Breathtaking Biking Pursuits Along The Garden Route

Biking Pursuits Along The Garden Route

Breathtaking Biking Pursuits Along The Garden Route

Following an exhilarating day cycling through the pristine Garden Route area of the Western Cape, sink into a deep, freeform bath in your luxurious tented suite at Botlierskop Private Game Lodge and let your thoughts drift to the delicious fireside dinner that awaits you. Sound good?

With its large diversity of landscapes and terrain, the Klein Karoo and Garden Route area is a mecca for adventurous souls. While the area’s unique and contrasting scenery may be breathtaking, its cycling trails and races are sure to leave you short of breath as well. Road and mountain bikers are spoilt for choice with an array of routes set to get the heart pumping as well as some more leisurely trails through the succulent-rich surrounds.

Cycling through lush coastal forest on the Cape Pioneer Trek

Cape Pioneer Trek

The most well-known cycling event in the area is the legendary Cape Pioneer Trek, a 7 day mountain bike stage race covering 541 km of diverse scenery from the beach, through deep coastal pine forest, to the dunes, desertscapes and mighty mountains of the Klein Karoo. This year’s event, from the 18-24 October 2015, covers an exciting new route starting off in Mossel Bay rather than Oudtshoorn and including not one but two accents of the Swartberg Mountains. The new route boasts 60% of trails never seen by the wheel of a bicycle before. Not for the faint hearted!

Jakkalsvlei Mountain Bike Race

If riding in a one day mountain biking race is more your style, combined with wine tasting-preferably not at the same time- the Jakkalsvlei Mountain Bike Race will be right up your street. It takes place on the 31st of October 2015 at the Jakklasvlei Wine Estate in picturesque Herbertsdale, a 50 min drive from Botlierskop. Explore the sprawling vineyards and hills surrounding Herbertsdale on the 27km or 57km mountain bike trails and end the day with a tasting of some of the estates finest wines from the cellar. The Jakkalsvlei trail running event is also on offer.

Oudtshoorn Cycle Tour

For road racers, the 4th of October 2015 brings the Penny Pinchers Oudtshoorn Cycle Tour. The race starts in charming Oudtshoorn, a one hour drive from Botlierskop, and meanders through the scenic Schoemanshoek and Matjiesrivier valleys towards the Swartberg Mountains. Race distances are 30km, 75km and 104km (the latter being an official seeding event for the Cape Town Cycle Tour 2016). The king and queen of the mountain are set to be determined at the Cango Caves en route back to Oudtshoorn, but worry not…if you don’t happen to win queen or king at the race, you will still be treated like royalty back at Botlierskop.

A Change Of Gear

Rather ride a horse than a bike? No problem, Botlierskop offers exclusive Horseback safaris through their Private Game Reserve. Experience the majestic landscape and free roaming wildlife on 1, 2 or 3 hour horse rides and for the more experienced rider, 3.5 hour out-rides.

A whole host of other activities are on offer at Botlierskop and in the surrounding areas. Come and let us take your breath away.