Have you explored the trails at Rhebokskloof Wine Estate on the Paarl Mountain yet? Over the festive season Jeanne-Louise Wiese did just that and was thrilled by what she found.
Paarl and its surrounding trails have become one of our favourite mountain biking spots for an adrenalin-driven weekend out in the countryside. Us city dwellers have this natural tendency to want to feel free and embrace space around us, to breathe the fresh air and to see all that is green and colourful. The thing that makes this area special is that it caters for the adventurous, the family-orientated, the laidback rider, and the alternative sports enthusiast. One can easily fill your weekend with a show at the Ou Meulteater (or Old Mill Theatre) on the Friday, a MTB ride at Rhebokskloof and Paarl mountain on the Saturday morning, lunch or dinner at Juno’s and watching a game of polo at Val de Vie on the Sunday. Now that just about covers all my activity needs in one go.
I am lucky enough to have the in-laws living in Paarl and love any excuse to go enjoy a warm hearty home cooked meal. On one of these weekends we discovered that Rhebokskloof Wine Estate has been hiding some of the best singletrack trails in the Paarl valley. The nice thing about these trails is that it was designed in-tune with nature, and they cater for all levels of fitness and technical ability. Plus Rhebokskloof also provides alternatives for the rest of the family like horse riding, trail running, quad biking and wine tasting.
Rhebokskloof is located in the area called Agter-Paarl on the slopes of the famous Paarl Rock which lends itself to cool afternoon breezes which is favourable for both mountain bikers and wine grapes.
The conservation of the property and development of the trails is a result of the focused management of the estate by the current owners who purchased the farm in 2006. The history of the farm dates back to 19 August 1692, when Simon van der Stel awarded a free grant of land to Dirk van Schalkwyk. Since then the farm has exchanged hands several times, been split into smaller portions, reclaimed again and buildings restored to their original glory.
Trails twist and turn along the southern ridge of the farm through threatened Renosterveld, Strandveld and Fynbos habitats. These habitats offer around 1700 unique species of vegetation and is linked to the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve to the South. This connection offers unrestricted movement corridors for the diverse fauna (wildlife) that roam these hills.
The trails at Rhebokskloof are about 20km in length and can be extended by riding into the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve from there. Some tough climbs offer cyclists the opportunity to admire the panoramic views of Wellington, Table Mountain, Paarl Mountain and the Drakenstein mountains. From these look-out points you realise once again how vulnerable the environment is and how lucky we are to enjoy these natural environments that we should protect for all the cycling generations to come.
