Free State - Central Free State

CLOSEST TOWN »     Clarens    
DISTANCE »     50km (Various)
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[ OVERVIEW ]

Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the surrounding Maluti Mountains offer a selection of riding options, although the roads inside the SA section of the park are all (sadly) tarmac. However, Bokpoort-Bergwoning- and other farms in the area offer dirt riding along gravel roads, 4x4 routes and game or cattle tracks.

Beyond Golden Gate, the rough and ready gravel roads of the erstwhile Qua-Qua homeland buck and slide along gnarly valleys and craggy horizons. In some cases, access and/or permits need to be arranged beforehand with private landowners and the national parks authorities, but generally folk up here in the Eastern Free State are friendly and down-to-earth, so the process should be relatively painless.

For a tarmac cruise from Clarens, crank along the R712 towards Golden Gate (13.4km), turning right onto the Blesbok Loop after approximately 2km. This 6.7km one-way loop climbs steeply into eland country, offering panoramic views, an inexhaustible supply of fresh air and a skittish switchback downhill back onto the R712. Hit a sharp left almost immediately to explore the Oribi Loop, a bonus 4.2km of highland cranking amongst zebra, wildebeest, mountain reedbuck and chacma baboon. A speedy 22.5km cruise back into Clarens makes for a total riding distance just shy of 50km.

CONTACT
Telephone : 058 255 0075

[ FAST FACTS ]

GRADING: An easy crank along tar, but at least it gets you out the house and into an awesome national park

DURATION: Around 2-3 hours in the saddle

CONFIGURATION : A there-and-back ride with two loop options into the park

START POINT: In Clarens, but you could drive the 13 kays to the park headquarters and start there

TERRAIN: Tarmac roads (sorry about that …)

MAP: A map of the park roads is available from Reception

MORE INFORMATION:

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Regular park entry fees apply to riders

FACILITIES: Full range of amenities at Golden Gate and in Clarens

BEWARE OF: Very cold in winter, with sudden mists rolling in across the mountains