Winter Highland Holidays – Giant’s Castle

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Just two days after we returned from Shingwedzi in the Kruger National Park (which we’ll be telling you all about soon, promise!), we headed back to Giant’s Castle in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park to pick up where we left off when we had to cut our trip in March short due to illness.

Part of the planning for our original trip was to spend a day visiting the crafters and speciality shops in the KZN Midlands between Mooi River and Howick along the R103-road, particularly to stock up on a variety of cheeses and other delights to enjoy in the evenings in front of the fireplace. With check-in at Giants Castle being only from 14:00 onwards, we decided for this return visit to then get the “shopping” out of the way first before heading to the reserve. An early (04:00am) start out of Pretoria allowed us to visit all the nice stalls and shops we wanted to, discover a few new ones and do some birdwatching along the Lower Loteni and Kamberg roads on the way before arriving at Giant’s Castle just after 16:00 in the evening (dusk comes really early in the ‘Berg in winter!).

Blue Cranes on the Lower Loteni Road
Secretary Bird on the Kamberg Road
Oribi grazing next to the Kamberg Road
A juvenile Bearded Vulture
A juvenile Bearded Vulture
Black-headed Heron on the Kamberg Road
Giant’s Castle entrance
This Jackal Buzzard (photographed by Marilize) was our first sighting just in at the gate at Giant’s Castle

We were allocated Chalet 26 for our 4 night stay, a 2-bedroom unit which is very privately situated and offers a spectacular view of the slumbering Giant that looms over the reserve named after it below.

Giant’s Castle, Unit 26, uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, June 2019
The view from Chalet 26
A close-up view of the sleeping Giant

In a scenically grand environment like you’ll find at Giant’s Castle there’s beautiful landscapes all around, making hiking an absolute joy and the reason why we spent so much time on the different trails (thankfully we had really good weather during our visit)

Heavy clouds descending on the Drakensberg
Scenic vistas along the Bushmans River
The road leading to the REst Camp at Giant’s Castle
Beautiful spots along the Bushmans River
This Crassula is hanging on for dear life on a sheer rockface
Beautiful mountain blooms
Beautiful spots along the Bushmans River
The Main Caves in which you’ll find a fascinating museum dedicated to the San, or Bushman, people
Giant’s Castle scenery
Giant’s Castle scenery
Beautiful spots along the Bushmans River
Deep pool in the Bushmans River
Beautiful spots along the Bushmans River
Giant’s Castle scenery
Scenic vistas along the Bushmans River
Scenic vistas along the Bushmans River
Scenic vistas along the Bushmans River
Scenic vistas along the Bushmans River
This huge boulder looks like it might have been the shell of a prehistoric tortoise!
Beautiful mountain blooms
Sunlight flushing the dark from the valley below Giant’s Castle
Giant’s Castle scenery
Giant’s Castle scenery
Giant’s Castle scenery (photo by Joubert)
Beautiful mountain blooms (photo by Joubert)
Beautiful spots along the Bushmans River (photo by Joubert)
View of the Drakensberg from the Bergview Trail
View of the Drakensberg from the track to the Vulture Hide
View from the track to the Vulture Hide

Of course, being one of South Africa’s oldest protected environments there’s no shortage of wildlife to be found at Giant’s Castle, even if it can often be easily overlooked in the grand environs they inhabit!

Baboons are probably the most easily seen mammal in Giant’s Castle, as they move through the Rest Camp daily
Baboons are probably the most easily seen mammal in Giant’s Castle, as they move through the Rest Camp daily
Baboons are probably the most easily seen mammal in Giant’s Castle, as they move through the Rest Camp daily
A pair of mating baboons high in the mountains
Baboons are probably the most easily seen mammal in Giant’s Castle, as they move through the Rest Camp daily
Geranium Bronze butterfly
Dassie, or Rock Hyrax
Eland were the main reason the Giant’s Castle reserve was proclaimed
Eland on the run along the Bushmans River
At night, Eland often shelter in the camp
Eland were the main reason the Giant’s Castle reserve was proclaimed
Eland were the main reason the Giant’s Castle reserve was proclaimed
Eland were the main reason the Giant’s Castle reserve was proclaimed
Gaudy Commodore (dry season form)
Grey Duiker
Marsh Mountain Blue
Mountain Reedbuck ewe
Red-sided Skink
Little Scarlet Dragonfly
Speckled Rock Skink
Common Hottentot Skipper (female)
Trapdoor Spider on the move
Foam Grasshopper nymph (species unknown)
Yellow Pansy

Horses and ponies are an invaluable tool to rangers in mountainous areas, and while they’re not indigenous these beautiful animals look very much at home in their highland abode.

