More Top Mountain Bike Trails

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    TOP MTB

    TRAILS

    100TRAILS

    in detailin the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal,Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North WestW I T H D E T A I L E D M A P S A N D G P S P O I N T S

    MORE

    ISBN 978-1-77026-277-5

    ALSO

    AVAILABLE

    TOP MTB TRAILS OF

    Western Cape, Eastern

    Cape and Northern Cape

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    Contents

    Quickfinder 4

    Introduction 6

    Getting Started 7

    Stuff you Love 8

    Ama Rider 10

    SAPPI 11

    Dirt Menu 12

    THE TRAILS

    Top Trails 14

    Other Trails 82Minor Trails 151

    Top Trails Outside SA 169

    DIRECTORY

    Gear and Packing List 178

    Dirt Pages - Western Cape 184

    Dirt Pages - Eastern Cape 184

    Dirt Pages - Northern Cape 184

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    Top Trails (outside SA)

    List of trails:

    BOTSWANAMashatu Game Reserve MTB Safaris 172

    LESOTHOGates of Paradise MTB Route 173Ramabanta MTB Trail 174Semonkong Lodge MTB Route 175

    SWAZILANDHlane Sun-Up Cycle 176Mlilwane MTB Trails 177

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    MORE INFO::www.mashatu.com(+27 (0)11 442 2318

    TRAIL

    BASICSENTRY REQUIREMENTS:Tours have to be booked

    FACILITIES:Well-equipped bush camps

    BEWARE OF:Wild animals

    Mashatu Game ReserveMTB Safaris

    COUNTRYBotswana REGION Northern Tuli CLOSEST TOWNAlldays TRAIL DESTINATIONMashatu Game Reserve

    ROUTE DESCRIPTION

    GRADING: Intermediate

    DURATION: 45 hours per day

    START POINT: Pont Drift Border Post

    COORDINATES: S221205.0; E290802.0

    TERRAIN: Rocky outcrops, sandy river beds, elephant singletrack

    MAP: Not required as these are guided tours

    CELL RECEPTION: Intermittent

    CONFIGURATION: Point to point

    TRAILINFO

    Getting an entry into an event

    such as the annual Nedbank

    Tour de Tuli is not always an

    option for everyone. However,

    if youre keen to experience

    the drama of mountain biking

    with the ellies roaming the Tuli

    Block, then speak to the guys

    at Cycle Mashatu.

    This independent operatoroffers tailor-made, multiday

    mountain-biking getaways

    in Mashatu Game Reserve,

    a wilderness area where big

    game range free within the

    protected Tuli Block area of

    Botswana. Their designated

    Wilderness Trail provides an

    extraordinary opportunity to

    cycle through vast herds of

    wildlife, while following ancient

    elephant migration paths.

    Sleep under star-studded

    African skies, waking up

    to a dawn coffee while thebushveld all around you comes

    to life. Routes are tailored to

    suit individual fitness levels

    and abilities, with the aim of

    riding for 45 hours a day over

    a distance of some 3050km.

    Your guide will set quite a

    relaxed pace, allowing plenty

    of time to take in the views (or

    wait for elephants to ensure

    safe passing).

    Wilderness camps are set up

    prior to your arrival and guides

    take care of transporting your

    luggage. Meals are prepared

    over open fires, and hot bucket

    showers will wash away the dust

    at the end of

    every day.

    Day 1 Ride from the border

    to Wilderness Camp, about

    two hours away, and stay over

    at a rustic wilderness camp in

    the heart of the Mashatu

    Game Reserve.

    Day 2 A day to discover why

    Mashatu is called the Land

    of the Giants as you follow a

    route of approximately 30kmwith a mix of rocky outcrops,

    sandy river beds and smooth,

    flowing singletrack that has

    been carved over centuries by

    migrating elephants.

    Day 3 The approximately

    35km ride is in a northerly

    direction on well-worn

    elephant trails followed

    by a gentle climb out ofthe Limpopo valley before

    cranking westward through

    the Valley of the Elephants.

    From there, the ride continues

    towards the Motloutse River.

    Day 4 Time to travel by

    vehicle back to the border at

    Pont Drift.

    HOW TO GET THERE

    Take the N1 to Polokwane, then follow the

    R521 past Mogwadi and Vivo to Alldays.

    BEST TIME OF YEAR

    Avoid the extreme heat in summer.

