Welcome to Great Karoo Cycling

From Middelburg EC to Graaff-Reinet via Nieu Bethesda; from Mt Melsetter to Cradock following the Fish River; and from Colesberg to Bethulie via the Gariep Dam.

See fabulous farms, meet the people. Breakfast and lunch on the trail - and your luggage transported for you.

What more could anyone want?

Sneeuberg TrailThe Sneeuberg trail runs on the east side of Compassberg through the Sneeuberg private nature reserve, via Nieu Bethesda all the way to the celebrated Karoo town of Graaff-Reinet and its Valley of Desolation.

Fish River TrailFish River trail, following the road route of the Fish River Canoe Marathon, from Mt Melsetter past Grassridge Dam to Lowlands Country House (near Fish River station) and on to Cradock the next day, staying at the iconic Tuishuise & Victoria Manor Hotel.

Gariep TrailGariep trail (through three Provinces E/Cape, N/Cape & OFS), from Colesberg towards the Gariep Dam, through the Oviston and Gariep Reserves and then on to a choice of destinations, including the town of Bethulie (remember the late Patrick Mynhardt's impersonations of Oom Schalk?).

Oorlogspoort TrailOorlogspoort trail, the "pro trail", cycling approx 90km/day, starting in Colesberg and overnighting at, or by-passing, Hanglip Farm (32km away), or cycling on to Rooipoort Farm (a further 57km from Hanglip. The district road continues to Mt Melsetter (another 52km on). The trail can be extended onto the Fish River route and on to Cradock on days two, three or four.

Mt Melsetter TrailMt Melsetter has a number of cycling routes, both on the farm itself and on neighbouring farms and district roads.

Zuurberg TrailZuurberg Trail, starting in Cradock and overnighting at, or by-passing, Tollies (Buffelsfontein Game Reserve) (60km away), or cycling on to Somerset East (a further 35 km). The road continues from Somerset East in the direction of Addo to the Zuurberg Inn. From there on to Kirkwood and Port Elizabeth.

Revel in the Karoo - on a bicycle!

Great Karoo Cycling trails (GKC) are the consequence of years of cycling the undiscovered and abundant dirt roads and jeep tracks meandering through the timeless panorama of the Cape Midlands area of the Karoo. Ride past and stay at celebrated farms en route. Mountain biking is the fastest growing sporting and leisure activity in the country. Great Karoo Cycling is offering secure and safe mountain biking trails on back roads with little vehicular traffic and no crowded venues. Cyclists are accompanied only by tranquil merinos grazing in the veld, quizzical meerkats, nimble springbok, blue cranes screeching and spurwing geese honking overhead as they pass by solemn, secretive ironstone koppies! Early risers will hear a prolific dawn chorus of Karoo endemics!

What to Expect

GKC, in collaboration with established Karoo Hospitality and Breakaway venues, offers you leisure cycling at its most affordable.

All on dirt roads and jeep tracks through well-known Karoo farms, staying over in established farm guesthouses
Option of river rafting on the Great Brak.
Minimum of 8 cyclists per group, ideal number is 12, maximum of 14.
The ride is between 45 and 60 kilometres a day.

Our Karoo Cycling Trails

GKC offers six different trails to various towns in the Karoo. These are:

Sneeuberg Cycling Trail – from Middelburg EC via Nieu Bethesda to Graaff-Reinet.
Fish River Cycling Trail – from Mt Melsetter along the Fish river, stopping off at Lowlands County House near Fish River Station, then on to Cradock.
Gariep Cycling Trail – from Colesberg to Bethulie via the Gariep Dam. This is the history tour.
Zuurberg Cycling Trail – from Cradock to Addo Elephant Park via Somerset East.
Oorlogspoort Cycling Trail – from Gariep Dam via Hanglip to Mt Melsetter. This is a relatively flat route which can be negotiated over 3 or 4 days.
Mt Melsetter – the hub of many of our cycling trails, offering a number of different out and back trails of varying lengths.

Video by Dave Marsh

Tourism Month Specials in the Eastern Cape

When it comes to romantic getaways the Eastern Cape has so much to give. This Tourism
Month we’re celebrating the Centenary Year of Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu with these
very special holiday packages. Book now and quote “from Madiba and Albertina with Love”.

Click to download a list of Special Holiday Specials in the Eastern Cape

Contact Us

David Southey

011 489 5411

082 453 6357

dsouthey@isec.co.za

GPS Coordinates to go here

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