Mountain bike
Suitable for Sport and Elite level riders
6 Day Tour: 5 days riding, 1 day transfer
This dramatic wilderness is one of the most spectacular and remote areas of South Africa. The challenging terrain has been broken up into bite size chunks, but still requires a fair level of fitness and technical skills.
Day 1: Arrive/Transfer and Bike Build
Other than driving, a flight to Port Elizabeth airport where we’ll collect you is an option to get to the start of this tour too.
Day 2: Komdomo to Rooikloof – 65km (1700m altitude gain)
We do most of our riding today in the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve, a really unique and special place. It is advisable to take your time on this day as this is one of those places where it doesn’t help to be in a hurry as you’re likely to miss out on the main reason why you’re here – the feel and smells of the bush. One of the most challenging days of the tour but fortunately one of the most scenic too.
Day 3: Rooikloof to Vanterrebert Caves – 50km (1450m altitude gain)
A relatively short day, we emerge from the narrow valley of the Nature Reserve into a much wider valley. Keep an eye out for the local donkey carts, and Babes se winkel (shop) a handy place to stop for a quick snack and drink.
Day 4: Vanterrebert Caves to Uniondale – 82km (1200m altitude gain)
Our last day in the Baviaanskloof, and a good day to get a feeling for the karoo. We head up and over the Nuwekloof Pass onto the Karoo plateau before finally descending the last 5km on tar into Uniondale.
Day 5: Uniondale to Knysna – 86km (1700m altitude gain)
Another fantastically scenic day as we move from the dry Karoo-veld, towards the coast and the lush forests of the Garden Route. Once in the forest keep an eye out for the elusive Knysna Loerie (oh, and the odd elephant) said to inhabit these forests.
Day 6: Knysna to Wilderness – 70km (1450m altitude gain)
We manage to stay away from the bustle of the Garden Route and say goodbye to Knysna as we head out of town on the bike path alongside the historic lagoon. Once we’ve climbed out of the Knysna basin (via Phantom Pass) we join up with the old seven passes road that takes us on a mix of tar and dirt via the back country and some stunning old steel bridges all the way into Wilderness.
After a quick shower we transfer from Wilderness back to Cape Town or to the George airport.