    OFF THE BIKE

    Saddle up for a ride of a different kind

    with Limpopo Valley Horse Safaris; early

    morning or late afternoon outings can be

    booked, or opt for a multiday equestrian

    safari. Culture vultures should check out

    the Mmamakwa Ruins in order to under-

    stand a little bit more about the prehistory

    of what is certainly a fascinating area.

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    MORE INFO::www.malealea.co.ls (+27 (0)82 552 4215

    Get in touch with your inner

    wild child on the grassland

    ridges surrounding Malealea

    Lodge, undoubtedly one of

    Lesothos premier establish-

    ments. An easy afternoon ride

    loops up along via the Gates

    of Paradise Pass, starting right

    from the lodge entrance.

    Follow the main gravel roadwest as it slopes gently

    upwards for the first 34km,

    making it a comfortable ride

    to where a sign confidently

    proclaims distances to Tokyo,

    Cape Town, Los Angeles,

    Berlin and various other

    global centres.

    From here, get ready for a

    steep slog all the way to the

    Gates of Paradise summit

    to take in the view, before

    cresting and taking the firsttrack to your left. From here,

    it is up to you to route-find

    your way as you dip-n-slide

    along donkey paths, dirt

    roads and cattle tracks

    weaving through the

    scattered villages.

    Basically, you will circum-

    navigate the mountain in

    an anticlockwise direction,

    so look out for route options

    bearing left along the contour.

    There is an eventual climb

    back towards a distinctive little

    dive by the name of Matebele

    Caf (a bright yellow shop-

    cum-bar) where you rejoin the

    main gravel road to Malealea,

    about halfway up the pass.

    Your ride will total up toaround 17km, but there are

    more rambunctious offerings

    on the Ha Patela Route (49km)

    or Malealea Monster (65km).

    All in all, Malealea is a place

    where peace of mind and the

    freedom of the spirit unite,

    and where mountain bikers

    can come to lose themselves

    within the grandeur of

    Mother Nature.

    Gates of ParadiseMTB Route

    COUNTRYLesotho REGION Central CLOSEST TOWNMalealea TRAIL DESTINATIONMalealea Lodge

    ROUTE DESCRIPTION

    TRAILBASICS

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:Permit from Malealea

    FACILITIES:Rondavels, farmhouse bedrooms,

    Basotho huts, forest huts (backpackers),

    camping, good restaurant

    BEWARE OF:Donkey carts; larger-than-life

    characters; local brew

    MORE INFORMATION:Map link: www.malealea.

    co.ls/activities/mountain-biking/

    GRADING: Intermediate to Extreme

    DURATION: Depends on route chosen from 17 hours

    START POINT: Malealea Lodge

    COORDINATES: S2949.42.2; E273558.9

    TERRAIN: Gravel, jeep track, singletrack

    MAP: Basic map from lodge

    CELL RECEPTION: Patchy

    CONFIGURATION: Out-and-back or circular options

    TRAILINFO

    HOW TO GET THERE

    On Maseru Bypass: Enter the Maseru Border

    Post, then turn right onto Mafeteng Road

    after 1km. Pass the airport, turn right and

    then continue for 60km till you reach the

    Motsekuoa turn-off to Malealea.

    From Motsekuoa: Follow the newly tarred road

    from Taxi Corner for 10km, then fork right,

    keep going for 15km, and then turn left onto a

    gravel road. Malealea is 6km beyond Gates of

    Paradise Pass.

    BEST TIME OF YEAR

    Each season has its own beauty.

    OFF THE BIKE

    Majestic scenery, friendly villagers, refreshing

    river swims, birding, San paintings, day and

    overnight pony treks, hiking, scenic drives or

    even a visit to a sangoma.

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    MORE INFO::www.tradingpost.co.za (+266 2234 0202/67

    GRADING: Difficult to Extreme

    DURATION: 46 hours

    START POINT: Ramabanta Trading Post

    COORDINATES: S293956.9; E274749.0

    TERRAIN: Jeep track, singletrack and gravel road

    MAP: Available at www.mtbroutes.co.za

    CELL RECEPTION: Sketchy

    CONFIGURATION: Point-to-point; 66km

    TRAILINFO

    TRAILBASICS

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:Public access

    FACILITIES:Lodge camp sites at start and finish

    BEWARE OF:Loose rocks on downhills

    This unmarked route will

    bang you along a heady mix

    of remote gravel roads, jeep

    track and singletrack through

    the back-country terrain

    surrounding the infamous

    Thabana Li Meie (or, if you

    want, the Mountain with

    Nipples). And yes, it does

    look like two breasts.

