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Looking for a little mountain adventure? Well, this is it!
Giant’s Cup Trail Run is a spectacular weekend of fitness and fun in the Southern Drakensberg surrounded by mountain scenery and challenging trails.
Taking place from 20 to 23 May 2027, the event combines trail running and hiking with a relaxed getaway atmosphere, with participants staying at Premier Resort Sani Pass. Entries open on 1 September 2026 and are capped at just 200 runners and hikers!
READ: Could you be the last one standing? Durban's toughest running trail challenge is calling!
Run it or hike it – your choice of 4 options
There are four ways to tackle the Giant’s Cup, depending on how much mountain adventure you're after.
- The Giant’s Cup Trail Run Full covers 30km on day one and 32km on day two
- The Giant’s Cup Lite option offers 15km and 12km routes
- Hiking Giant’s Cup Full 30km and 32km routes
- Hiking Giant’s Cup Lite is the 15km and 12km route
The routes wind through some of the most spectacular landscapes of the Southern Drakensberg, with steep climbs, technical descents, river crossings and sweeping mountain ridgelines. The full routes include around 1,160m of vertical gain per day, while the Lite routes feature approximately 460m.
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A race centred on community
Participants spend three nights together, sharing the trails during the day before swapping stories around the fireplace. Hikers and runners share the course and accommodation, creating the kind of camaraderie that's difficult to find at larger sporting events.
The event also has a strong environmental focus. Organisers, Running Man Adventures, work with conservation partners including Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Wildlife ACT and the Endangered Wildlife Trust, supporting projects ranging from trail rehabilitation and alien vegetation removal to wildlife conservation initiatives.
May in the Drakensberg brings cold nights, potentially dropping below zero, alongside generally mild daytime temperatures. So while your running kit might be enough for the trail, you'll want plenty of warm layers for the evenings.
READ: South Africa's newest trail festival is heading to the KZN Midlands
What you need to know
- Event: Giant’s Cup Trail Run & Hiking Giant’s
- Date: 20–23 May 2027
- Location: Southern Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal
- Entries: Open 1 September 2026, capped at 200
- Early-bird entry: From R10,950
- Accommodation: Premier Resort Sani Pass
- Booking: thegiantscuptrail.com
- More information: info@thegiantscup.co.za
The package includes accommodation at Premier Resort Sani Pass, breakfast and dinner at the hotel, lunch at the finish each day and an awards dinner on the final evening.
Remember, it's capped at only 200 people so act quickly!
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