Free State - Central Free State

CLOSEST TOWN »     Verkykerskop, Harrismith     
DISTANCE »     30km trails plus self-guided off-road
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[ OVERVIEW ]

Verkykerskop Tourism aims to promote the area and village by offering a country living experience, a range of accommodation and many outdoor activities. The farm and village accommodation is the ideal base from which a group of friends or family can indulge in the outdoors, while at only 274km from Sandton, it is within day trip reach from the city.

On your bike
The 700ha Aansluit Landgoed right next to the village of Verkykerskop is a working farm with a conservation focus, on which we have laid out 30km of track with the most stunning vistas and views which can be accessed by foot, bike or on horseback. We have a 7.8km hilly track with off-branch tracks to secluded cliffs, a steep 6.8km track down to the old farmhouse picnic spot, and an 6.8 km flat easy ride all along the edge of the Meul River escarpment. While these dirt tracks are softly hugging the contours, the rider is free to go off onto more challenging cattle paths down the ravines and mountain slopes – something for every taste.

We are not into competitive events but from time to time we do organize fun rides to coincide with performance events in the village (see our website www.verkykerskop.com for events).

We strive to keep the congestion low and always guarantee exclusivity. In addition to the exclusive tracks on the estate, the surrounding area is criss-crossed by little gravel roads ideal for the serious rider yearning to explore the unlimited space of the Klein Drakensberg Escarpment.

Off your bike Enjoy the energy of farm life, and leave time to stop along the track for birding and game viewing. You might even take your flyrod along and make a cast or two at one of the farm dams en route. An option for the family is to all join in, with bike, horse and quad (available on the estate). Smileys Restaurant offers take aways and the best Sunday buffet in the country. Enquire about hunting, fishing, quad routes, and clay pigeon shooting in the area.

CONTACT
Route information: Louis Grobler
Postal address : PO Box 93 Harrismith 9880
Telephone: 083 628 9699
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website : www.verkykerskop.com

[ FAST FACTS ]

GRADING: Moderate

DURATION: 90 minutes

CONFIGURATION : 3 separate estate routes all starting at Afsluit Gastehuis in the village

START POINT: Afsluit Gastehuis or Smileys Restaurant, Verkykerskop

TERRAIN: Track 1 - rolling terrain 7.8km; track 2 - downhill and back 6.8km; track 3 - flat easy ride 6.1km

MAP: Trail map available at entrance. Also see www.verkykerskop.com

MORE INFORMATION:

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Overnight guests no charge; day visitors R50 per person per day

FACILITIES: Variety of accommodation or camping, restaurant, pub, horse riding, fishing, hiking, birding

BEWARE OF: Lightning storms in summer.
Please be careful not to cause veld fires in winter.