    Around 5km on the main

    gravel road to Semonkong

    gets you to a path that

    branches off into the scenic

    Makhaleng River valley. For the

    next 35km, the trail undulates

    along the watercourse, with

    much of the riding along bridle

    path singletrack. There are

    two portage sections and the

    ridiculous Three Witches Pass,

    but before you know it, youll

    be onto the comfortable gravel

    road to Nyakosoba.

    Cross the main road to followanother bridle path through

    the valley, passing two poppas

    significant, flat-topped

    outcrops on the way. Things

    get dangerously technical as

    you approach Roma, and the

    route is part of the notorious

    Roof of Africa motorbike rally,

    with descents fraught with

    loose rocks.

    The rewards are scenic views

    into the lowlands and a fast

    run through a pine forest and

    across the plateau to Roma.

    Another tricky descent fromthe plateau, then you may call

    yourself a finisher of one of the

    toughest stages of the annual

    Lesotho Sky MTB Challenge.

    RamabantaMTB Trail

    COUNTRYLesotho REGIONCentral Lesotho CLOSEST TOWNRamabanta TRAIL DESTINATIONRoma

    ROUTE DESCRIPTION

    HOW TO GET THERE

    From Maseru, follow the Main South 1 national road for 67km to Ramabanta.

    BEST TIME OF YEAR

    Year-round.

    OFF THE BIKE

    Off-road bike and quad adventures, 4x4 trails, horse riding, hiking, fly-fishing,

    birding, hiking, rock art and cultural experiences.

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    MORE INFO::www.placeofsmoke.co.ls(+266 2700 6037

    This is about as close to

    cowboy country as you will

    ever get here in southern

    Africa. The Lesotho highlands

    around Semonkong could

    easily be a landscape captured

    in the movie The Man from

    Snowy River, with the Basotho

    hill tribesmen from the area as

    convincing bandits with their

    balaclavas and sturdy ponies.I hope youve packed your Big

    Boy pants for this one, because

    youre going to need them.

    Semonkong or Lesothos

    Place of Smoke, named for the

    thundering Maletsunyane Falls

    is not for sissies. The riding

    is ridiculously varied and (in

    places) downright extreme.

    If you want to go big, the

    Baboons Pass return ride to

    Ramabanta should cut you

    down to size. A looping gravel

    road climbs out of Semonkong

    to bang you into the high

    subalpine slopes (20km). Here

    you look for an unmarked

    track to your left; gird your

    loins and get ready to ride

    some seriously rocky technical

    sections, bottoming out intothe valley after 25km. Another

    half-hour of cranking will get

    you to the Trading Post, where

    you can swop war stories over

    an ice-cold Maluti.

    Various shorter routes from

    Semonkong Lodge will

    allow you to explore the

    surroundings,

    but the one option that

    stands out is the edgy ride

    onto Maletsunyane Gorge.

    And when I say edgy, I mean

    cliff-tops with 300m drops.

    Obviously you can stay out

    of the danger zone higher up

    along the ridges, but these

    horse tracks are for relatively

    skilled riders.

    All in all, this will be one of your

    best days out on a bike, even if

    it means you get off and push

    every now and then. A basic

    map will get you onto a circular

    route from the lodge, and the

    ride should not take you more

    than a couple of hours.

    Semonkong LodgeMTB Route

    COUNTRYLesotho REGIONSouthern Lesotho CLOSEST TOWNSemonkong TRAIL DESTINATIONSemonkong Lodge

    ROUTE DESCRIPTION

    GRADING: Intermediate to Extreme (some technical riding)

    DURATION: 2 hours (68 hours to Ramabanta)

    START POINT: Semonkong Lodge

    COORDINATES: S295035.3; E280236.4

    TERRAIN: Horse tracks, 4x4 routes, footpaths, wilderness

    MAP: Available at the lodge

    CELL RECEPTION: Good; you need a local sim card or international roaming

    CONFIGURATION: Circular and return options 1655km

    TRAILINFO

    TRAIL

    BASICS

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:Public access

    FACILITIES:None on route; accommodation

    and restaurant at the lodge

    BEWARE OF:Anatolian mountain dogs

    HOW TO GET THERE

    Follow the road to Roma (30km) from

    Maseru and on to Ramabanta (38km). From

    here, head onto the Semonkong road (theywere busy tarring this at the time of

    writing) and you will reach Semonkong

    Lodge after a further 44km.

