Situated on the scenic South Coast of KwaZulu Natal and just an hour away from Durban, Rocky Bay Trails offers visitors the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of busy city life by offering an array of outdoor activities for the whole family, including mountain biking.
The Rocky Bay Resort MTB Trails, based on Ellingham Estate Farm, were opened in 2011 and offers both novice and experienced riders the chance to take advantage of the great tracks and scenery along one of the four varying trails, the 11km; 19km; 27km and 36km.
All riders are required to obtain an entry permit to the premises which is obtained at the Rocky Bay Resorts security gate.
Other activities visitors can choose to participate in include running trails.
Trail operating times – from sun up to sun down.
Admission – R20 for adults or take advantage of the Entry Cards available at the Lodge Reception.
The Gwahumbe Reserve MTB Trail consists of a fully-marked 18km route with single track sections. Situated in a game reserve, riders will get the chance to view various wildlife and bird species. The trails are located in the mid-Illovo region in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Camelroc MTB Trails consist of two route distances, a 10km and 30km. It is situated by the Camelroc Guest Farm near Fouriesburg in the central Free State region.
The Avianto MTB Trails are situated within a scenic rural area around Muldersdrift in Gauteng. The trails are situated by the Aviano Clubhouse and offers two route options, a 6km beginner’s course on mainly jeep tracks and gravel roads and a 17km intermediate course with a handful of single track sections and some challenging climbs.
The Natures Valley MTB Trails are unmarked and lead over hills, through the forest and along single and jeep tracks with rocky and sandy terrains. It is located in the Tsitsikamma National Park by the Natures Valley Rest Camp.
Crazy Dave’s Bikepark offers five different lines, including a dual slalom and kids pump track. It is located in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Impala Ranch offers custom designed MTB trails through fynbos, old forest, alongside weathered rocks and boulders, up and down steep valley sides with jumps, hops and ramps.
A fast 18 km loop takes you around the farm with some technical sections.
Riders will also be close to the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, which is one of the first and largest wind farms in the country.
Groenkloof Nature Reserve is situated in the Fountains Valley which is just 5km outside of Pretoria and offers visitors the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of busy city life by offering an array of outdoor activities which includes mountain biking.
The reserve itself was established by Paul Kruger in 1895 to protect game and wildlife from poachers and is South Africa’s first nature sanctuary.
All of the MTB trails are well marked, offering cyclists a unique ride on single and jeep track with a few technical points thanks to the overall rocky terrain, with riders being able to choose various route options on subsequent loops.
The terrain is a varying mix of single track, jeep track , bridge and river crossings, steep ascents and rocky climbs dependant on the riders choice of route and may include encounters with wildlife in the park.
Other activities visitors can choose to take part in at the reserve include horse, hiking and 4×4 trails as well as guided safaris through the park, picnic and braai areas.
Groenkloof Nature Reserve is open in the Summer months (Sep- Apr) from 5:30am to 7pm and during Winter (May-Aug) from 7am to 6pm and is located on the corner of Eeufees Road & Christina De Wit Ave in Pretoria.
Admission – R35 for adults; R20 for children aged 7 to 17 and R10 for children younger than 7.
Virginia Trails is located on the Virginia Farm in Eston, KwaZulu Natal which is halfway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
MTB enthusiasts can expect some great purpose built single track found along the 80km of farm trails, designed to be fast and free flowing with a few technical sections along the way.
The terrain on each route varies and includes a great mix of sugar cane fields, grasslands, deep valleys, streams and dams with the whole trail network consisting of a East, West and North Loop which can be combined to form a number of varying routes, allowing riders the freedom to select their own route options and distances.
The standard route options include a 2km Blue Route and 2.5km Pink Route which is ideal for kids, the 8km West Green Route, the 12km East Green Route and the 28km North Green Route .
