, in my opinion, is right up there with the Otter Trail and deserves more attention. It’s the perfect trail for first-time visitors to the Drakensberg and should be added to the list of “must-do” hiking trails in South Africa.
Booking & Info
Permits can be obtained through the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Reservations Office:
Tel: 033 845 1000
Email: bookings@kznwildlife.com
For more information, consult the Giant’s Cup Trail information booklet and download a map of the trail here.