    BEST TIME OF YEAR

    Year-round; winte rs may shatt er your

    equilibrium.

    OFF THE BIKE

    Go Action Jackson from dawn till dusk,

    with anything from superb trail running,

    snow-peak bagging, fly-fishing for monstertrout, pony trekking and a 204m Guinness

    Book of Recordsabseil into the dramatic

    Maletsunyane Gorge.

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    MORE INFO::www.biggameparks.org (+268 528 3943/4

    GRADING: Easy to Intermediate

    DURATION: 23 hours

    START POINT: Ndlovu Main Camp

    COORDINATES: S261533.9; E315236.4

    TERRAIN: Jeep track, gravel road, singletrack

    MAP: Available from reception

    CELL RECEPTION: Reception at Ndlovu Camp

    CONFIGURATION: Circular 7 Return Combo

    TRAILINFO

    TRAILBASICS

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:Fee payable for

    guided ride

    FACILITIES:Accommodation, camp site, shop,

    restaurant, ablutions, cell reception, braai

    area, bikes for hire

    BEWARE OF:Dangerous game; snakes

    Feel the need to tune into your

    Born to be Wild side? Then set

    course for Swaziland and come

    and explore the many miles

    of MTB trails crisscrossing this

    tiny kingdom. If you havent

    yet explored The Kingdom,

    youre missing out on southern

    Africas most spontaneous

    tourist destination. You donteven need a visa!

    The Sun-up Cycle is a guided

    ride at Hlane Royal National

    Park, and is the wake-up call

    every mountain biker dreams

    of. Rise with the sun, fill up on

    a cuppa joe, and keep your

    eyes peeled as you duck onto

    the short stretch through the

    rhino and elephant section.

    Once youve made it through

    big-game territory, its a gravel

    cruise to Mahlindsa Dam

    (4km), where you can checkout the bird hide or pedal

    further on around the dam.

    On your return, turn left at the

    the Ngoti Road and crank onto

    the singletrack just before

    crossing the river. Experience

    the perfect blend of mild and

    wild riding, following game

    tracks swooping amid stands

    of tamboti and knob-thorn

    on the rivers edge. Once you

    T-bone with the dirt road,

    various route options can link

    you back to Main Camp.

    HlaneSun-Up Cycle

    COUNTRYSwaziland REGION Lumbo CLOSEST TOWNManzini TRAIL DESTINATIONHlane Royal National Park

    ROUTE DESCRIPTION

    HOW TO GET THERE

    From Mbabane/Manzini, follow the M3 to Hlane

    Royal National Park, situated near Simunye

    (about an hours drive).

    BEST TIME OF YEAR

    Year-round.

    OFF THE BIKE

    Guests can partake in a range of activities,including self-drive exploring, open-vehicle

    game drives, lion/rhino tours, birding walks

    and a visit to the neighbouring chiefs village.

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    MORE INFO::www.biggameparks.org (+268 528 3944

    If you cant make it to Swaziland

    for the humdinger Imvelo MTB

    Challenge, the good news is

    that you can visit at any time

    to ride at least one days worth

    of this superb stage race. All

    you need to do is get yourself

    to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary,

    where a good 45km-plus of jeep

    track and singletrack awaits youand your bike.

    This scenic reserve is the only

    one of Swazilands Big Game

    Parks where you can safely

    get outside to crank or hike

    the landscape, as there is no

    dangerous game about (except

    for the hippos, of course, but

    we hope they will stay in the

    lake). You can, however,prepare yourself for a few

    painful ascents, especially if

    you plan to climb all the way to

    the top of Nyonyane (Rock of

    Execution) Peak.

    The viewpoint here was used

    by the erstwhile kings to fling

    dissenters and vagabonds to

    their death, and still offers,

    erm killer views across the

    undulating plains. If singletrack

    is your thing, youll be pleased

    to know Mlilwane now boasts

    11km of purpose-built MTB trail

    in addition to the various hikingand game tracks.

    Wooden bridges, technical

    rock sections and gritty water

    crossings ensure an exhilarating

    ride and instant recovery from

    any granny-gear grouchiness.

