Giant's Castle

For the ruined monument on the Isles of Scilly, England, see Giant's Castle, Isles of Scilly
Giant's Castle
Giant's Castle
Location in South Africa
Highest point
Elevation 3,315 m (10,876 ft)
Listing List of mountains in South Africa
Coordinates 29°20′0″S 29°29′0″E / 29.33333°S 29.48333°E / -29.33333; 29.48333Coordinates: 29°20′0″S 29°29′0″E / 29.33333°S 29.48333°E / -29.33333; 29.48333 
Geography
Location KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Parent range Drakensberg
Climbing
Easiest route Scramble
Giant's Castle at sunrise
Panorama at Giant's Castle
Giant's Castle 3D

Giant's Castle is a mountain peak in the southern African Drakensberg in KwaZulu Natal. Giants Castle offers visitors to the regions hiking opportunities with panoramic views. The Nature Reserve offers secluded accommodation, bushman rock art with easy access for everyone and about the best base to start a Drakensberg hiking experience. The area is one of many of South Africa's adventure areas, and plays host to the Giants Challenge marathon in April each year.

Lying at the southern end of the central Drakensberg Giant’s Castle, which gets its name from the outline of the peaks and escarpment that combine to resemble the profile of a sleeping giant, is essentially a grassy plateau that nestles among the deep valleys of this part of the Drakensberg.

Giants Castle Game Reserve is considered the home of the eland as well as the bearded vulture. Another Giants Castle highlight is the superb bushman rock art at main caves which is easy to get to and well presented.

The well known vulture hide can be booked to allow up to three photographers to observe and photograph bearded vultures and Cape vultures. It needs to be booked well in advance, especially in the busy winter and spring seasons.

Hiking Trails

There are in excess of 25 walks in the Giant’s Castle Game Reserve. The 285 kilometres (177 mi) network of trails here includes 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to 30 kilometres (19 mi) hikes, spanning from 1 hour to overnight.

There are currently 14 recognized escarpment passes in the region (listed north to south):

  • Corner Pass [1]
  • Around the Corner Pass (variation route on Corner Pass with alternative summit)
  • Judge Pass[2]
  • Gypaetus Pass (opened in September 2012) [3]
  • Bannerman Pass
  • Thumb Pass (opened in 1997)[4]
  • North Hlubi Pass [5]
  • South Hlubi Pass [5]
  • Langalibalele Pass [6]
  • Bond Pass (opened in 2014) [7]
  • North Jarding/Jarateng Pass[8]
  • Central Jarding/Jarateng Pass[8]
  • South Jarding/Jarateng Pass[8]
  • Giant's Castle Pass [9]

The Bushman’s River Trail is one of the most popular walks in the reserve. Points of interest along this route include Sandstone View and the historic Rock 75, where a cook from the 75th Regiment on Foot carved the figure 75 into a boulder during the Langalibalele rebellion in 1874. The highlight of this trail is the Main Caves, with one of the best known rock-art sites in South Africa

References

  1. ↑ "Corner Pass". Vertical Endeavour.
  2. ↑ "You Be The Judge". Vertical Endeavour.
  3. ↑ Newman, Jonathan. "I Am Crazy But I Am Not Stupid". Vertical Endeavour.
  4. ↑ "Thumb Pass". Vertical Endeavour.
  5. 1 2 Newman, Jonathan. "Hlubi Passes". Vertical Endeavour.
  6. ↑ Newman, Jonathan. "Langalibalele Pass". Vertical Endeavour.
  7. ↑ Newman, Jonathan. "Bond Pass". Vertical Endeavour.
  8. 1 2 3 "Jarateng Passes". Vertical Endeavour.
  9. ↑ "Hike Report Giants Castle Giants Pass". Vertical Endeavour.
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