Day 1: From Cobham (North is Ndlovini Peak and to the right is Grandma Peak then Emerald Dome)
From Pholela Hut you walk diagonally to the left towards a horse paddock. The sign “Giant’s Cup 2nd Day” points right along the paddock to the Pholela River. The trail winds along the paddock and after 100 m the Giant’s Cup trail leads away from the Pholela River and to the left up the slope. After 100 m you climb some stone steps on the left where the trail makes a large bend uphill away from the paddock and over rocky substrate after which it heads off to the right. At the 1 km mark, you have a view of a lovely waterfall on the right looking towards Allens Shelter.
After 3 km and 200 m altitude you cross over a plateau in the direction of Siphongweni Ridge (2 151 m). On the left of the trail you will see large sandstone rocks - The Tortoise Rocks. After following the ridge for a while, the trail takes you to the left and southern side of eSiphongweni Ridge. Once you have reached the sandstone rocks that the trail passes on the left, the vegetation becomes a densertypical fynbos vegetation with Proteas, Helichrysum bushes and Leucosidea (Ou hout).
After Bathplug Cave, the trail makes a large bend around Siphongweni Ridge. At the 7 km mark you walk through a Protea woodland and have a lovely view on a forest patch in a gorge below you on the left. At 7.2 km you cross a small stream. After 300 m you will see Mzimkhulwana hut. A bridge leads over the Mzimkhulwana River to the hut.
View from Mzimkhulwana Hut
- South is Bamboo Mountain (4km)
- West is Little Bamboo Mountain (4.5km)
- River below the hut is Mzimkhulwana River
- River above the hut is Siphongweni River
- North / North South is eSiphongweni Peak which has Mpongweni Shelters and Siphongweni Cave (2.6km)
- North / North West The Pimple Mountain (1.3km)
- Behind The Pimple is Amakehla Pass (11km)
Day 2
Mzimkhylwana Hut -> Hike till level with The Pimple, then cross the river and hike uphill to Siphongweni Cave (3.5km – 350m up) -> Whale Back (5.4km) -> Titty (6.6km) -> The Policeman (7.6km) -> Lakes Cave (9.3km)
View from Lakes Cave
- East is Camel Rock (850m)
- North West is Amakehla Pass (3.5 km) / Left is Minaret Pass (North view)
- Peaks North (NNE) is Hodgsons Peak South and North
- 3rd peak to the right is Sani Peak
- Left of Minaret Pass is The Block, Sandleni Pinnacle, No Mans Peak, Verkyker Buttress and Peak and Rhino Peak
- SW below is Weavers Cave (1.89km)
Day 3
Lakes Cave -> Nutcracker Cave (2.3km) -> C53 Shelter (4.8km) -> Monster Rocks (6.1km) -> Boundry Rock (7.7km) -> Cobham (12km)