The trails are also used by hikers, there are shower, changing facilities and a small coffee shop on premises as well as a braai area, with accommodation packages available to those wanting to incorporate a visit to the Virginia Trails as part of getaway.
Trail usage bookings are essential via bookings@virginiafarm.co.za , and are open in the Summer from 6am to 6pm and during Winter from 7am to 5pm.
Daily rates are R45 per adult, R30 for Students and Pensioners and R20 for children under the age of 12 which covers the use of the trails, a bike wash and sage of the ablution facilities and braai area.
The Dunkeld Country Estate is just three hours outside of Johannesburg and is found just behind the picturesque town of Dullstroom, offering outdoor enthusiasts 36km of manmade trails which encompass numerous bridges and streams stretching over vast areas of prime country side on single track paths.
The Estate is situated at 2076m above sea level which is great for those cyclists looking to train at high altitudes.
There are three trails to choose from, the 8km Blue Forest Trail which is a scenic route traversing over single track and is set within the highest point in the Estate at 2080 meters above sea level.
The 15km Orange Mountain Trail is aimed at the intermediate to advanced riders and is a tough route with some steep climbs and gnarly descents with a great mix of single track and bridge crossings.
The 13km Green Trout Trail features a few water crossings and some beautiful forest terrain with some fast and furious sections.
The Estate also offers visitors an array of other activities which include fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting, archery, horseback riding and bird watching.
Central Park Bike Trails is situated in Modderfontein Reserve and are maintained by Two The Core Events, who are also responsible for the planning and cutting of new trails and offers cyclists looking to test their skills on some unique tracks, the ideal destination to do just that.
There are four main routes for cyclists to explore, the 10km Orange Route which consists of mainly Jeep Track with some climbs along the way and no overly technical sections, the 20km Green Route which has a combination of Jeep and Single Track traversing up a few mild climbs, the 30km Yellow Route which is mostly Single Track with some Jeep Track and fun technical sections and the 40km Red Route which mimics the Yellow Route but also boasts a ton of rocks, drop-offs and tight corners.
For those riders looking for more of a challenge, they can try their luck on the Klondike Section / Black Route which is an extra 4km loop with tons of technical sections, rocks, drop-offs and tight corners – not for the faint hearted.
All of the trails loop back to each other so riders can choose to shorten their ride.
Visitors to the reserve are also able to use the picnic area located at the Fish Eagle Dam where fishing is permitted on a catch and release basis.
The operating times are Tuesday to Sunday from 6am to 6pm with the park remaining open on a Wednesday evening until 10pm for Night Riding.
If you’re in the Joburg area looking for a MTB Route close to home, Braamfontein Spruit should be the name that pops to mind.
This 60km + endurance ride runs from Melville Koppies in the South all the way down to Paulshof in the North and is also one of Joburg’s most prominent greenbelts, with The Spruit effectively being a path that runs alongside the Jukskei river.
Virtually single track all the way, the route predominantly follows the water course with minimal technical sections en route making this an ideal ride for beginner to intermediate riders, but with sufficient options and variety to be entertaining and challenging for the more advanced cyclists too.
There are various starting points that one can access this route along from Emmarentia Dam to Delta Park to Albert’s Farm with picnic spots along majority of the route which is also used by runners and aquatic athletes.
Users of the Braamfontein Spruit Route are advised never to ride the route alone for security reasons.
Situated perfectly between Centurion and Johannesburg, Northern Farm is a mountain bikers dream location, with varying terrain suitable for all fitness levels and for the whole family based in a safe environment.
The MTB Routes have been established on an actual working farm that spans more than 2500 hectares, with animals and farm vehicles having the right of way.
Cyclists have four main routes to choose from here, the 12km Green Route which is classified as relatively easy over farm roads, the 22km Blue Route which has a nice mix of farm roads, single track and easy obstacles for the beginner rider, the 34km Red Route which is suited to the intermediate rider and has a mix of single track and obstacles and the 62km Black Route which has a few technical sections and obstacles laden on single track, suitable for the intermediate rider.
