Gravel Road

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    Garies Wildflower Gravel Route

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    Garies is a small N7 service town 52km south of Kamieskroon in the Namaqualand coastal plain — a vital fuel stop on the wildflower season journey north and a surprisingly pleasant cycling base in the broader Namaqualand landscape. In August and September, the surrounding flats and hillsides flower with the same extraordinary wildflower display that defines the entire Namaqualand coastal zone: orange daisies, yellow gazanias and the pink and white of Namaqualand annuals covering the gravel plains to the horizon.

    The 30km gravel loop from Garies follows farm roads through the coastal plain terrain — flat, low-traffic and accessible to any rider — through wildflower country that is as spectacular as any in the more famous Skilpad and Kamieskroon areas but receives a fraction of the visitors. For riders doing the Cape Town to Namaqua Park journey on two wheels, Garies provides a welcoming overnight stop at the Garies Hotel.

    Getting There

    Garies is on the N7, 440km north of Cape Town. GPS: -30.5500, 17.9833. Tourism: +27 27 652 8030.

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    Pella Mission Village Loop

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    Pella is one of South Africa’s most extraordinary hidden gems — a remote Orange River mission village in the Northern Cape desert, home to an enormous cathedral built by French Oblate missionaries and local Nama people between 1882 and 1895. The cathedral is, by any measure, out of proportion to its surroundings — a full Gothic-revival structure with twin towers, built without modern machinery, 250km from the nearest city. How it came to exist in this location is one of the more remarkable stories in South African architectural history.

    The 20km Orange River loop from Pella follows gravel roads through the date palm groves and riverine vegetation that make the Orange River corridor so lush against the surrounding desert. The ride is flat, accessible and deeply peaceful — Pella receives almost no tourists, and the combination of the extraordinary cathedral, the river valley scenery and the complete absence of other visitors creates a cycling experience unlike any other in the Northern Cape. The 50km Pofadder direction ride east from Pella on the R359 is a longer desert option for riders wanting to earn the peaceful return.

    Getting There

    Pella is reached from Pofadder (60km east on the R359) or from the Upington direction. GPS: -29.0167, 19.1500. Remote dirt road access — confirm road conditions before travelling in wet weather.

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    Olifants River Valley Gravel Routes

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    The Olifants River Valley is one of South Africa’s most productive agricultural regions — a fertile corridor between Citrusdal and Vanrhynsdorp where citrus, wine grapes, olives and rooibos are grown under a climate of extreme summer heat and gentle winter sun. For gravel cyclists, the valley offers a distinctly different landscape to the Winelands and Garden Route: wide open, sparsely populated agricultural roads with minimal traffic, big mountain backdrops and the ever-present Olifants River providing shade and wildlife on riverside routes.

    The Routes

    The valley floor loops around Citrusdal are accessible to most riders — flat farm roads through orange and citrus orchards on low-traffic gravel with the Skurweberg and Cederberg mountains as a constant backdrop. The Piekenierskloof Pass (27km ascent from the valley floor, 760m summit) is the most popular climbing challenge — a scenic mountain pass linking the Olifants River Valley to Piketberg that has drawn cyclists for decades, particularly on the early-morning ascent with the Olifants River valley spread out below. The Nieuwoudt Pass provides the classic approach from Citrusdal into the Cederberg Wilderness for those combining valley riding with the more serious MTB terrain at Algeria (see Cederberg MTB Trails listing).

    The Bulshoek Dam section of the Olifants River is excellent for birdwatching rides — the dam and river support a rich variety of water birds and the road along the river carries minimal traffic.

    Practical Notes

    Summer riding in the Olifants River Valley is genuinely dangerous — Citrusdal regularly records temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in December and January. If visiting in summer, rides must be completed before 7am. The best time to visit is orange blossom season (approximately July-August) when the valley fills with the scent of citrus flowers and the scenery is extraordinary.

    Getting There

    Citrusdal is 200km from Cape Town via the N7 north. GPS: -32.5833, 19.0167. Tel Citrusdal Tourism: +27 22 921 3210.