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Duration: | 10 Day(s) - 9 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Hiking -multi Days |
Southern Drakensberg Mountains-Giant Cup 4 Nights/ 5 Days- Hiking!
We offer "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 parties or join one of the scheduled hikes planned for March to May, or September to November.
Drakensberg Gardens Valley.
Day 0: Dinner
Be transfred from Durban /King Shaka Aiport to the Southern Drakensberg Mountains.
Overnight at Guest Lodge.
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 bridge 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 the 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 (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 night's hut on the GC Trail) nestling beside one of the tributaries of the Umzimkulu. A good spot along the way is the Bath Plug Cave, named after a hole in the cave floor that disappears. Observe but do not touch the Bushman paintings on the cave walls.
Try and leave Mzimkulwana Hut after an early lunch 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 several 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: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and Dinner.
(13,5 km): 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 meters 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: 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 a relatively easy walk 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: 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 1000 m ascent but the hike is non-technical (although there may be some scrabbling up the gully leading to the top of the escarpment). On a clear day, the views from the top are unforgettable.
Overnight: Guest Lodge.
END OF HIKE-Southern Drakensberg
Lesotho Hiking Tour-4 nights/ 5 days
Maseru is the capital and largest city of Lesotho. It is also the capital of the Maseru District. Located on the Caledon River, Maseru lies directly on the Lesotho-South Africa border. Maseru is Lesotho's capital city with a population of approximately 320,000.
The city was established as a police camp and assigned as the capital after the country became a British protectorate in 1869. When the country achieved independence in 1966, Maseru retained its status as the capital. The name of the city is a Sesotho word meaning "red sandstones". By 1824, King Moshoeshoe had established himself as King.
Day 6: Lunch and Dinner
Complete the Giants Cup hiking trail. Depart the next day from Underberg by 08H30 and travel through the small town of Swartberg. Enjoy traveling through the picturesque farmlands of East Griqualand with traditionally decorated huts along the route. A scenic drive through a bushy landscape, small forests, and farmland dotted with picturesque villages. Passing through Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, bordering on Kwa Zulu Natal before entering Lesotho via Quachas Nek border post.
Qacha's Nek is a district of Lesotho. Qacha's Nek is the capital of Camptown and the only town in the district. In the south, Qacha's Nek borders the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, and it has a short border with KwaZulu-Natal Province in the Far East.
Domestically, it borders Quthing District in the southwest, Mohale's Hoek District in the west, and Thaba-Tseka District in the northern direction.
Entering Lesotho and traveling through rural Lesotho villages, before turning right and crossing over the Orange/Senqu River. The Orange River, South Africa's major river, rises in the Drakensberg in Lesotho, where it is known as the Senqu. From where the river leaves Lesotho, it flows westward for some 2200km to where it finally flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay.
At 2.080m stop at the “Christ the King” viewpoint with a beautiful view into the valley below and the mountains around. Cross over the Orange River(Senqu River) river.
An exciting journey high over the summit of the Thaba Putswa Range via Makheka’s Pass and across the basalt moorland roof of Southern Africa. To the Place of Smoke”. Maletsunyane Falls is a single cataract on a tributary of the Orange River in Lesotho, 75 miles (121 km).
Overnight: at Semonkong Lodge.
Day 7- Semonkong Lodge to Ketane (5 hrs).Breakfast & Lunch-own cost. Dinner –Included!
After a hearty breakfast and collecting our packed lunches, we head back to Ketane village. The route is spectacular – even if it’s the same route, you experience different views of pony trekking in different directions. Georgina welcomes us back to Ketane. You can hike to the top of Ketane Falls in the afternoon if you did not do this on the previous occasion. This takes about 2 hrs.
Overnight: Ha Hlalele – Village Huts.
Day 8 -Ketane to Thaba Kotje (6 hrs).All Meals- Included!
The ride takes about 6 hours. It’s an easy ride as the route takes you along the top of the mountains.
Overnight: Thaba Kotje – Village Huts.
Day 9- Thaba Kotje to Malealea (7 hrs) - Breakfast, Lunch& Dinner-Included!
PLEASE NOTE: When the Makhaleng River is in flood, we have to use the bridge which will add about 2 hours to the ride.
You descend into the Valley of Paradise, where you are welcomed with hot showers and the comforts of Malealea Lodge. You can enjoy a hearty home-cooked meal and much camaraderie around the fire, in the evening.
Paradise Pass (2001m).
Overnight: Malealea Lodge.
Day 10-Breakfast & Lunch-Included (Depending on departure flight!).
Depart Malealea Lodge after breakfast, for Maseru airport. via the Gates to Paradise Pass (2001m).
Hiking Tour Ends!
Valid Passports Essential-Lesotho
If the number of people increases or decreases, the cost will be adjusted accordingly!
An additional cost is the Transfer from Durban to the Southern Drakensberg!
Included:
All meals & accommodation
Driver/Guide Fees
Mineral Water x2 bottles
Transport in 4x4 vehicle
Entry Fees
Excluded:
Personal expenses & Insurance
Beverages & Alcohol
Sleeping bags
Day Packs
General Information
Every guest on tour is entering a rural and unspoiled African terrain. Therefore it is necessary to travel with a flexible and tolerant mind.
Accommodations, bathroom facilities, and meals are in most places very basic, simple, and rustic.
Most lunch stops are based on packed lunches or picnic meals.
There are no toilet facilities on route or very seldom.
We reserve the right to alter any routes or itineraries should circumstances, like weather, road conditions, unforeseen obstacles, etc. so demand.
Some accommodations use generators for the supply of electricity, which switches off at 22:00, and gas geysers for the hot water supply.