Peninsula and Winelands Archives

The Tygerberg MTB club maintains nearly 200km of trails in this mountain bike mecca, within 25 minutes of Cape Town CBD. The club is the largest MTB club in South Africa, and possibly the world, with an annual membership of over 6000. Just when you thought the Cape Winelands couldn’t get any better!

Don’t be fooled by the seemingly gentle, rolling hills of the Tygerberg (so named due to the spotted appearance of the natural renosterveld vegetation, which was named by the Dutch settlers after their name for leopard – no, not tiger!). Even from nearby, there is little indication of how tough, rough and rugged – and awesome – these trails can be. An indication is that the ABSA Cape Epic has hosted the Prologue on some of these trails multiple times – with the event hosted at Meerendal wine estate.

There are multiple trail hubs, each providing a range of trails to suit from beginners to the most experienced mountain bikers. However, the technical nature of the trails is more suited to intermediate riders than beginners. The trail hubs are mostly joined by members-only corridors and day permits are not accepted between farms. There are trail hubs at:

Contermanskloof farm – with The Dairy Shed and Stark Brews restaurants
Meerendal wine estate – with Bossa and La Romantica restaurants
Hoogekraal farm – with Black Sheep Bikes and a weekend-only restaurant
Bloemendal Trail Park – with Giant Bikes, a coffee/beer shop and various restaurants

For detailed information about the multitude of trails available, visit the Tygerberg MTB Club website here. And for our blogpost detailing the god-sent work that the TMTBC has done for mountain-bikers across the Weskaap, click here!

Tygerberg MTBC Trail Network on Trailforks.com

26/12/2023

Tygerberg Trails

15/03/2021

Berg River Dam, Franschhoek

Adventurous routes with some hike-a-bike sections in the town-titled “Valley of Dreams”. This is not your typical manicured trail – it’s rough and loose! Not a route for beginners, or those on gravel bikes. But the terrain and wildlife is amazing, as are the breathtaking views of unexplored valleys and […]

13/03/2021

Circling Simonsberg

This route will show you the best views around the Simonsberg peaks outside Stellenbosch, with 2 big climbs in between. Starting out at the base of Bothmaskop on the Jonkershoek road, you climb the forestry roads on the Banhoek Valley trails (you can purchase a day pass online). As a […]

06/04/2020

Simonsberg Conservancy MTB Trails

This collection of trails in the Knorhoek Valley, combining loops on Uitkyk, Delheim, Simonsberg and Muratie, has world-class potential as an MTB destination and may rate as the high point of Meurant Botha’s illustrious trail-scaping career.

16/01/2020

Banhoek Conservancy

Those Banhoek peaks … hot damn! They rise up in all their rugged glory in the south when you crest Helshoogte Pass from the Stellenbosch side, and don’t seem to quit for miles and miles. I’ve often checked them out on sorties into this part of the Cape Winelands, all […]

11/11/2019

Eden-Paradyskloof-MontMarie MTB Trails

There are two starting points to the route – so you can choose between parking at the Paradyskloof Plantation or at the Engen Garage on the R44. The Paradyskloof Pine Plantation consists of a maze of tracks and trails, ideal for single and downhill track riding. These tracks continue on […]

11/11/2019

Tokai Forest

All Cape fat-tyre fundis eventually trek south in search of the single-track paradise that is Tokai Forest. Blood, sweat and granny gears are the order of the day as you wind your way up towards the Sentech mast, and a range of trail configurations await you on the way down […]

11/11/2019

Silvermine Reserve

Silvermine North offers a good workout ride of moderate difficulty mostly along jeep-tracks which you can beef up by adding the Ou Wapad to your crank after completing the 9km Silvermine circuit. There is some hefty climbing involved, but the views over the peninsula are magnificent. On your bike The […]

11/11/2019

Signal Hill MTB Route

Take in one of Cape Town’s classic viewpoints… On your bike Blast off from the metal boom – 500m before you reach the Signal Hill parking-lot – onto a seriously steep jeep track dipping towards the City Bowl. Access is also possible from other points along the tarmac road. Approximately […]