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Southern Drakensberg Mountains-Giant Cup 4 Nights/ 5 Days- Hiking!

Southern Drakensberg Rural I.P.A., St Johns St, Kokstad, South Africa
Excellent

from 1 review

Duration

5 days

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Group Size

10 people

Languages

___

Southern Drakensberg Mountains-Giant Cup 4 Nights/ 5 Days- Hiking! Southern Drakensberg Mountains-Giant Cup 4 Nights/ 5 Days- Hiking! Southern Drakensberg Mountains-Giant Cup 4 Nights/ 5 Days- Hiking! Southern Drakensberg Mountains-Giant Cup 4 Nights/ 5 Days- Hiking!

We offer a “luxury hiking” for the Giants Cup Trail (with all the above services) for private parties of 4 to 10 hikers per group. Departures are organized for the spring and autumn months when the weather is predictable and mostly fine – outside of the summer
Thunderstorms and cold winters. Groups are welcome to form their own parties or join one of the scheduled hikes planned for March to May, or September to November.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • After a restful night at Seaforth where you will gather for dinner the day before your hike, you will be transported to the start of the trail at the bottom of Sani Pass. The first objective is to cross the ridge between the Mkomazana and Gxalingwa valleys.

Bulk discount adult
# Discount group From adult To adult Value
1 1-3 1 3 10
Bulk discount children
# Discount group From children To children Value
1 1-3 1 3 20

Day 0

Drakensberg Gardens Valley.

Day 0

Drakensberg Gardens Valley.

Overnight at Guest Lodge.
Day 1

Day 1: Breakfast, Packed lunch and Dinner.

Day 1

Day 1: Breakfast, Packed lunch and Dinner.

(approx 13 km): After a restful night at Seaforth where you will gather for dinner the day before your hike, you will be transported to the start of the trail at the bottom of Sani Pass. The first objective is to cross the ridge between the Mkomazana and Gxalingwa valleys. Ngwenwa Pools is an ideal stop for lunch on a sunny day or, if it is raining, there is a cave a little further along the trail. After this the trail gradually ascends through attractive country into the Pholela valley, crossing a suspension bridge over the river to the Cobham reserve. You will be collected from this point for your transfer to Briar Lea farmhouse in the Cobham Valley where you will overnight.
Overnight: Guest Lodge.
Day 2

Day 2 (17 km): Breakfast, Packed lunch and Dinner.

Day 2

Day 2 (17 km): Breakfast, Packed lunch and Dinner.

This is the longest and most eventful day and you will need to make an early start to get the most out of it! You will be transported to the beginning of the day's walk at Cobham and continue the trail which ascends the Sipongweni Ridge past tortoise Rocks before traversing its southern flank and dropping down into the Mzimkulwana valley. You will see the Mzimkulwana Hut (normally the 2nd nights hut on the GC Trail) nestling beside one of the tributaries of the Umzimkulu. A good spot along the way is bathplug cave, named after a hole in the cave floor through which disappears. Observe but do not touch the Bushman paintings on the cave walls.

Try and leave Mzimkulwana Hut after an early lunch in order to complete the remainder of the day’s hike which will first take you on a long climb towards Little Bamboo Mountain. On the top of the ridge you will find a number of small vleis (tarns) where blue cranes frequent and remains of petrified forests can still be found. The trail then continues down following a pleasant stream valley with tempting swimming pools, and finally reaches the tar road of the Drakensberg Gardens Valley where you will be picked up and taken to Orchid valley for the third night.
Overnight: Guest Lodge.

Day 3

Day 3: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner.

Day 3

Day 3: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner.

(13,5km): You will need to be guided out of Orchid Valley to pick up the marked
Giants Cup Trail above Winterhoek Hut. The first half of the trail ascends the ridge to the west of Garden Castle Mountain via the scenic but steep Black Eagle Pass. Be sure to fill your water bottle before you start as there is little surface water along this section of the trail. You eventually reach an altitude of about 1900 metres between the two river valleys of the Mzimkulu and the Mzimude.
Many pleasant vistas present themselves as you follow the contour path to the top of the Drakensberg Gardens
Overnight: Guest Lodge
Day 4:

Day 4: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner.

Day 4:

Day 4: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner.

Continue the Giants Cup Hike to Bushmans Nek
The Giants Cup trail continues onto the Bushmans Nek valley, first crossing the wide Mzimude valley, climbing up to the fire station look-out, before dropping gradually down to Bushmans Nek Police Station , an official border post between South Africa and Lesotho. The trail is relatively easy walking and about 12 km in length which should get you into the hotel for lunch and an early afternoon pick up.
Overnight: Guest Lodge

Day 5:

Day 5: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner.

Day 5:

Day 5: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner.

A Climb Rhino Peak
The Rhino is a free standing 3000 meter peak standing away from the main Drakensberg Wall and towering over the Drakensberg Gardens Hotel. Very fit hikers who enjoy a challenge can hike to the top of the Rhino Horn and return in one day. They must
be prepared to start early as it’s a 10 to 11 hour hike with about 1000m ascent but the hike is non-technical (although there may be some scrabbling up the gully leading to the top of the escarpment). On clear day the views from the top are unforgettable.
Overnight: Guest Lodge.

END OF HIKE -Southern Drakensberg

  • Specialized bilingual guide
  • Private Transport
  • Additional Services
  • Insurance
  • Drink
  • Tickets

Ecotourism
Family Tours
Group Tour
Hosted tours
More than 4 days

Tour's Location

Southern Drakensberg Rural I.P.A., St Johns St, Kokstad, South Africa

What can we expect at the start of the tour?
After a restful night at Seaforth where you will gather for dinner the day before your hike, you will be transported to the start of the trail at the bottom of Sani Pass. The first objective is to cross the ridge between the Mkomazana and Gxalingwa valleys.
What happens on day 2?
This is the longest and most eventful day and you will need to make an early start to get the most out of it! You will be transported to the beginning of the day's walk at Cobham and continue the trail which ascends the Sipongweni Ridge past tortoise Rocks before traversing its southern flank and dropping down into the Mzimkulwana valley.
What is The Giants Cup trail?
The Giants Cup trail continues onto the Bushmans Nek valley, first crossing the wide
Mzimude valley, climbing up to the fire station look-out, before dropping gradually down to Bushmans Nek Police Station , an official border post between South Africa and Lesotho.
What is the Rhino Peak?
The Rhino is a free standing 3000 meter peak standing away from the main Drakensberg Wall and towering over the Drakensberg Gardens Hotel. Very fit hikers who enjoy a challenge can hike to the top of the Rhino Horn and return in one day.

Reviews

4.2/5
Excellent
Based on 1 review
Excellent
0
Very Good
1
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Poor
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Terrible
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Travis Tan

01/16/2019

Amazing Trip

The trip was such an amazing thing to experience. Everything ran smoothly and was so exciting. Our guide, Mark, was super friendly and organised and a great guy to have leading us.
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Inquiry

Owner

Ray Watt

Member Since 2024

Information Contact

Email

bookings@walkbout.com

Website

www.walkbout.com

Phone

876-630-2216

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