HIKING GIANT’S
HIKE THE 5-DAY GIANT’S CUP TRAIL IN TWO DAYS, WITH A TOUCH OF LUXURY!
HIKING GIANT’S IS THE WALKING OPTION OF THE GIANT’S CUP TRAIL EVENT
This is the perfect long-weekend for hikers are looking for a real physical challenge in the mountains in an ‘event’ style format, but without the requirement of running.
Hikers and runners will rub shoulders out on the course and swap stories over the 3 nights at Premier Resort Sani Pass. The Giant’s Cup Trail Run will be limited to 200 runners and hikers in order to preserve the unique intimacy and special camaraderie that is generated during the event.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION
DAY 1
HG 30/32 hikers start at the Bushman’s Nek Hotel and follow a short section down the district road before entering the Giant’s Cup Trail. It is then the long climb up to the high point of the day in the saddle below Langalibalele Peak at 2158m.
This is followed by the fast and flowing descent down to the Mzimude River and the short sharp climb out of the valley and the gentle descent into the Aid Station at Swiman Hut which is the 15km mark and the start point for the HG 15/12 hikers.
From Swiman the hikers undulate along the Garden Castle Ridge line towards Black Eagle Pass before the steep and technical descent down to Wintershoek Hut. From the hut there’s the small bump past the Castleburn Windmill before the drop into the finish of Day 1 at Castleburn Farm.
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Vertical Gain
Giant’s Cup Full (30/32): 1,160m
Giant’s Cup Lite (15/12): 460m
HG 30/32 hikers start from Castleburn Farm and follow the Mhlambonjwa River before the short climb over the ridge and down to the Mzimkulu river crossing. From the river starts the longest climb of the day up to Crane Tarn. The descent from Crane Tarn down to the 1st Aid Station at Mzimkulwana Hut (11km) is long and fast.
From the Hut the second climb of the day looms as hikers climb towards Bathplug Cave. After topping out the trail contours around past Tortoise Rocks and down towards the 2nd Aid Station at Cobham (20km) which is also the start for the HG 15/12 hikers.
From Cobham there is the climb up the slopes of Ndlovini before a section of undulating trail and the final drop into the Gxalingenwa Gorge. The 4km descent down the beautiful Gxalingenwa is one of the highlights of the event after which hikers reach the finish line at Premier Resort Sani Pass.
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Vertical Gain:
Giant’s Cup Full (30/32): 1,160m
Giant’s Cup Lite (15/12): 460m
DAY 2
ROUTE PROFILE
HIKING GIANT’S FULL - 30KM & 32KM
HIKING GIANT’S LITE ROUTE - 15KM & 12KM
2025 ENTRY FEE
RACE PACKAGE INCLUDES
3 nights accommodation at Premier Resort Sani Pass on a room sharing basis.
6 meals (dinners / breakfasts) including the awards dinner on the Saturday night
2 healthy lunches at the finish of each day.
Quality garments from our apparel partner The North Face.
A bespoke panorama sketch of the Berg along the Giant’s Cup Trail, hand-sketched by local author, veterinarian and renowned South African mountaineer, Dr Tod Collins.
Pre-dinner entertainment / presentations on the Friday and Saturday nights.
An afternoon of cheese and wine on the Saturday afternoon after the finish of the event.
Nutrition at the checkpoints along the route and sweeping along the trail.
A leg rub at the finish line each day from our massage therapists.
Access to full medical support during the event and an evacuation plan overseen by EKZNW that includes horses and a helicopter if required.
R500 from each entry will be donated to EKZNW and these funds will be ring-fenced and used on local projects within the Giant’s Cup biosphere.
Further donations will be made to the local branch of the Honorary Officers.
Best of all … a fully supported event along a 62km trail in a World Heritage Site.
HIKE ONLY PACKAGE
New in 2025 - the Hike Only Package which does not include accommodation, and has a limited goodie bag.
SUPPORTERS PACKAGE
A limited number of packages for supporters are available for an amount to be confirmed.
This includes 3 nights accommodation at Premier Resort Sani Pass on a sharing basis / all meals at our chosen resort (3 dinners including awards dinner & 3 breakfasts) / health lunches at end of both days. Access to cheese and wine and sundowners where applicable. Any supporters packages required must be selected at time of entry.
PAYMENT DETAILS
Payment needs to be received within 48 hours to secure the entry. If no payment is received the entry will be cancelled and you will be notified as such. You will then need to restart the entry process if you wish to enter, providing entries are still available. Only once a participant has paid in full will they have a confirmed spot in the event.
Substitutions can be made but it is the withdrawing participants responsibility to find a substitution and not that of the event organisers. A fee of R200 will be charged for all substitutions and apparel gender / size changes will only be made if stock is available. After 6 April 2025, no apparel changes will be possible. Substitutions will be accepted up until 25 April 2025. To request a substitution please contact us at info@thegiantscup.co.za.
A 90% refund is available to all entrants up until 17h00 (GMT+2) on Saturday, 29 March 2025. Thereafter no refunds will be processed unless a valid Doctor’s Certificate can be produced. Under no circumstances may someone take part under another athlete’s name. Cancellations: info@thegiantscup.co.za.
FAQ’s
WAITING LIST
Once entries are full you may register on the waiting list. If entries become available due to cancellation the waiting list will be used on a first come first served basis.
The next person on the waiting list will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to accept their entry otherwise they will be removed from the waiting list and the next in line will be contacted.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Substitutions can be made but it is the withdrawing participants responsibility to find a substitution and not that of the event organisers.
A fee of R200 will be charged for all substitutions and apparel gender / size changes will only be made if stock is available.
After 6 April 2025 no apparel changes will be possible. Substitutions will be accepted up until 25 April 2025.
To request a substitution please contact us at info@thegiantscup.co.za
REFUND POLICY
The event organisers will refund 90% of the entry fee if an entry is cancelled before 17h00 on 29 March 2025.
To request a cancellation please contact us at info@thegiantscup.co.za
Under no circumstances may someone take part under another athlete’s name, proof of identification will be required at registration.
ENVIRONMENT
RACE BENEFICIARY
The principle beneficiary of Hiking Giants is the local branch of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) based at Cobham Nature Reserve.
R500 per runner and hiker will be dedicated to this cause that will focus on local issues within the Maloti Drakensberg Park. These include alien vegetation, maintenance of the trails, funding of vital equipment for EKZNW staff and assistance with monitoring of critically endangered species such as the Bearded Vulture.
CUP FREE EVENT
Conservation is a subject close to the heart of The Giant’s Cup and as a result we take our environmental footprint very seriously. In light of this the event will be a ‘cup free’ event and all runners will be required to carry their own cup for use on the trail and at the water tables.
Please ensure that you bring your own cup or equivalent to the event.
COMPULSORY KIT
Due to the variable and potentially dangerous weather experienced in the Drakensberg the Compulsory Kit list is taken very seriously by the Organisers. We will use weather forecasts to determine the level of kit to be carried by all runners.
LEVEL 1: Clear & Fine
LEVEL 2: Cloudy / Misty with Light Rain / Drizzle
LEVEL 3: Cloudy Cold and Raining
LEVEL 4: Cloudy & Very Cold with Rain / Sleet / Snow
