Words and Images by: Jacques Marais The Winterhoek Mountains – situated within the breathtaking Berg Rivier Tourism Region, close to Porterville – is fast becoming an adventure MTB destination of note. Local Buzz: Tucked away high within the remote Winterhoek peaks above Porterville in the Cape, Beaverlac boasts an outstanding […]
Trails
Jacques Marais is the South African trail guru. If he’s not scouting a new MTB trial, he’s running a new route in the Drakensberg. His new book, Top MTB Trails 2, has just hit the shelves of all good book shops and you can purchase a copy for R250. Follow him on Twitter @JacqMaraisPhoto.
TRAILS: PICKETBERG MOUNTAIN
Words & Images by Jacques Marais Get your Vitamin (G)ravel fix the next time you visit the Berg River Tourism Area, approximately 90min from Cape Town. The challenging Piketberg Circuit meanders via the scenic Sandveld plains and boasts a total riding distance of up to 300km, depending on your choice […]
TRAILS: OVERBERG – WESTERN CAPE
Words and Images by: Jacques Marais Crank up the magic of the Overberg back roads amidst the breath-taking canola and wheat fields lining the legendary “Around The Pot” Route. This race rates right up there as one of SA’s “greatest gravel grinds” and you’ll be chuffed to know you can […]
TRAILS: GEORGE TRAILS – WITFONTEIN
Words & Images: Jacques Marais You’ve seen the George number plate, right? Locals will have you believe that the ‘CAW’ stand for ‘cold and wet’, but this is just a malicious rumour spread by the outdoor crowd there keen to keep you off their trails.. Local Buzz: No my china, […]
TRAILS: BETHLEHEM FARM, BANHOEK CONSERVANCY
Words & Images: Jacques Marais There’s been a whole load of lekker added to the Banhoek Trail System of late, and more specifically along the Bethlehem Farm section of the track. Hope you can handle the stoke, china! LOCAL BUZZ: Stellenbosch has always been setting the trends when it comes […]
Trails: 3 Silos East London
Words & Images: Jacques Marais There’s a little piece of pedal paradise below the Wild Coast and it seems just about no-one knows about it. East London boasts a handful of beaut trails, plus a bunch of damn fine beaches to boot … Local Buzz: So, here’s a thought … […]
Trails: Magoebaskloof
Words and Images by: Jacques Marais THE “CLOUD MOUNTAINS” OF THE LIMPOPO PROVINCE RATE AS ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S ORIGINAL MOUNTAIN BIKING DESTINATIONS. A ROBUST FAT TRACK CULTURE PREVAILS, WITH CONTEMPORARY TRAILS SUITING THE FULL SPECTRUM OF RIDING STYLES AND ATTITUDES OUT THERE. PLUS, THERE’S DAMN GOOD BEER! Local Buzz […]
Trails: De Hoop, Overstrand Region
Words and Images by Jacques Marais “THE HUSH”: SOME PLACES HAVE IT, AND OTHERS DO NOT … DE HOOP NATURE RESERVE IS OF THE FORMER KIND, AND SURELY RATES AS ONE OF THOSE WILDERNESS SPACES WHERE THE TRANQUILLITY WILL COME AND FIND YOU. Local Buzz De Hoop is – at […]
Trails: Valley of Dreams
Words and Images by Jacques Marais “Ultimate” is one of those adjectives that are oft over-used, but in the case of the “Ultimate Southern Pass Trail’” I really believe it applies. This new multi-day route traverses half a dozen private properties within the Stanford Valley, and everything from the views […]
Trails Apr / May 2020: Tulbagh Bone Trail
Words & Images: Jacques Marais Mountain biking can be a pretty cruel sport and chances are you will seriously suffer if you tackle the Tulbagh Bone Trail a tad undercooked. Yup, this is a tough old bugger of a crank into those high-and-righteous Witzenberg ridges … LOCAL BUZZ: Welcome to […]