MTB heaven! There are so many fantastic trails it will blow you away. South Africa is a treasure trove of exciting routes, discovered and waiting to be uncovered, with weather allowing for cycling at any time of the year, all day and just about every day.
Around Cape Town there are some great single-track routes on the mountain and in the pine plantations. There are escorted trips on the mountain, around the winelands and in the Cape Point section of the Cape Peninsula National Park.
The scenic De Hoop National Park near Swellendam, up the east coast from Cape Town, has dedicated, easy trails. There are a few hardcore trails near Swellendam, and then onto the Garden Route, which is just fantastic.
There are four superb, laid-out circular tracks in the Harkerville Forest, ranging from mellow to a hectic red route. And nearby are two long, quite strenuous linear trails, Homtini and Petrus se Brand. Locals and international visitors alike agree that the last 6km of Petrus se Brand is the most fun single track ever.
Port Elizabeth also has dedicated trails, including one traversing a green belt which cuts right through the middle of the city. An annual MTB race on the Wild Coast set a precedent for pedaling this fantastic area.
KwaZulu-Natal has its share of routes, with many great ones in the Drakensberg and the Midlands.
The Free State is home to some seriously strenuous trails, and often has competitions. There's one called the Two Mountains Race, which should give you an idea of what you'd be in for.
And Johannesburg has a huge active MTB population, so there are a lot of trails nearby. Many of these urbanites head out to the wonderful trails in Mpumalanga, where you'll find lots of opportunity to get down and dirty.
Mountain biking in SA
Mountain Bike South Africa - Useful guide to mountain biking in South Africa.
Live 2 Ride - Offers mountain bike tours trails and holidays from Langebaan and Cape Town to the wide open, tranquil and untouched Cape West Coast. Destinations include Malmsbury, Piketberg, Beaverlac and the remote and scenic Cederberg.
South African Mountain Bike Tours - 21-day tours covering the Magaliesburg, Drakensburg, Knysna and Cape Town. Accommodation and transport provided.
Beach and Bush - Offer various package mountain biking trips.
Daytrippers - An escorted, vehicle-supported trip through Cape Point, so you can ride only the bits you fancy. They also do escorted MTB rides in Tokai Forest, which has some fun single track routes and hectic hills.
Downhill Adventures - MTB rides on Table Mountain, an easy doddle through the Constantia Vineyards, and a ride through Cape Point, among others.
Eden Adventures - Fun escorted rides near Wilderness on the Garden Route, and over the spectacularly rugged Swartberg Pass near Oudtshoorn.
Mountain Biking Africa - Explore South Africa's Garden Route with mountain biking legend Tony Cook.
Outeniqua Biking Trails - Good option for info on Garden Route trails. They also offer escorted trails, bike sales and service.
180º Adventures - Offices in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, activities countrywide.
Adventure Purists - Offer various adventure package tours which include a variety of activities across South Africa.
Cycle Lab - Cycle Lab is South Africa's premier cycling retailer, with massive stores in Johannesburg and Cape Town, training and cycling clubs. The website offers news on upcoming events, feature articles, training tips and a whole lot more.
Pedal Power Association - The Pedal Power Association is the largest cycling organisation in South Africa, with 17 000 members across the country.
SA Cycling - Comprehensive resource on cycling in South Africa.
Bicycling Magazine - Home page of the South African edition of this international cycling magazine.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
