This cache is located at the wonderful Ngwena Pool on the Galixngwena River, at the crossing of the Day 1 route of the Giant's Cup Trail. The Gxalingwena Trail also intersects at this pool. We spent a memorable day here swimming, jumping into the pool, and exploring the valley above and below the pool. It's a great spot to stop off for lunch or a picnic.
The trail can be accessed either via the Sani Pass Hotel (the official starting point of the Giant's Cup Trail), or via Cobham campsite (the end we started our hike at).
Access from Sani Pass Hotel
The trail starts in the parking lot at the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife field ranger outpost 5.6km past the Sani Pass Hotel. From the output, you walk about 400m along the Sani Pass road, following three sharp curves in the road. The trail starts at the Giant's Cup sign on the left of the road. For the next 2km, the trail leads through the grassland. Shortly before you reach the 2km marker, the trail turns to the right. The rocks of the plateau have become a steep rocky slope that now has to be climbed. After 1.5km and approximately 200m rise in altitude, you reach the top of the plateau. The trail then leads along hte plateau past a large boulder. From this site, you have a good view onto the Giant's Cup Peak - the namesake of the trail. The Giant's Cup itself lies in a saddle between the two peaks known as Hodgsons Peaks.
After 500m the view drops into the Gxalingwena valley that separates the unnamed plateau from the Ndolvini Hill opposite (2,202m). In the narrow boulder valley you wil find the enchanting and deep blue-grey Ngwena Pool at 4.5km. You reach the pool via a short steep trail. You can rest on the large boulders at the water's edge, and have a refreshing swim. The water in the Gxalingwena stream is drinkable, as is all the water in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site.
In theory there is a wooden bridge to cross the stream, but in reality all that is left is a guide wire and a good leap. Alternately, just take your shoes off and wade across.
The Giant’s Cup Hiking Trail is a 5-day trail situated in the Southern Region of the Maloti Drakensberg Park. At over 60km in length and often above 2000m in altitude it traverses some of the most magnificent scenery found in South Africa. The trail begins 6km past the Sani Pass Hotel on the left hand side of the Sani Pass Road and finishes 5 days later at Bushman’s Nek Hut which is 2.5km from the Bushman’s Nek Resort. The longest hiking day is just over 13km with the shortest being 9km. The 5 overnight stops are in the form of Huts containing bunk-rooms and cold water showers.
The Gxalingenwa Trail is a short and extremely beautiful trail that begins over the road from the Golf Course at the Sani Pass Hotel and intersects with the Giants Cup Trail at the stunning Ngenwa Pool 3.5km later. The trail crosses the Gxalingenwa River a number of times as it ascends the valley and there are a number of magnificent pools along the way. Highlights of the trail include a majestic waterfall that is found at the 2.5km mark as well as the swathes of indigenous riverine forest that cover the Southern slopes of the valley.
More information on the Giant’s Cup and Gxalingenwa Trails and how to book hikes and overnight stops can be found at www.kznwildlife.com and contact can be made at bookings@kznwildlife.com or + 27 (0) 33 845 1000/1.