Bike
MTB
5 of the best MTB trails in South Africa
South Africa is in focus this week with the MTB World Cup season beginning there. Ever considered the nation as your next MTB getaway?Check out these five trails you can explore close to Cape Town.
1. Cape Town's Tokai Forest
4 min
Keeping It Pinned With Oli Munnik - Episode 1
The man who rides a bike for a living, Oli Munnick takes us through some of South Africa's best downhill bike trails POV style. First up in episode 1 - the iconic Tokai downhill track.
First up, the iconic DH track of Cape Town's Tokai Forest. Tokai DH – an iconic trail with ample flow, a tricky rock garden and a jump line that's in the process of being rebuilt to its former glory after 2015’s devastating fire.
2. Helderberg Trails Park
6 min
Keeping It Pinned With Oli Munnik - Episode 6
While the park is best known for its gravity tracks, having hosted many enduros and downhill shuttle days in the past, the team have been hard at work planning, building, grading and marking new loops, especially XC-specific sections that will appeal to those guys riding shorter travel bikes (and hardtails).
Despite the steep gradients on the upper reaches of the red and black routes, the trails snake their way up the mountainside following the contours, using switchbacks to keep the flow going. This is a massive plus as you aren’t stuck slogging up a super-steep road for long sections. There are also a few ‘bail-out’ options, where tired riders can easily join the return loop.
Riders can purchase their ride permits from the Helderberg Plaas’ kiosk, which dates back to 1692 or from The Hanger Bike Co. during opening hours. Annual membership is also available.
3. Meerendal Wine Estate’s manicured single track
8 min
Keeping It Pinned With Oli Munnik - Episode 3
Keeping It Pinned is back with episode three. This time Oli "the pinner' Munnik takes us POV style through the decent off the 425m-high Dorst Berg (Thirsty Mountain) in Meerendal Wine Estate.
On a clear day, the effort required to summit Dorstberg via the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ climb is well rewarded with spectacular 360-degree views taking in the world famous landmarks of Table Bay, Robben Island and, of course, of towering Table Mountain.
While the descent is not very technical, trail builders have graded it 'advanced', as it features one or two technical sections like the drop-off, ‘Craig’s Conundrum’. Don’t worry though if you're a nervous descender, these sections have easier 'B-Lines’ that pose less of a challenge and will help to build your confidence.
4. The Garden Route Trail Park – Mountain Mayhem
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Featuring a 20 minute single track descent, Mountain Mayhem is the latest and greatest trail built by Rob Dormehl at South Africa’s premier trail centre, the Garden Route Trail Park
Garden Route Trail Park is located in the heart of the Garden Route a mere 23km from Sedgefield. The park is the brainchild of Rob Dormehl, a fourth generation dairy farmer, who started developing the trail network in 2011, on areas of his farm that aren’t suitable for pasture.
Offering a wide range of trails for varying levels of experience and technical ability, it’s the ideal MTB destination to visit while on the Garden Route. For more info about routes, accommodation and directions head over to gardenroutetrailpark.com
5. The Glen
4 min
Keeping It Pinned With Oli Munnik - Episode 5
The pinner is back and this time with a 100% legal run of the infamous trail at The Glen in the heart of Cape Town. Sit back and watch all the POV action.
Developed by local Cape Town downhillers in the early 2000s, 'The Glen' single track descent winds its way down from the Kloof Nek saddle to Camp Bay High School. Following the natural flow of the land, the technical track is an exhilarating blend of speed, tight turns, drop-offs and rocky stream crossings.
Sporting a few very steep sections and a tricky, off camber drop-off, dual suspension trail bikes with dropper posts are highly recommended. With this in mind, The Glen’s technicality and nondescript trail head mean that the route is rarely ridden, saving it from potential erosion and degradation.