The kiddies also have their own 8km Pink Route which is set on farm roads with all routes clearly marked.
On completion of your ride, you can take advantage of the onsite coffee shop while you have your bike washed or try to identify some of the 270 recorded bird species found in the Diepsloot Nature Reserve.
The farm is open on weekends and public holidays from 6:30am to 5:30pm from May to August and 6am to 6pm from September to April.
Cyclists are required to purchase entry tickets on arrival to the farm at R40 per person.
Since its inception in 2009, the Cascades MTB Park has grown in popularity with cyclists over the years.
Having hosted the MTB World Championships on numerous occasions, this venue offers superb riding conditions in the heart of KZN and boasts a number of XCO, XCE and Downhill trails with the public able to access the trails for free.
The trails are maintained regularly thanks to the KZN MTB Commission who have taken charge of maintaining the Cascades area and the park is open all day, every day.
If you’re looking for some of the best flowing, fairly non technical singletrack just outside of East London, hand built by a passionate mountain biker, then 3 Silo’s MTB Park is the place for you.
Cyclists get to choose between three main trail options, the 20.5km Red Route and 18km Blue Route which include some technical sections and climbs and the milder 10.7km Yellow route.
You can look forward to terrain that includes singletrack, floating and wooden bridges, switchbacks, climbs and some stream crossings.
And not forgetting the kiddies, they get to go wild on the kiddies 7.5km Green Route which include shorten options of 2km’s and 4km’s and comprises of singletrack with mild climbs as well as a 80m floating pallet bridge on the 7.5km route.
The trails are also open to trail runners and walkers with a café on premises open from Wednesday to Sundays, 7:30am to 5:30pm.
The trails are open all day everyday throughout the year, with entry fee being R20 on the weekend and R10 during the week via honesty box.
GPS: S32°54’21.0”/ E27°52’10.0”
Situated in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands, nestled between and abundance of bird life and wildlife is where you’ll find the St Ives MTB Park and Trails.
The trail network, designed by Big Wheel Cycles have been mapped to be fun, flowing and perfect for all cyclists from beginners wanting to learn all about MTB to the more experienced riders seeking training and skills development.
The trails are graded by colour with the green trails classified as easy, blue trails suited for the more intermediate rider and the red and black trails for the experienced rider.
There are four trail routes to choose from, the 6.3km XCO Trail route which is green graded, the 1.2km Tom and Jerrys Canyon route graded as a blue trail, the 600m Speedway route which is also graded as blue and the 1.3km D/H & Pop Rock graded as red and black.
All riders cycling on the red and black routes are required to wear a full face helmet and all other cyclists are kept to the standard no helmet no ride policy.
The Bike Park and trails are open on Monday to Sunday from 8am to 5pm with cyclists registering at the hotel reception and bikes available for hire for guests.
Visitors can also try their hand at the Trout and Bass filled dam free to hotel guests and a charge of R100 per person for day guests, the hiking trails in the area and food and drinks available at either the hotel or for purchase to enjoy at the onsite picnic and braai areas.
Located in the heart of Gauteng is the PwC Bike Park, one of the first international standard cycle parks in Gauteng.
There is something for the whole family from a tarred kids track for the littlies, junior mountain bike trail, pump track or multi tiered BMX track to four main trails for the older riders.
The Green Circle track is easy flowing, incorporating both single and jeep track and is perfect for new riders, the Blue Square track is faster and is more suited towards the intermediate rider with technical sections, the Black Diamond track is fast and challenging – perfect for the more experienced rider and the Double Black Diamond Track is laden with fast, dangerous single track suitable for the expert or professional cycling category.
The park has a number of Mountain Bikes, BMX’s and Kids Straddle Bikes available for hire, picnic spots and braai facilities on site, running trails as well as a jungle gym and jumping castle also available for the kids.
