Trails

  • |

    Kleinsee Diamond Ghost Town Coastal Ride

    ByMtbApp

    Kleinsee is one of the most extraordinary towns in South Africa — a De Beers diamond company town that housed over 7,000 residents in identical colonial-era housing behind security fencing for most of the 20th century, then emptied almost overnight when the diamond mining operations were scaled back between 2009 and 2011. The population dropped from 7,000 to under 200 in less than two years, leaving an almost perfectly preserved mid-century company town standing silent in the Namaqualand coastal scrub.

    Cycling the Ghost Town

    The 15km Boulder Heritage Circuit through the former company town is unlike any other MTB ride in South Africa — uniform rows of abandoned mine manager and worker housing, an empty company club, a shuttered hospital and the surreal Pink Salt Lake (a former diamond mine cofferdam now filled with salt-rich reddish water dense enough to float in) create a post-industrial landscape of genuine strangeness and beauty. The Boulder Heritage Route extends into the old mine workings themselves, where the geological evidence of diamond-bearing gravels is visible in the excavated faces.

    The Seal Colony and Estuary

    The Buffels River estuary loop (10km) leads to one of the most extraordinary wildlife spectacles on the South African coast: a 350,000-strong Cape fur seal colony immediately north of town — the largest onshore seal colony in South Africa. The noise, smell and sheer biomass of the colony are unforgettable.

    Shipwreck Coastal Route

    The 37km guided track north to Koingnaas crosses coastal dune fields with multiple shipwrecks visible along the route — book at Kleinsee Tourism in advance. A shuttle return is required as the track is one-way only.

    Getting There

    Kleinsee is on the R355, 105km west of Springbok. GPS: -29.6833, 17.0500. Tel: +27 27 831 1102. From Springbok: R355 west through the Spektakel Pass area.

  • |

    Hondeklip Bay Diamond Coast Trail

    ByMtbApp

    Hondeklip Bay is one of those places that rewards the effort of getting there enormously — a frontier fishing village on the Namaqualand Diamond Coast, 104km from Springbok on a gravel mountain road that crosses the Messelpad and Wildeperdehoek passes, with no fuel station and no ATM. The village was once the primary copper ore export harbour for the Namaqualand mines, before Port Nolloth’s superior natural harbour and railway connection made it redundant. Today it is a regional holiday destination for Namaqua families, a spot for serious game fishermen and a magnet for travellers who seek out South Africa’s most remote and character-rich coastal communities.

    The Coastal Trails

    The 20km coastal loop follows dirt tracks around the bay and its surrounding koppies — the cold, grey-green Benguela Current Atlantic stretching to the horizon in one direction, the stark Namaqualand coastal scrub in the other. The Aristea Shipwreck (6km return, signposted south of town) is the most visited cycling excursion: the 1945 iron hulk of the Greek cargo ship MV Aristea rests on the rocks 3km outside town, slowly rusting into the sea, its ribs and plates visible through the surf. The English Gravestones cemetery, perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean, commemorates the sailors who drowned when their ships met the same fate on this unforgiving coast.

    Messelpad Pass Connection

    The 104km gravel road from Hondeklip Bay to Springbok via Messelpad and Wildeperdehoek passes is one of the great Namaqualand cycling adventures — the passes rise through rocky copper mountain terrain of genuine drama, and the descent to Hondeklip Bay reveals the Atlantic on the horizon from the top. This route requires a full day, total self-sufficiency and a reliable bike — no services for the entire 104km.

    Getting There

    Hondeklip Bay is accessed via the R382 from Port Nolloth (80km south) or via the gravel Messelpad Pass road from Springbok. GPS: -30.3167, 17.2833. Tel: +27 27 651 1177. Confirm access arrangements before travelling — former diamond restricted zone.

