Giants Hut

We did a hike in the Giants Castle area last weekend, going up Oribi Ridge and on to the contour path and passing Giants Hut on the way. The hut is derelict with half the roof tiles blown off, open to the elements and debris scattered all around. The inside is a mess with insulation from the roof hanging in tatters and the old iron bunk beds rusted and upended. The roof trusses still look ok for now but will rot if nothing further is done. Such a sad sight to see and I remember many happy evening spent in this hut. I am not sure but seem to think that the MCSA had an initiative a little while back to repair and rebuild the hut and they had several work parties going up there on weekends to do the work. It would seem that the Berg winds have made short work of their sterling efforts. I am wondering though whether there are any plans afoot to either repair the damage or at the very least to remove the unsightly debris and clean up the site ?

I have some news on this one.

According to a chat I had with a staff member over the weekend. The hut's restoration is "under review". He suggested that I email the manager and motivate as to the restoration.

If you are interested and want to, PM me I will send you the email address of the right person. I walked away believing that this actually might be a possibility.

While I has there this weekend it would not actually take much to restore the old hut to its former glory. And am sure it will be well used like Bannerman Hut down the road.

Hi. Has anyone been to Giants Hut recently? Just wanted to know what's the condition of the Hut...

Thanks 
 

Was there November last year, lots of debris in the hut. I'd camp outside.

 

Thanks so much grae22. You just saved us from doing some extra kms. 

Hopefully the new KZN Wildlife board will make a decision to repair the hut.

Hello. I was in giants hut recently and saw that in the path going to oribi ridge there is a stone sign that says loteni jeep track, a concrete spot to park a car, and rusted obstacles that blocked a old car road.

Does anybody have more info about this jeep track? I could not find anything online, only a mention in a old giants castle trail descriptions. But, no idea if it is the same track.

Best, Edwin.

Yes, long ago there was a jeep track from Giant's Castle Camp roughly along the Oribi Ridge route, to the top of Taylor's Pass at Lotheni. The materials to build Giant's Hut were taken by vehicle along this track and dropped off somewhere near the hut. The scars of the jeep track, which has been closed for many years, can easily be seen along most of Oribi Ridge route, and along the Contour Path towards Lotheni and the top of Taylor's Pass. At one of the stream crossings on the contour path, the old concrete drain pipes of the track can still be seen. In places the path follows the old jeep track, while in other places the path is quite far from the old jeep track.