The Giants Cup 5-Day Hiking Trail, located in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal region, is an iconic trail known for its scenic views and rich biodiversity. The trail, which runs through the Drakensberg Mountains, attracts eco-tourists and hiking enthusiasts, contributing to local economies. However, the trail and its infrastructure, including huts and bridges, required significant maintenance to ensure visitor safety and enhance the overall hiking experience. This project, led by Wildlands Conservation Trust, focused on upgrading key facilities along the trail, including the Swiman hiking hut and two important trail bridges. One of the main components of the project was the complete renovation of the Swiman hut, which included repairing the roof, replacing gutters, and laying new flooring. These upgrades improved the hut’s structural integrity and comfort for hikers. The hut’s refurbishment was completed successfully, with oversight from Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (EKZNWildlife). Additional maintenance funded by EKZNWildlife has been initiated to further enhance the facility.

In addition to hut upgrades, the project also addressed the construction and maintenance of two critical trail bridges at Mlambonja and Mzimkulu. These bridges are essential for safe passage along the trail, particularly during rainy seasons, ensuring the trail remains accessible to hikers year-round. Overall, the Giants Cup Hiking Trail Reinstatement project has made significant progress
in restoring the trail’s infrastructure, ensuring that it remains a premier destination for hikers. By improving the trail facilities,
the project not only enhances the visitor experience but also contributes to the region’s eco-tourism sector, supporting local communities and promoting conservation efforts in the Drakensberg Mountains.

Project Outputs:

• Renovation of Pholela Hut: Painting of the interior and exterior walls, ceiling boards, and roof; Replaced and installed new gutters and facia boards; replaced the carpet floor tiles with terracotta tiles in all rooms; replaced the tables and benches.
• Maintenance of roof and floors of the Swiman hiking hut
• Construction of a pedestrian river crossing over the Mlambonja River
• Maintenance of the existing pedestrian river crossing over the Mzimkulu River