Giant’s Castle Reserve is home to various species of wild game, the most famous being the mighty eland, as well as the caracal, baboon and mountain reedbuck.
Birding and Wildlife
There are no dangerous predators. The camps well established gardens attract many of the local bird species, but as you head out to explore the area, you can stop at the vulture and lammergeyer hides to get a better look at bearded vultures and various birds of prey that transverse the open skies of the area.
Walking/Hiking
Giant's Castle Reserve is situated on a grassy plateau among the deep valleys and glorious views for hikers and mountain climbers. Day hikes and walks consist of routes that are graded from easy to difficult. Many routes can be explored from camp, including the half-hour gentle walk up to the main cave and the San museum. A guided interpretation of the museum is available every hour on the hour. Overnight hiking routes extend deep into the forests of the area and up onto the main escarpment. On some of them there are refreshing rock pools where you can take a quick dip, to cool down. When heading out on an extended hike, you will need to register and stick to your intended route. As you climb up and down, please be aware that uprooting, picking, damaging or removing any plants is strictly forbidden.
Rock Art
When staying at this accommodation in the Drakensberg you will be able to witness, and appreciate the plentiful rock art-examples, which are on public display in the Main Cave Museum. The Drakensberg was once inhabited by the San people, who were hunter gatherers. They left us many of their paintings on the sandstone cliffs and cave walls, depicting their way of life and the various animals and people they encountered.
Picnics
There are numerous picnic sites dotted throughout the reserve. A detailed map on Giant’s Castle may be purchased at the reception office. This can be used to map out some of the best picnic spots that you can get to by foot or by car.
The Giants Castle Reserve has various self catering accommodation options, overlooking the Bushmans River. Plus a fully licensed restaurant,...