Winterhoek Hut to Swiman Hut (13 km)

The fourth day starts with a 300 metre climb up Black Eagle Pass. This is the driest day of the whole trail and you should carry all your water requirements with you, even in summer. After summitting the pass, the trail contours nicely at about 2000 metres above sea level below the southern slope of Garden Castle, passing through some protea woodlands. As the trail crosses a plateau around the base of another peak, you become aware of the extent of the human settlement in the valley below, but this is offset by magnificent views of the escarpment, including Rhino Peak – unless the weather is unkind to you.

Finally, the trail descends steeply onto open grassland. The path swings right and goes along a sandstone shelf before entering a grove of silver gum trees. This last rock section of the path is shared in reverse with Day 5’s route to Bushman’s Nek, so don’t be confused. As you enter the grove, you will see Swiman Hut close below you.

Swiman Hut is an old forestry house. It is wired for electricity, but this is not always available. Since the water is heated electrically, this means that there may not be hot showers, and no lighting either. There is usually plenty of free firewood to feed the indoor fireplace on a cold night though. The hut is otherwise kept in an excellent condition, and out of all the trail’s huts it is definitely the most sophisticated. As with Pholela Hut, spare accommodation may be taken up by other backpackers, day trippers and trail runners, so Swiman Hut can also be quite full, especially over the holidays. You should not have a problem getting cell phone reception at the hut.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s office – the official entry point for the Garden Castle Wilderness Area – is less than 1 km away along a good path. It goes past the game guards’ quarters and across a footbridge over the Mashai River. There are no refreshments at the office, just a very few touristy items and maybe some maps of the area. If you are going to stay over at the Bushman’s Nek Hut at the end of the trail, you will need to visit the Garden Castle office to get the number for the hut’s combination locks from the person on duty. If you don’t do this, you will need to get the number from the guards at the very end of the trail. Fortunately, their quarters are at the car park, so this should still be possible even if you arrive there after the office has closed. However, to get the combination number, someone in your party will have to walk an extra 2 km or so from the Bushman’s Nek Hut to the car park and back again!

You may choose to end the Giant’s Cup Trail at Swiman Hut, but the final leg of the trail to Bushman’s Nek is well worth doing. The car park near the Garden Castle office is an alternative location to leave vehicles if you need to, because leaving them at Swiman Hut may inconvenience other hikers and they may be damaged by baboons there.