Golden Gate National Park MTB

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TRAIL INFO

Closest Town: Clarens

Grading: Intermediate | Duration: Around 2-3 hours in the saddle

Location (Area/Province): Central Free State and Free State

Configuration: A there-and-back ride with two loop options into the park.

Start Point: In Clarens or at the park entrance

TRAIL BASICS

Access: Regular park entry fees apply to riders.

Beware of: Very cold in winter, with sudden mists rolling in across the mountains. Wild animals roam freely in the park so be vigilant

Facilities: Full range of amenities at Golden Gate and in Clarens

Cell Reception: Yes

Route Flyover(s)

Premium and Curated Trails Only

OVERVIEW

Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the surrounding Maluti Mountains offer a selection of riding options, although the roads inside the South African section of the park are all (rather sadly) tarmac. However, Bokpoort-Bergwoning- and other farms in the area offer dirt riding along gravel roads, 4×4 routes and game or cattle tracks.

On your bike

This is one of those trails that I really debated before including it here, as it is not ‘proper’ mountain biking. However, the flip side of it is that, when I get up to Golden Gate, I always end up pedalling the park rather than driving it in a vehicle. There are some good hill climbs along the relatively remote park roads, too, so you decide for yourself.

Get into tarmac cruise mode from Clarens, cranking along the R712 towards the Golden Gate Highlands National Park entrance (13.4km), and then turn right onto the Blesbok Loop after just on 2km. This 7km one-way loop climbs steeply into eland country, boasting panoramic views and an inexhaustible supply of fresh air.

A skittish switchback downhill will zoom you back onto the R712, where you hit a sharp left almost immediately onto the extended Oribi Loop. Explore this bonus 4.2km circuit for a highlands crank amid zebra, wildebeest, mountain reedbuck and chacma baboon, to name but a few of the species. A speedy 22.5km cruise back into Clarens makes for a total riding distance just shy of 50km.

Beyond the perimeter of the actual Golden Gate Highlands National Park, the rough and ready gravel roads of the erstwhile QwaQwa tribal homeland buck and slide along gnarly valleys and craggy horizons. There is a lot of potential riding here, but note that in some cases, access and/or permits need to be arranged beforehand with private landowners or the parks authorities. Generally, people up here in the Eastern Free State are so friendly and down-to-earth that this process will be relatively painless.

Rated by : Jacques Marais

Off the bike

Game viewing drives (self driven) – it is not only the game that one get to enjoy in this part of the world, one gets to enjoy rock formation, birds, grassland and the beautiful scenery that forms part of the Drakensberg and Maluti mountains.
Basotho Cultural Village Rest Camp
Museum tours – visitors get to feel the Basotho experience by tasting traditional cuisine, getting to know equipments and weapons that were used then.
Cultural route, one gets afforded an opportunity to be taken through the Basotho culture and the way of living dating back from the sixteen century to date.
Herbal trail, visitors are lead through this trail in order to be educated about the medicines that were used and are still by the African Traditional Healers.
Bowls, tennis, table tennis and snooker (at the hotel).
Horse riding available – please book at (058) 225 0951.
Absailing and canoeing available for people using Wilgenhof Environmental Education Centre

CONTACT:

Route Information: Golden Gate National Park

Telephone: +27(0)58 255 0075 or +27 (0)58 255 1000

Website: www.sanparks.org.za

GPS: 28°30.12′ South / 28°36.33′ East