Words and photographs by Andre Joubert
Cover 403km in 3 days on this one-way bikepacking adventure from South Africa’s capital city of Pretoria (Gauteng), crossing Mpumalanga and descending into KZN and onto the foot of the Drakensberg Mountain Range.
From pristine gravel roads to bumpy corrugated roads, jeep track and a bit of single track here and there, this self-supported tour underpins the feeling of freedom – where it is only you, your bike and the open gravel roads leading you on to your destination.
This is a challenging ride, considering the first day is over 200km and you could experience cold, rain, hail, wind, heat all on one day. Mechanicals will have to be dealt with, walking is not fun. But if you prepare yourself, kit and bike well, it should be a great experience with little to bother you.
The tour was first completed by two riders in December 2020 and has mostly been done every single year since then. The Tour has always been ridden with friends only, but we decided to share the route and experiences with like-minded cyclists. Below is our itinerary for a 3 day version of this route, starting in Pretoria (Gauteng) and ending in Newcastle (KZN).
DAY 1 – PRETORIA EAST TO STANDERTON
201km – 1232m ascend.
A challenging day awaits us on the 1st day as we roll out on Delmas road from Pretoria East towards Bapsfontein. From Bapsfontein we will make our way onto the dirt that will take us all the way to Val Hotel, in Val, Mpumalanga, also the countries smallest town. Stop at the Moegeploeg Bar and Restaurant to recharge and refuel, before starting the last challenging stretch to Standerton. Appledew in Standerton will be your overnight accommodation, you will also enjoy their fantastic food and ice-cold beer and comfy bed/room. They normally assist with a hosepipe to get rid of the mud or dust that accumulated on the bike and shoes as well.
DAY 2 – STANDERTON TO WAKKERSTROOM
128km – 1232m ascend.
A shorter day is on the cards today. This comes in handy after yesterday’s full day in the saddle. Don’t be fooled though, as this is a challenging day with undulating gravel roads taking you to the small town of Amersfoort. This is a good place to stop for our infamous slap chips and white bread, with an ice-cold Coke to wash it down. We normally stop at the AMAZAMBANE SHOP 3. No upset stomachs yet!
After the refuel, you make your way out of Amersfoort on gravel roads. Beautifull landscape awaits but it is hard work before dropping into the quaint town of Wakkerstroom. The second night’s stay is at the Wakkerstroom Hotel. Cold Beer, great food and friendly people make this stop a bit of a kuier, with most of the hard work of the tour now behind you. We tend to start celebrating here… Cheers.
DAY 3 – WAKKERSTROOM TO DRAKENSBERGKLOOF
74km – 1173m ascend.
This is the third and final day, and your legs will feel the accumulated fatigue. This is not an easy day with undulating gravel roads with sharp climbs and descends as you make your way past Zaaihoek dam. This will be rewarded with an awesome descend from the border of the Mpumalanga which drops into KZN. The work is still not finished as you grind your way West towards Drakensbergkloof where you turn off from the tarmac onto the farm road, which takes you to your destination and the end of the tour.
The last night’s stay is a Drakensbergkloof farm, Northern KwaZulu Natal. The old Stables has been converted into standard accommodation with a big, rustic, but cosy entertainment area with built in braai, fully equipped kitchen. Here you, your family and friends can enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening, sharing the experience with all.
MUST KNOW & TRAIL NOTES.
- Cost per person? varies but works out to around R3000 (at time of writing). Accommodation/drinks/Breakfast/lunch/dinner/drinks
- No special permits needed.
- I would not recommend doing it solo, at least 2 riders.
- Who is this Tour for? Intermediate to experienced riders. The tour is hard (although not very technical), with long days in the saddle, so train well. Be able to get your bike running again after a mechanical. Beginner/Unfit riders will find this Tour particularly challenging.
- Best time of year: September – May.
- Lodging & Camping: Ride with a buddy and share a room. This will be a more cost-effective way also. There are a range of accommodation options in the region. See the map for suggestions.
- Water & Food & Gear. Carry at least 3 Litres of fluid, carry food, and all accessories needed in case of a mechanical. Carry first aid kit, at least 2 x pairs of cycling kit.
- Navigation. Take a good printed map showing the area in detail. There may not always mobile reception so you can’t rely on GPS navigation.
- Road Conditions. You will be riding sometimes on roads with no bike lanes and car and truck traffic. You should be comfortable riding in some amount of traffic. Please ride responsibly and stay alert. Most of the route is gravel or unpaved, road conditions can vary throughout the year.
Terms of Use: As with each route guide published on BICYCLESOUTH.co.za, should you choose to cycle this route, do so at your own risk. Prior to setting out check current local weather and road conditions. Always ride responsibly. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. Bicycle South, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individual riders cycling or following this route.
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Explore a new inland bikepacking route from Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa, across Mpumalanga into the foothills of the KZN Drakensberg mountains. Discover gravel roads, sprawling farms and quaint towns you’ll never see in a car.
3 DAYS | ⇔ 403 km | + 3637m | ≡ Tar/ Gravel | Self-supported
