Tokai Forest MTB tracks (Closest City/Town: Tokai, Capetown)

Western Cape - Cape Peninsula & Winelands

Tokai Forest

CLOSEST TOWN > Tokai

TRAIL DESTINATION > Tokai Forest

DISTANCE > Various options

GRADING > Moderate to extreme

VIDEOS > Check out some video shots of the trail.....

OVERVIEW

All Cape fat-tyre fundis eventually trek south in search of the singletrack paradise that is Tokai Forest. Blood, sweat and granny gears are the order of the day as you wind your way up towards the Sentech mast, with a range of trail configurations awaiting you on the way down via working plantations and indigenous forest.

On your bike

The trail head starts at the Arboretum and from here a gruelling stretch of gravel snakes up into the rugged Table Mountain range. After 300m, you’ll enter to the left of a swing gate before continuing along a gradual gravel climb to fork right after 2.4km. (Or you could crank up the Fairy Garden singletrack by turning left 300m after the gate.)

The green-and-white MTB signage along the gravel road indicates access points as per the corresponding map, and most riders stick to the gravel road all the way up to at least the Level 4 or 5 contour roads (6km from the Arboretum). You could, however, crank up both the Boomslang and Mamba singletracks to get onto the contour roads).

Turn left if you want to climb further to Silvermine gate, and look out for a drop left onto Boulders singletrack through stands of pine, probably the sweetest 2km section in the whole of Tokai. If you instead hang right to Vlakkenberg, a gritty ride will eventually link (via Level 4) through to the tar road ascending up to the radio mast.
Head right just before the tarmac to the mast starts, dog-legging right through a dip and then dropping down onto a wicked set of switchbacks (bridle path). Beware the rainy season here, as it will be rooty and rutted with enough hairpin bends and manic drops to demarcate this as the domain of the technically skilled. Head right again to climb back up to Level 4, before bombing onto the Mamba singletrack dipping steeply down to your left.

Hang on tight, because this is where the fun starts. Basically, you’re railing a super tube banging across the dirt roads you cranked up. Twenty minutes of white-knuckle singletrack later, you’ll bottom out via the Vasbyt DH (downhill) section onto Your Roots / My Roots before T-boning onto the gravel road. Now whoop it up on an easy home run to the Arboretum.

Off the bike

The Peninsula wine routes are a must-do, with no fewer than 24 estates producing world-famous wines. Surfing Muizenberg and Kommetjie, penguins at Boulders, vibey Kalk Bay and historic Simonstown are all within easy driving distance.

CONTACT:

Table Mountain National Park
Telephone : +27 21 701 8692
Website : www.sanparks.org

GPS: 34º03’394”S 18º24’582”E

Weather: {weather Cape Town, South Africa}

FAST FACTS

GRADING:

Moderate to extreme

DURATION:

Up to 2–5 hours

CONFIGURATION :

Various circular or return options, up to 40km

START POINT:

Arboretum, Tokai Forest

VIDEO: Click here...

TERRAIN:

Gravel road, jeep track and singletrack

MORE INFORMATION:

Gravel road cruising to extreme, technical downhills, and everything in-between; the singletracks consist of fairly compacted dirt trails and sections of rocks and tree roots

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

R25.00, payable at picnic area; a Wild Card from SANParks must be loaded with an annual MTB permit

FACILITIES:

Parking, with a car guard
on duty; tea room and toilet facilities

BEWARE OF:

Slippery during/after rains; baboons, snakes and hikers

HOW TO GET THERE

From Cape Town, follow the M3 for 25km towards Muizenberg, then turn left onto the off-ramp to Tokai, passing right under the highway. Continue for 2km past a traffic circle and turn left at Tokai Manor towards the Arboretum.

BEST TIME OF YEAR

Tokai goes off the whole year; in summer, the forest cools down day-time temperatures, while the trees offer ample protection from blasting winds. Expect trails to be slippery in winter, and sections may be closed to avoid damage.