Giants Cup Wilderness is situated in the Underberg area of KwaZulu-Natal, and you cannot help but feel lost—in a good way. With the mountains as your backdrop, this is the perfect spot to escape the busy city life.
Giants Cup Wilderness is a registered conservation site and home to much wildlife.
The cottage we stayed in was hidden between massive pine trees. The sun danced over the lake in front of the cottage, and the mountains stood tall, creating the feeling of a cocoon.
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Staying at Giants Cup Wilderness
We stayed at the gorgeous, secluded Otter Cove Cottage, which is perfect for two. The cottage has a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom with a bath and a shower, a fireplace for those cold winter nights, and not to mention endless views of mountains and water.
There is also a braai area and a beautiful patio to enjoy your morning coffee as you see the sunrise through the pine trees and dawn screaming the possibilities that the day is holding.
When we arrived at the cottage, freshly baked bread and trout pate were waiting for us on the table. We decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing and taking in the beautiful scenery that was playing out in front of us.
The next day we set out to explore our surroundings.
Just note that you need a high-rise vehicle (not a 4×4) for the last km of the way. There is also no cellphone signal on the farm, but the cottage does have Wi-Fi available.
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Things to do at Giants Cup Wilderness
Go hiking
Since it is hidden in the Drakensberg mountains, there are many hiking trails that you can choose from. Some are easy, whereas others will test your determination a bit more. The world-renowned Giants Cup hiking trail also runs close to the farm.
A short and easy 5-kilometer hiking trail is located on the farm itself, known as the Goshen Trail. There are two loops—the Lake loop and the Umtsitshi loop, which combined give you 5 km. The trail is easy to follow. Follow the signs to the start of the trail and make your way over the bridge that crosses the Mzimkhulwana River. From here you carry on toward the mountains until it makes a turn that will take you toward the lake.
There are many other trails on the mountains as well, but these require permits that you can get from the owner of the property. Arrange these before your trip, or you can let her know during your stay. You mustn’t cross into Drakensberg Park without your Ezimvelo Wildlife permit.
The permit is R70 pp (2023).
Enjoy nature
Most of our time was spent on the patio, taking in the stunning views and enjoying the peace and quiet of the Drakensberg mountains. I am not someone for waking up early, but I made it my mission to see the sunrise every morning, as these were absolutely gorgeous.
Have a picnic
Every day for lunch, we would set out a picnic in front of our little cottage. This was perfect for soaking up the sun and just enjoying each other’s company.
Go on a boat ride
This was probably one of the most fun activities we’ve done. You can hire a boat at a rate of R170. Grab a boat at the boathouse and make your way onto the water. It was stunning and peaceful to float on the water and see the reflections of the mountains dance on the lake.
Go angling
This area is well known for its trout and is also the best spot to go fly angling. Day Rot ticket is R200 pp, and you’ll have to hire the boat separately at a fee of R170.
You must pre-book your rod tickets, as no more than 6 anglers are permitted on the water at any time.
Enjoy a bite to eat at the restaurants close by
About half an hour’s drive from Giants Cup Wilderness, you’ll find a few very nice restaurants with some stunning views. Look out for the Old Hatchery and Waterfall restaurant, Malachite Manor Restaurant, and the Olde Duck Restaurant.
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