Thaba Nchu Mountain Loop
Thaba Nchu (meaning Black Mountain in Setswana) is a distinctive isolated mountain rising from the central Free State plains between Bloemfontein and Lesotho. Maria Moroka National Park surrounds the mountain and protects the game and natural environment on its flanks. The 22km MTB loop tackles the mountain’s rocky terrain with technical singletrack and sweeping plains panoramas.
What to Expect
Rocky singletrack and mountain tracks climb the koppie terrain of Thaba Nchu with some genuinely technical sections on the steeper rocky flanks. The views from the upper sections extend across the Free State plains to the Maluti Mountains — a 360-degree Highveld panorama. Game including blesbok, black wildebeest and springbok are resident in the park.
Maria Moroka National Park
An undervisited SANParks property that deserves more attention — the Thaba Nchu mountain setting is distinctive and the park’s combination of rocky mountain terrain and open plains game habitat is unusual. The nearest major town is Bloemfontein, 55km to the west.
Getting There
From Bloemfontein take the N8 east toward Thaba Nchu. GPS: -29.2312, 26.8223.
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