Fees are R20 for riders under five, R50 for riders under 12, R60 for riders under 18 and R75 for adult riders.
The park is open from Monday to Sunday, 6am to 6pm.
Located between Middelburg and Groblersdal in Mpumalanga is the Ruby MTB Trail which runs over seven properties in what is known as the Forever Resorts Loskop Country.
This trail is a challenging ride with portions of technical track suitable for the more intermediate rider.
There are child friendly tracks, short cuts that avoid the more technical portions and options to extend the distance on farm roads, this trail starts at the Ruby Cliff Horse Ranch, a Forever Resort and ranges anywhere from 14km to 40km’s.
The trails are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset with free access to those staying at the Forever Resorts in the area and R50 for day visitors with bookings via the Loskopdam Resort essential.
An array of other activities are open to all staying at the resorts.
Set in the Vredefort Dome just outside Parys is where you’ll find the Berakah Eco Trails.
The dome itself, originated from a meteorite which struck the earth and is a geological structure with a central core of granite-gneiss, surrounded by steep rock formations which forms the mountainous area.
The Berakah Eco Trails are famous for mainly 4×4 and quad bikes with some paths suitable for mountain bikes and trail running.
Distances vary with a choice of 6km to 14km routes set in jeep track and rocky terrain with maps available at reception.
Bookings are essential and fees are R30 per bicycle with accommodation available.
Previously a horse farm, Hakahana Trails consist of huge paddocks, rivers and bushveld traversing almost 50 separate properties 14km’s west of Pretoria.
The route network consists of five main trails, designed as individual loops of varying degrees of difficulty and distance with a mix of dual track, game path, district roads and hand built single track.
The 19km Blue Route has an elevation of 300m and is for the intermediate rider, the 4.5km Green Route has an elevation of 80m made up of mostly single track, the 8km Black Route has a 270m elevation and is known as a tough trail making it more suitable for the advanced rider. The 21km Red Route has a total elevation of 480m taking riders over and up the mountain and the 5.5km Purple Route rises to 130m and is a dedicated XCO track which is suitable for the advanced or expert rider.
Hakahana Trails also caters for children with a 1.1km Yellow Route which is suitable for children or beginners.
Refreshments and post ride eats are also available at the venue.
The trails are only open on Saturday and Sundays from 6am to 12pm in Summer (Sep – April) and 7am to 1pm in Winter (May – Aug) with single entries available at R40 and multiple entries (10) at R300.
Sani Spoors, located in Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal, is home to a bunch of farmers who are passionate about mountain biking and came together to create a system of trails on the working farms, which catered for all skill levels known today as Sani Spoors.
Sani Spoors have seven tracks that visitors can challenge themselves on, the 17km Rainbow/Khotos Clamber which has minimal climbing but a few technical sections, the 7km Mzimkulu Run which has no ascent and is a flat and gentle ride, the 10km Milk Run which is made up of mostly pine forest and single track with a couple of climbs and rocky sections, the 17km Jackal Jol which has been compared to the Milk Run but has a few more climbs, the 3.3km Intshitshi Spoor which is a flat and gentle ride along the river, the 17km Heaven and Hell trail which boasts some of the most spectacular views with a few testing climbs and exhilarating downhill forest single track and lastly the gruelling 32km Ekhutuleni Elevation which is the most technical and exhilarating of all the trails.
All of the trails start at the Olde Duck restaurant on the Drakensberg Garden Road with a strict no helmet no ride policy.
Visitors can also opt to take on a trail running route, try the fine food and beverages on sale at the Olde Duck Restaurant while the kids feed the animals in the animal farm or try their hand at the specially created kiddies track.
All visitors need to fill in the required indemnity forms and pay the relevant fees at the Vanilla Rose gift shop which is on the same premises as Sani Spoors and the Olde Duck.
Daily fees are R45 per person, R135 per week or R450 for Annual Subs.
No entries were found.