Soutpansberg Forest Trails (Closest City/Town: Louis Trichardt)
DISTANCE » Overnight or day trails
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GRADING »
EASY MODERATE DIFFICULT EXTREME
[ OVERVIEW ]
FACILITIES
A fully equipped, self-catering guest house for 8 is available at Entabeni. Budget facilities which can accommodate up to 22 people in the hiking huts are also available. There are a further 2 hikers’ huts with shower, bed and fireplace in Hangklip forest. Drinking water at Entabeni and Hangklip accommodation facilities only. Take your own water on the ride.
Security
Since these are permit-only, restricted access areas, both personal and vehicle security is generally fine.
On your bike
The Soutpansberg mountain range forms a truly impressive 130 km natural barrier between South Africa and the rest of the continent to the north. On the southern side of the range, tangled bushveld chokes mysterious gorges and rough cliff faces and it is here that Komatiland Forests have two plantations through which cycles may do either an overnight trail or day rides on the forestry service roads.
Hangklip Forest
Hangklip is the smaller area with a variety of circular and return main trails. Entabeni is bigger. In all, there are 1,000 km of forestry roads in the area. This trail may be accessed from Makhado (Louis Trichardt) and cyclists can rest at an attractive picnic area in a section of this indigenous forest.
Entabeni forest
An overnight mountain biking trail can also be done in this forest near Levubu.
Kremetart Route (174 km) You can also take the whole day and do some road cycling by following the circular Kremetart Route, named after a stage race event held in June every year. Pack a set of lights in case the Verwoerd Tunnels don’t have the lights switched on. From Makhado, ride along the N1 up and down the pass for 26 km, turning left to Waterpoort (R523) on the northern side of the Soutpansberg Mountains. Take some time to admire the kremetart or baobab trees, some of which are thousands of years old, lining this road. Continue for 40 km to the R521 and turn left to Vivo. Go 6 km, then turn left again onto the R522, riding 81 km in the shadow of the southern side of the mountains back to Makhado.
Off your bike
The Soutpansberg region provides various attractions ranging from tea estates, waterfalls and the sacred lake of Fundudzi to tropical fruit farms as well as artists’ stalls and galleries.
CONTACT
Route information: Willie Botha, Makhado Tourism Initiative
Address: PO Box 96, Makhado, 0920
Telephone: 015 516 0040 or 082 957 0102 (Willie Botha)
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.tourismsoutpansberg.co.za
[ FAST FACTS ]
GRADING: Moderate
DURATION: Up to two days
CONFIGURATION : Forestry roads
START POINT: Start the trails in either Makhado (Louis Trichardt), Roodiwal Forest or Entabeni Forest
TERRAIN: Forestry roads
MAP: Available from Komatiland Forests Ecotourism in Pretoria
MORE INFORMATION:
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A permit must be obtained from Komatiland Ecotourism in Pretoria at 012 481 3615
FACILITIES: Budget facilities which can accommodate up to 22 people in the hiking huts are always available. Fully equipped, self-catering guesthouse for 8 is available in Hanglip forest
BEWARE OF: Extreme heat between December and February and avoid riding between 10:00 and 15:00. Replenish fluids and carry a sachet of Rehydrat for heat stroke and dehydration.
