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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.