    Plus there is a whole heap

    of cycling throughout the

    surrounding region.

    MlilwaneMTB Trails

    COUNTRYSwaziland REGION Lobamba CLOSEST TOWNManzini TRAIL DESTINATIONMlilwane Wildlife Sanctuar y

    ROUTE DESCRIPTION

    GRADING: Easy to Intermediate (some steep climbs)

    DURATION: 14 hours

    START POINT: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary Camp Site

    COORDINATES: S262805.7; E310942.2

    TERRAIN: Jeep track, dirt roads and 10km singletrack

    MAP: From Mlilwane reception

    CELL RECEPTION: Good

    CONFIGURATION: Circular ride, as well as return options

    TRAILINFO

    TRAILBASICS

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:Fee payable for

    day visitors; guests ride free

    FACILITIES:Lodge, chalets, backpackers,

    camp sites, shop, restaurant, ablutions;

    guides and mountain bikes available

    BEWARE OF:Loose gravel on some

    descents

    HOW TO GET THERE

    Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary is off the MR3 between

    Mbabane and Manzini.

    BEST TIME OF YEAR

    All year round.

    OFF THE BIKE

    You dont need a vis a, theres no need to convert c ash or

    learn a new language welcome to the Swazi Kingdom!

    Get up close and personal with the Big Five, go rhino

    tracking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, horse riding,

    scrambling, caving the list is endless.

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    TRAILBASICS

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:Free for lodge guests; day visitors

    pay a fee

    FACILITIES:Various accommodation options on site; toilets

    and showers (when Maroela Camp or Molope Camp Site are

    not occupied), picnic sites

    BEWARE OF:Game (no Big Five), snakes and the odd drop-offMORE INFORMATION:Lindani has good quality entry-level

    mountain bikes for hire; Vaalwater is your final stop for fuel,

    fresh produce and ice

    LP

    GRADING: Easy to Difficult

    DURATION: Up to five hours

    START POINT: Farm office

    COORDINATES: S240323.5; E282208.2

    TERRAIN: Singletrack, firm hard-pack with some gravel and rock,but very little sand; gritty 4x4 tracks

    MAP: Map of singletrack and jeep tracks with contours andprofiles available on website and at the office

    CELL RECEPTION: Intermittent

    CONFIGURATION: Various circular options; a minimum of 60km

    TRAILINFO

    LEGENDTopsy Turvy 12km

    Easy Rider 4.3km

    Down n Out 5.1km

    As Good as it Gets 6.6km

    Roller Coaster Ravine 3km

    Tarred / main road

    Untarred / dirt road

    Point of interest

    Parking

    Highly technical area

    P

    T

    Roller Coaster Ravine3km

    As Good as it Gets6.6km

    Down n Out5.1kmEasy Rider

    4.3km

    Topsy Turvy 12kmM

    elk

    rivie

    r

    Kope

    rspru

    it

    R518

    P

    MotsengLodge

    BushCamp

    LindaniLodge

    Loft

    T

    To Mokopane

    To Marken

    To Marken

    To Vaalwater

    Start Point240324S282208E

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    Top Trail MapIn More Top MTB Trails, youll get

    all the dirt on the best trails, routesand rides in 6 provinces. Up-to-date

    route info, great photographs and

    excellent, detailed maps make this

    book the perfect companion for

    experienced as well as aspiring

    mountain-biking enthusiasts.

    An overview of the trails reviewedin the first book, Top MTB Trails,

    as well as some trails in our neigh-

    bouring countries of Botswana,

    Lesotho and Swaziland, are also

    included in the book.

    So, get on your bike and ride!

    Visit www.sappi.com/mountainbikingfor more information.

    MORE

    TOP MTBTRAILS

    I S B N 978- 1- 77026- 593- 6

    9 7 8 1 7 7 0 2 6 5 9 3 6

    2.5km

    6.9km

    2.2km

    4.5km

    6.2km

    2.6km

    Me

    lkR

    iver

    Kope

    rspru

    it

    WaterbergBiosphereReserve

    P

    MotsengLodge

    BushCamp

    StoneHouse

    The Loft

    Thabeng

    MolopeCamp

    MaroelaCamp

    Lindani GameFarm Office

    T

    To Mokopane

    Start Point

    240323.5S

    282208.2E

    You have the pace to go all the way.

    We have the space to take you there.