The most disturbing problems have happened at Giant's Castle. The problem is not just limited to petty theft, it extends to mugging, assault and rape. Campsites have literally been ambushed and hikers wounded. Furthermore people have also been held up and hijacked on the road leading in to the camp.
Hot spots where hikers have been attacked include Bannerman Hut, Spare Rib Cave, Bannerman Pass, Bannerman Cave, Langalibalele Pass and Giants Castle Pass & Cave and the stretch between the latter 2 passes. In fact the whole stretch of escarpment between Popple Peak and the The Tent is risky. There are kraals and shepherds in all major valleys:
- the Sanqebethu, between Popple Peak and Bannerman
- the Langalibalele, between Bannerman and Mt Durnford
- the Jarateng, between Mt Durnford and Giants Castle
- the Mokhotlong, between Giants Castle and The Tent
If you are intending to hike in the Giants Castle, the following suggestions may help but are by no means a guarantee.
- Follow the precautions already listed in General Precautions for Drakensberg Security.
- When driving in to the camp, be very alert and do not drive in the dark. If at all possible, drive in convoy and do not stop along the road. Look for suspicious characters standing on the side of the road, or for cattle which may be driven onto the road to force you to stop. If you are confronted by armed individuals rather give them what they want – your life is more precious than your possessions.
- Rather visit in the winter months (June-August) when most of the basuthos have moved away from the escarpment (especially true for the shepherds – who seem to be the ones mainly responsible for the problem).
- You may want to plan your hike so that you do not sleep in the huts or on the escarpment, as this will reduce the risk considerably. Most of the incidences occur at night, so day trips onto the escarpment are a lot safer.
- Avoid sleeping in the caves and around the passes listed above, especially if there are Basutho's around. Do not sleep near kraals.
- Guard duty is highly recommended, especially when Basutho's are present. If they intend to visit your campsite it may even be at 03h00 in the morning.
- If you are doing the Grand Traverse camp at Judges Pass and at The Tent and make sure you cover the whole section in between in one day. This is a long, tough day (23.5 km with several tough climbs) but it is possible to do it in 11-12 hours at a reasonable pace. There is a good campsite in the Mahlabachana valley behind Judge Pass and Corner Pass (S29 13.126, E29 24.320), though one can camp even further up the valley, closer to Judge Pass. The top part of the Mokhotlong, behind The Tent and The Hawk is good for camping too, with a nice spot being at S29 22.894, E29 26.020.