  • |

    Concordia Quiver Tree Trail

    ByMtbApp

    Concordia sits in the heart of Namaqualand’s historic copper belt — 5km from Okiep in a landscape that was being actively mined for copper by the Cape Copper Mining Company from 1862, making it one of the oldest industrial mining sites in South Africa. The granite koppies surrounding Concordia carry the legacy of that mining history in rusted infrastructure, rock-cut adits and the quiet ruins of what was once a booming company town. They also host one of the most beautiful natural features of Namaqualand: large colonies of kokerboom (quiver trees, Aloe dichotoma) that root in the granite boulders and grow to 7 metres in height, their distinctive succulent forms silhouetted against the Namaqualand sky in a way that makes the landscape unmistakably unique.

    The MTB Loop

    The 25km Quiver Tree Loop follows jeep tracks and rocky paths through the granite koppies south and east of Concordia, weaving between kokerboom colonies and copper mining remnants with the open Namaqualand valley as a constant backdrop. The terrain is rocky — loose granite on the hillside sections and more settled gravel on the valley floor. The Concordia Hills Scramble extension adds technical koppie riding for experienced riders who want more elevation and challenge.

    Getting There

    Concordia is 5km from Okiep on the R382. GPS: -29.5833, 17.8500. From Springbok: R382 south toward Okiep and Concordia (8km total). No fuel in Concordia — use Okiep or Springbok.

  • |

    Bitterfontein Gravel Grind

    ByMtbApp

    Bitterfontein is one of South Africa’s smallest towns by any measure — a handful of buildings on the N7 between Garies and Kamieskroon, with a general dealer, a church and a school. Its name (Bitter Spring) refers to the brackish water that disappointed the first Trekker farmers who arrived here. For gravel cyclists, it is precisely the unremarkable nature of Bitterfontein that makes it interesting: the flat Namaqualand coastal plain surrounding the town is among the least-travelled cycling terrain in the country, with 60km of farm roads and the N7 corridor linking it to the wildflower destinations on either side.

    The Riding

    The 60km loop to Garies and back follows the N7 south to Garies (35km of quiet two-lane tar road through typical Namaqualand flat coastal scrub) and returns on farm roads to the west of the highway — a relaxed half-day ride through the wildflower corridor. In a good rainfall year the farmland between Bitterfontein and Garies produces wildflower displays that rival anything north of Kamieskroon, with considerably fewer visitors. The route westward toward the Namaqua National Park’s coastal section at the Groen River (30km) reaches an undeveloped stretch of Namaqualand coast within the park boundary — rugged, empty and accessible with a SANParks day permit.

    Getting There

    Bitterfontein is on the N7, 520km from Cape Town. GPS: -31.0167, 18.2500. No fuel available in Bitterfontein itself — fill up in Garies (35km south) or Kamieskroon (35km north). From Cape Town: N7 north through Citrusdal and Vanrhynsdorp.

  • |

    Olifantshoek Rocky Outcrop MTB

    ByMtbApp

    Olifantshoek (Elephant’s Corner) is named for the elephants that once roamed the Kalahari plains in this part of the Northern Cape — a reminder that the landscape has been transformed entirely since human settlement, and that the red dune grassland and camelthorn woodland of today was, within historical memory, elephant country. The town sits in a district between the major Kalahari mining centres of Postmasburg and Kuruman, and its immediate surroundings contain the most dramatic topographic contrast in the area: granite koppie outcrops rising from the flat Kalahari plain with steep, rocky flanks and vegetated summits that support a different suite of flora and fauna to the surrounding grassland.

    The MTB Terrain

    The 35km Rocky Koppie Loop uses jeep tracks and informal singletrack built by local riders through the granite outcrops south and east of Olifantshoek. The loose rocky terrain on the koppie sections provides genuine technical challenge — sharp granite edges, steep short ascents and descents, and the constant need for route reading through boulder fields. The plateau grassland sections between koppies are fast, flat riding with excellent visibility across the Kalahari plain. Gemsbok, springbok and steenbok are commonly visible from the saddle. The extended 50km Kalahari connector northwest enters classic red dune terrain toward Kokomis — a full half-day of empty Kalahari riding.

    Getting There

    Olifantshoek is on the R385, approximately 60km north of Postmasburg. GPS: -27.9500, 22.7167. From Kuruman: R385 west approximately 80km. From Upington: east on R31 to Postmasburg, then R385 north.

