The Giant's Castle Game Reserve – approximately 35,000 hectares in size – exists since 1904 and is one of the oldest nature conservation areas in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park.
It was created mainly to protect the last herds of Eland, Africa's biggest antelope species. And also for the conservation of a habitat for the numerous species of vultures. One can still find the Cape Vulture here, which was once spread over the whole of southern Africa. The last 200 breeding pairs of the Bearded Vulture also live in the Drakensberg. Both vulture species have a wing span of more than two and a half metres. They can - with a bit of luck - be observed in the Giant's Castle Game Reserve.
Many hiking trails lead through the quiet mountain world. The vegetation is nowadays mainly grassland in the valleys and Protea savannah at medium altitude. In some places one can still find remnants of the original mountain rainforest. Above all are towering the mighty mountain peaks, the Giant's Castle (3314 m) in the south, the Mafadi (3446 m) and the Injasuti Dome (3409 m) in the north.
The park is rich in game. Besides the Eland antelopes, there are large populations of reedbuck and blessbuck, duiker and klipspringer. Besides the vultures there are other big birds of prey like African crowned eagle, Verreaux's eagle, Jaccal buzzard and many different owl species.
Further travel information and accommodation: INFO Left and top right: Giant's Castle Game Reserve panoramic view
Bottom right: Cape Vulture and Eland Antelope.