Giant's Cup Trail Hike

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IMGP0958 The Giants Cup trail is the only established trail in the Drakensberg. The hike is over 5 days (and 5 nights accommodation in the Drakensberg) and is 58.9km's in total. The first day is 12.8 km's and you stay in Pholela Hut. Day two is 8.8 km's and you stay in Mzimkhulwana Hut. Day 3 is 12 km's and you stay in Winterhoek Hut. Day 4 is 11.8 km's and you stay in Swiman Hut. The final day is 12.3 km's and you stay in Bushman's Nek Hut. The next morning 1.2km to the Bushman's Nek car park.

Over the 5 days the total elevation gain is 2031m and total elevation loss is 1912m. The hike is rated difficult as its over 5 days, each day itself is rated moderate.

Listing Details

Region

Southern Drakensberg

Area

Bushmans Nek|Cobham|Garden Castle

Location (Degrees)

Start: 29°37'48.5"S 29°24'41.9"E | End: 29°50'9.30"S,29°12'26.30"E

Location (Decimal)

Start: -29.630144, 29.411628 | End: -29.835917,29.207308

Type of Hike

Overnight

Hike Grade

Difficult

Hike Distance (Km's to destination)

58.9

Total Hike Distance (Km's)

58.9

Hike Duration (to destination)

30.0

Total Hike Duration (Hrs)

30.0

Explore

Bushman Paintings, Caves, Huts, Waterfalls or Pools, Vistas

Altitude

1,642

GPX track map

Elevation (altitude) diagram of the track

Track length and Trackpoint information

Information	Calculated value
Overall distance (metric)	58.9 km
Overall distance (imperial)	36.6 miles

Elevation / altitude data (metric)

Information	Calculated value
Altitude range (highest-lowest point)	547 m
Minimum altitude (lowest point)	1609 m
Maximum altitude (highest point)	2156 m
Uphill (addition of positive altitude changes)	2031 m
Downhill (addition of negative altitude changes)	1912 m

Elevation / altitude data (imperial)

Information	Calculated value
Altitude range (highest-lowest point)	1795 ft
Minimum altitude (lowest point)	5279 ft
Maximum altitude (highest point)	7073 ft
Uphill (addition of positive altitude changes)	6663 ft
Downhill (addition of negative altitude changes)	6273 ft

Map

Reviews (2)

by Mew

November 2, 2022

Disappointed

My kids & friends have just completed this hike. The loved the scenery but it rained every afternoon. So from the 2nd they timed it better & got to the huts at lunchtime. BUT It would have been so nice to arrive at CLEAN facilities!!!! It costs nothing just to make the accommodation presentable & hot water working so that you can have a warm shower after getting drenched in the rain. Having foreigners with them, they just couldn’t understand this standard! Well nor do we!

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by Jocelyn

September 27, 2021

Giant's Cup

Great walk, with stunning views of the main berg. However the day's walking times are way out. Even our fit teenagers battled to make the days in the allotted times. Most days for adults were between 6 and 7 hours of walking, 8 including a reasonable lunch break . Start early and give your self plenty of time for the climbs, some are long and steep. The last day from Shwiman's to Bushman's is 14,5km not 12km. Would advise staying at Bushman's hut or at the nearby hotel, rather than try and leave that day. Huts are basic and could do with a little maintenance but are all in beautiful locations and very welcome at the end of the long days. Overall a good experience.

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