  • |

    Britstown Karoo Gravel Loop

    ByMtbApp

    Britstown is one of the most genuinely peaceful small towns in the Northern Cape — a quiet dorp on the Ongers River in the flat centre of the Upper Karoo, 60km from the nearest N1 junction at Three Sisters and surrounded by sheep farming country that has barely changed in character since the Anglo-Boer War. The Britstown Caravan Park on the Ongers River is one of the best-value and most pleasantly situated overnight options in the Upper Karoo — the mature camelthorn trees along the river bank provide shade, birdsong and the contrast of green riparian vegetation against the surrounding beige Karoo plains that gives the park a genuine tranquillity.

    The Ongers River Valley Loop (25km) follows gravel roads along the river valley floor — camelthorn woodland provides shade and birding, and the river itself flows seasonally (mostly winter and spring), with the African fish eagle present when water fills the pools. The broader Plains Circuit (50km) extends onto the open Upper Karoo farmland east and west of town — flat, fast and completely quiet, with the characteristic Karoo dolerite koppies visible on the horizon in every direction providing just enough visual interest to anchor an otherwise infinite flat landscape.

    Getting There

    Britstown is on the R389, 60km south of Three Sisters on the N1. GPS: -30.5833, 23.5000. From Cape Town: N1 east to Three Sisters (700km), then R389 south 60km to Britstown.

  • |

    Namaqualand Diamond Coast Bikepacking Route

    ByMtbApp

    The Namaqualand Diamond Coast Bikepacking Route is the definitive multi-day cycling experience in the Northern Cape — a 400km loop that connects all the defining landscapes of the region: the N7 wildflower corridor, the Namaqualand copper mountain passes, the diamond coast ghost towns, the Cape fur seal colony, the Atlantic shipwreck coast and the remarkable frontier hospitality of Scott’s Seaside Inn at Port Nolloth. It can be ridden in either direction; the north-to-south clockwise version is described here as the preferred August-September wildflower season itinerary.

    The Route Day by Day

    Day 1 — Garies to Kamieskroon (50km): North on N7 through the Anenous Pass approach — wildflowers on the farmland in season — to Kamieskroon. Overnight at the legendary Kamieskroon Hotel.

    Day 2 — Kamieskroon to Namaqua NP and Springbok (90km): West to Namaqua NP Skilpad (peak wildflower day in season), then north through Namaqualand copper country to Springbok. Overnight in Springbok — resupply, rest, and an evening at a Springbok restaurant.

    Day 3 — Springbok to Port Nolloth via Spektakel Pass (90km): North on N7 to Steinkopf, west on R382 over Spektakel Pass descending to the Atlantic coast at Port Nolloth. Overnight at Scott’s Seaside Inn — the most atmospheric overnight on the route.

    Day 4 — Port Nolloth to Kleinsee (72km): South on coastal roads to Kleinsee — the diamond ghost town. Boulder Heritage Circuit, seal colony, Pink Salt Lake. Overnight in Kleinsee.

    Day 5 — Kleinsee to Hondeklip Bay (35km + optional 37km shipwreck route): South to Hondeklip Bay via coastal road. Overnight at Honnehokke Resort — crayfish if in season.

    Day 6 — Hondeklip Bay to Springbok via Messelpad Pass (104km): The hardest day — 104km on gravel, climbing the Messelpad and Wildeperdehoek passes back to Springbok through the copper mountain heartland.

    Self-Sufficiency Note

    Carry minimum 5 litres of water at all times on this route. Mobile signal is absent in many sections. Download the full GPX track and carry a paper backup map. A comprehensive repair kit is essential — the nearest bike shops are in Springbok and Cape Town.

    Getting There

    Start: Springbok, 570km from Cape Town on the N7. GPS: -29.6641, 17.8866. Tel: +27 27 712 8035. Springbok is serviced by Intercape and SA Roadlink buses from Cape Town and Johannesburg.

