Increasing fitness consciousness and environmental sensitivity are some of the trends fuelling a growing demand for cycle tourism. Michelle Colman takes a look at some of the most scenic cycle routes in South Africa.
Cross Cape Cycle Route from Plett to Stellenbosch
Credit: Craig Howes
A fantastic new route that runs from Plettenberg Bay to Stellenbosch and is free for all to use is the Cross Cape Cycle Route, says Robert Peters, Website Online Writer for Wesgro, the Western Cape’s tourism authority.
The challenging route combines rugged mountain passes, coastal towns and inland villages. Completing the whole route would take seven days, but it can be done in part.
The suggested route is as follows:
Section one: Plettenberg Bay – Knysna (80km), involving some steep climbs and fast downhill stretches.
Section two: Knysna – George (80km), mixing gentle riding with big climbs through indigenous forest and farmland.
Section three: George to Oudtshoorn (80km), including the Montagu Pass as the journey moves from forest to the drier Klein Karoo.
Section four: Oudtshoorn to Rooiberg (127km), with the Rooiberg Pass proving an 11km-long challenge.
Section five: Rooiberg to Swellendam (169km), incorporating a ride through the Duiwenhoks Valley, a highlight of the route.
Section six: Swellendam to Greyton (106km), along the Breede and Riviersonderend Rivers.
Section seven: Greyton to Stellenbosh (107km), with two iconic passes, the Franschhoek and Hellshoogte Passes, to conquer.
Cradle of Humankind
The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site on the outskirts of Johannesburg is known as the location when the ancestors of modern man first stood erect. With its growing reputation as a cycling spot, no doubt some would like to claim it as the place where man first rode a bicycle.
The Cradle may not have that historical honour, but it is the scene of a growing number of people atop road bikes and mountain bikes. In fact, Anthony Paton, Deputy Director: Marketing for the Cradle, says the location has become one of the most popular non-event cycling terrains in the country. Johannesburg cycling clubs use the location over weekends as a training ground, attracted by its good tarred roads.
The 29-km Cradle Loop has a clearly designated 2m-wide bike lane, with signage warning motor vehicles against using it. There is also a dedicated cycle lane on a link to the Sterkfontein Caves, adding another 10km or so to the location's road cycling space.
For mountain bikers there’s the Cradle Gateway 2 Gateway MTB Trail, 18km in length starting south of the Kloofzicht Lodge and suited to beginner and intermediate riders. Later this year development of another 14km will commence, running alongside the Cradle Loop, says Hein Pienaar, who manages the trail.
Sani Pass
The gravel pass that is the border between South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province and the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho is one of the most difficult MTB trails in South Africa, and one of the most rewarding in terms of scenery. The one-time mule track is mostly uphill, and temperatures can get quite chilly as you climb, irrespective of the season.
From Sani Lodge Backpackers at the bottom of the pass to the top, the distance to cover is 48 km return and takes an average of five hours. Cyclists departing the nearest town of Himeville can expect to cycle 75km or so. The summit is some 5km over the Lesotho border, where there’s a village and Sani Mountain Lodge, which has a pub said to be the highest in Africa. As the route reaches its most challenging in this last section, the pub is generally a very welcome stop. Passports are required to cross the border, however.
The Sani Dragon race usually takes place in September/October, forming part of the Underberg Agricultural Show. It has lost its sponsor this year, but expects to be back on track in 2018. The race is in two stages and covers over 120 km.
The Sani Pass road, although not the pass itself, forms part of some challenging multi-day annual bike events. There’s the three-day Sani2C in May, a paired race which commences in Himeville and ends in Scottburgh. The total distance is 263km. Even more ambitious is the Joburg2C which takes place in April, a nine-day event covering 900km, of which only 10km is tarred. It starts in Heidelberg near Johannesburg and ends in Scottburgh.
Also taking place in the area is the annual Drak Descent in January, a two-day MTB team stage event down the Umzimkhulu river, running alongside a canoeing event, the Drak Challenge.
Stormsriver Mouth for peace and calm
The dramatic scenery of Stormsriver Mouth is a highlight of the Garden Route, and a number of cycling trails here give the visitor the opportunity to absorb the impressive vistas.
Manager of M2Wild Adventures, Brad Sandenbergh, says the 22km route into indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest, with blue, orange and black grading (easy to difficult), is a popular choice for cyclists. “If I had the time, I’d do it every day,” he says, referencing its peace and calming effect.
The route has waterfalls, viewpoints and picnic spots. It also leads to a suspension bridge which offers access into the Garden Route National Park. The park has even more MTB trails to tackle. Entrance here requires a SanParks permit, but is free to cyclists.
Bike riders can spend as much time as they wish on the 22km long route, or challenge themselves with speed. Sandenbergh currently holds the speed record, having recent completed it - flats, ups and downhills - in an hour.
Cycling excursions can be arranged through M2Wild Adventures, with or without a guide, for R250 a day or R200 an afternoon. The centre has 20 disk brake bikes for hire too.
Hauntingly beautiful Eastern Cape route
A once-highly contested section of land in the northern reaches of the Eastern Cape on the Lesotho border is the site of Ride Away Adventures’ Wartrail mountain bike tours, which run between the months of October and April.
According to owner Steve Forster, the location has all the ingredients to make six days of cycling fascinating – historical intrigue, scenic drama and remoteness.
His fully-catered and guided trips cover an average daily distance of 40km in the Rhodes/Barkly East area. Accommodation is on guest farms, and attractions along the way include mountains and caves, San paintings, natural pools and mountain villages. There’s time, too, for swimming and trout fishing after the day’s ride.
The riding is not for the faint-hearted. This is how Forster describes a highlight of the journey on the fourth day of the trip: “We leave at sunrise and ride up to Lundean's Nek at 2 162m. It is a memorable climb and the view that awaits you at the top is nothing short of spectacular. Then we start on an amazing 10km descent with numerous switch backs, and of course donkeys, goats and Basothos on their horses. This is my favourite descent and it should be on every mountain biker’s bucket list. We ride up Dangershoek and into the remoteness of Africa. This is a very special part of our planet and seldom visited. Part of the former Transkei, and you will pass many remote mountain villages where traditional cultures and farming practices are still very much a way of life.”
Ride Away Adventures also offers a number of MTB tours in the Eastern Free State, in the vicinity of Clarens.