Horses and ponies are an invaluable tool to rangers in mountainous areas
Horses and ponies are an invaluable tool to rangers in mountainous areas
Horses and ponies are an invaluable tool to rangers in mountainous areas
Horses and ponies are an invaluable tool to rangers in mountainous areas
Baboons invading the paddock at Giant’s Castle
Horses and ponies are an invaluable tool to rangers in mountainous areas

The Drakensberg may not boast the richest variety of birdlife in South Africa, especially in winter, but we still had a great time bird-watching while out and about, and often the birds came to visit us while we were relaxing at the chalet.

African Stonechat
Southern Bald Ibis
Cape Crow
Black-headed Heron
Bokmakierie
Buffy Pipit
Cape Batis
Cape Robin-Chat
Cape Rock Thrush (male)
Cape Rock Thrush (female)
Cape Turtle Dove
Cape Wagtail
Cape White-eye
Chorister Robin-Chat
Dark-capped Bulbuls
Drakensberg Prinia
Familiar Chat
Forest Canary
Fork-tailed Drongo
Male Greater Double-Collared Sunbird
Ground Woodpeckers
Gurney’s Sugarbird
Gurney’s Sugarbird
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Olive Thrush
Olive Woodpecker
Red-eyed Dove
Red-winged Starling (male)
Southern Boubou
Speckled Mousebird
Speckled Pigeon
Streaky-headed Seedeater
Tawny-flanked Prinia
White-necked Raven
Yellow Bishop (non-breeding plumage)

We had a wonderful time at Giant’s Castle, and are incredibly grateful that we could return so soon. Along the most direct route, Giant’s Castle lies about 500km from our home in Pretoria, but with our four days in the mountains flying past unbelievably quickly we decided to prolong our return journey by taking a more scenic road over Oliviershoek Pass and through Golden Gate Highlands National Park (where our Autumn Highlands Holidays kicked off in March 2019).

 

36 thoughts on “Winter Highland Holidays – Giant’s Castle”

    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Welcome here, Vincent, and all the best with your blogging journey! If I can make a suggestion; having an “about” page can go a long way to help other bloggers get a feel for you and what your blog will be all about.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
  3. naturebackin

    What a great collection of photos reflecting such a gem of a place. In winter it has a whole special character that your photos capture so well. (I particularly liked seeing the Dark-capped Bulbuls practically snuggled up together.)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thank you very much, Carol. The ‘Berg is such a special place and thanks to our latest visit to Giant’s Castle we can’t wait for our next visit – now to find a gap in our diaries to make that happen!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      We haven’t really had extreme cold yet this winter, AJ; the nights touch the zero mark but during the day we’re enjoying glorious sunshine – yesterday I went out in shorts and a t-shirt!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
  8. Joanne Sisco

    Your knowledge of the birds and wildlife never ceases to impress me – especially since you have so much variety!! This time you tossed a couple of new ones at us which I’ve never heard of before – the sugarbird and the mousebird. The poor mousebird in particular looked like she (he?) had been rudely woken up after a hard night 😆

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
      1. petrujviljoen

        Ek glo so. Uitmuntende voelkenners in die area moes ernstig navorsing doen om die ibis te identifiseer. (Die muishond loop nog steeds hier rond. Klink of hy/sy ‘n maat gekry het.)

        Liked by 1 person

      1. T Ibara Photo

        Thank you for your kind reply. My husband and I dream of visiting someday. We’re keeping hope it will be sooner than later. In the meantime, I always look forward to learning more through your wonderful site.
        As always, best wishes to your family 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. de Wets Wild Post author

        We’ll be holding thumbs with you, Takami, so that you can come and visit soon! Until then it is wonderful to have you visit these places along with us. All the best to you as well.

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