  • |

    Orange River 20km Gorge Ride

    ByMtbApp

    Augrabies Falls is one of the most underrated national parks in South Africa — a 56-metre main falls dropping into an 18km gorge carved by the Orange River through ancient Precambrian granite, surrounded by quiver trees, Kalahari scrub and game that includes klipspringer, gemsbok, ground squirrel and baboon. The main falls is the sixth-largest waterfall on earth by volume during peak flood events. Despite this, Augrabies receives a fraction of the visitors that the better-known Kruger and Cape parks attract.

    The 20km Gorge Loop

    The park’s gravel road and jeep track network provides approximately 20km of cycling from the main gate to the various gorge viewpoints — Moon Rock, Ararat, Oranjekom — that reveal the full scale of the Orange River gorge from above. The standard visitor road (sealed and gravel mixed) covers most viewpoints and is suitable for any fit cyclist. The 480km of gorge accessible from the park provides a dramatic backdrop that increases in drama as you move further from the main falls.

    Khamkirri River Camp

    Khamkirri River Camp (23km northwest of the park gate) provides the most mountain-bike-focused experience: 7km of riverside loop, MTB hire, guided rides to the park and a stunning riverside setting with the Orange River flowing through the camp. The 100km guided return route to Riemvasmaak and back can be added for an epic multi-day adventure.

    Getting There

    Augrabies Falls NP is 25km from Kakamas on the N14. GPS: -28.5922, 20.3386. Tel: +27 54 452 9200. From Upington: N14 west 120km to Kakamas then park turn-off.

  • |

    Loxton Village Gravel Loop

    ByMtbApp

    Loxton is the secret jewel of the Upper Karoo — a perfectly preserved Victorian farming village 60km east of Victoria West where the grid of whitewashed 1890s cottages around the Dutch Reformed Church has changed so little in 130 years that the sense of temporal displacement on arrival is complete. There are no chain stores, no traffic lights, no advertising billboards. The main street is unpaved. The village dam on the eastern edge of town provides a swimming hole for summer heat relief that has served this function for a century. The blesbok and springbok graze the commonage on the village outskirts as they presumably always have.

    For cyclists, Loxton provides the archetypal quiet Karoo gravel experience: flat farm roads in every direction through Upper Karoo sheep country, the enormous sky above, the absence of other traffic and the village church tower as an anchor point on the horizon for the return. The 20km village circuit is a gentle introduction; the 40km hills extension ventures into the low escarpment country northeast of town where game farms add wildlife sightings and the first hint of topographic relief to the otherwise pan-flat terrain. A cold drink at the Village Café after the ride, with the Loxton village square in the afternoon light, is one of the Northern Cape’s most quietly satisfying small pleasures.

    Getting There

    Loxton is on the R61, 60km east of Victoria West. GPS: -31.4667, 22.3667. From Cape Town: N1 east to Three Sisters, R29 north through Loxton direction (700km total).

  • |

    Hanover Karoo Gravel Loop

    ByMtbApp

    Hanover is a quiet Upper Karoo dorp on the R389 between Richmond and Britstown — a characteristic Karoo town of Victorian church, wide dusty streets, corrugated iron roofs and the enormous sky overhead that defines the Karoo experience. The town sits at approximately 1,300m altitude on the flat Upper Karoo dolerite plains — the same geological surface that extends continuously from here to Victoria West, Britstown, Colesberg and beyond, only interrupted by the occasional weathered koppie or river drainage line.

    The 50km Hanover Plains Loop follows gravel farm roads east and north of town through sheep and game farm country — a classic flat Karoo gravel ride with excellent bird sightings (the Upper Karoo is one of the best areas in South Africa for the national bird, the blue crane, which grazes in large groups on the Karoo vleis). The R389 south to Richmond (55km) is a worthwhile extension: Richmond is South Africa’s mohair capital — a larger Karoo town with several excellent guesthouses, a good restaurant and a small fossil museum with Karoo vertebrate fossil specimens from the surrounding farms. The combination of Hanover riding and a Richmond overnight creates a satisfying Upper Karoo cycling day.

    Getting There

    Hanover is on the R389 between Richmond and Britstown. GPS: -31.0667, 24.4500. From Cape Town: N1 east to Three Sisters, N9 north through Hanover direction. From Colesberg: N10 south toward Hanover (120km).