Giant's Castle Game Reserve

The Giant's Castle Game Reserve (area 34,600ha/85,460ac), established in 1903, is one of the most impressive features in the southern Natal Drakensberg; the fastest access route is from Estcourt or Mooi River. It lies below a 35km/22mi long basalt wall around 3,000m/10,000ft in height which extends from Champagne Castle (3,377m/11,080ft) in the north to Giant's Castle (3,315m/10,877ft) in the south. Through the reserve flow Bushman's River (a good fishing stream) and the Little Tugela River. Most of the vegetation consists of grassland, but there are some remnants of mountain rain forest, particularly in the north and south of the reserve. In spring and summer there is a profusion of wild flowers.The reserve was established in 1903 to protect the last herds of elands, which since then have considerably increased in numbers. Among other animals in the reserve are bushbucks, blesboks, red hartebeests, klipspringers and baboons.Among the principal attractions of the Giant's Castle Game Reserve are the large numbers of Bushman rock drawings, which have been found at more than 50 different sites. In the Main Cave (2km/1.25mi from Main Camp, reached on an easy track) there are around 500 drawings (guided tours; small museum), and in the Battle Cave (near Injasuti camp) 1000.Accommodation for visitors is available in hutted camps in and on the outskirts of the reserve, which are also the starting-points of hiking trails in various grades of difficulty, including a circular route to the summit of Giant's Castle (3315m/10,877ft). From this "roof of South Africa" there are breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Those who would prefer to explore the reserve on horseback can hire horses at the Hillside camp.