North West - Central Region NW

CLOSEST TOWN »     Groot Marico     
DISTANCE »     28 km circuit
0 - 5 RATING »
(Riding Enjoyment)     
To rate this route, please login or register to the site.
GRADING »     
EASY  MODERATE   DIFFICULT   EXTREME

[ OVERVIEW ]

On your bike

When you see thick green bushveld clustered along water courses like green veins running in between the swelling bare-topped Highveld hills, you know that you and your bicycle have come home.

Draaifontein Farm is just 2 km outside Groot Marico, a quirky riverside village in a remote and little-known part of South Africa.

There are many paths to be ridden, with varying degrees of difficulty. Grading between moderate and extreme. For easy riding there are miles of dirt roads in the area.The 28 km circuit can be extended with an additional loop and is made up of pure single and jeep track heaven which is rocky and very technical in places. There is no way around the steep climbs, so sometimes your bike carries you; sometimes you carry your bike.

In winter the nights are very cold but you can get some genuine Groot Marico mampoer to keep you warm and cosy around the fire. The region is very hot in summer so ride early in the morning or late afternoon with adequate water.

Commencing at the homestead, you had better warm up because the ride goes straight into a 800m-long climb with a gradient often over 1-in-4. Catch your breath and anticipate the off-road treat to follow. Beautiful kloofs and thick vegetation with abundant water crossings await, against a backdrop of pristine rolling hills and mountainous terrain. In the valley you will be swallowed up by riverine vegetation providing welcome shade and coolness. Follow the jeep track and blast through water crossing after water crossing, adding up to ten in total. You will ride in this busy terrain for a while before the point where you can choose to either head home or tackle the second loop.

Off your bike

For scuba diving and swimming “Die Oog” is a natural spring, a dolomitic eye and the actual source of the Marico River. Draaifontein Farm has 4x4 trails and hiking trails. For genuine South African culture, in March Groot Marico hosts the Summer Sounds Jazz Festival. In October, The Herman Charles Bosman Literary Society celebrates the work of this famous writer in the form of plays, readings and poetry.

CONTACT
Route information: Michelle Stanton, Draaifontein
Telephone: 014252 ask for 1812
Address: PO Box 45, Groot Marico, 2850
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

[ FAST FACTS ]

GRADING: Difficult to Extreme

DURATION: Self-determined

CONFIGURATION : 28 km circuit

START POINT: At the Homestead

TERRAIN: Single track, jeep track, rocky

MAP: Hand-drawn map from Ronnie Stanton on arrival at the farm, or obtain your own 1:50 000 map of GrootMarico and Leadmine from your local Map office. GPS maps from: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MORE INFORMATION:

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Private property. Day visitors by appointment. No fixed fee: phone and ask the owner, Ronnie Stanton

FACILITIES: Draaifontein guest cottage sleeps ten. Remote campsite (4x4 or high-clearance bakkie required to access it)

BEWARE OF: Heat in summer