Little Switzerland Resort MTB Trail

Little Switzerland Resort, situated on the Oliviershoek Pass just as you leave the FS to enter KZN, is the first true Drakensberg resort you reach en route from Gauteng. Although there has always been riding on Little Switzerland’s 3000ha of mountain land, a dedicated MTB track now offers 23km of stunning cranking to the fat track tribe.

On your bike

Sometimes you have to commit to drastic measures to make a specific route work, and in the case of the Little Switzerland MTB Trail, these measures include a grunt of a climb up the Oliviershoek Pass. Yes, you heard right – there’s 4km of tarmac with your name on it, so get over it.

I mean that in the literal sense, as you’ll climb into the wind to the very top, where you turn left onto gravel at the Caterpillar & Catfish B&B (4.2km). Let the good times roll as you continue a gradual gravel climb onto the plateau past the green rainwater tanks and keeping left through the gum trees at the first local kraal (huts – 5.1km) you get to.

Follow the track through an old, rusted gate (6.5km), dropping along a gnarly dual-track into a grassy valley and passing two gorgeous old stone ruins (Settler’s Cottages on the map – 8.5km). The climb out is probably a carry if you’re not Burry Stander, but keep going as you top out with a gorgeous trout dam waiting below you in the next dell.

We saw a posse of Cape vultures circling above from the dam (10.6km), but they were probably just waiting for some old Ballie to expire in the gorgeous Alpine surrounds. A couple of kays later you reach the cement singletrack the Mumbys constructed to make the route more rideable year-round.

Crank up the first steep stretch (11.9km) to the highest point along the route (1892m) before you start a 600m drop over 3.5km onto the jeep-track below. Most of this is along sweeping cement singletrack, about 30cm wide, and you need to keep your wits about you if you don’t want to come a cropper.

At 16.5km, you dogleg left onto the gravel track towards Little Switzerland Resort. This is mostly level riding, but with enough loose rocks and erosion ruts thrown in to keep you on your toes. At 22.8km you sneak back into the resort grounds along a wooden board walk, just in time for a frosty (no matter the time of day – you’ve deserved it)!

Off the bike

Outdoor options at Little Switzerland abound. Swop your iron steed for a sturdy mount and head into the mountains under ‘horsepower’, or tramp onto one of the stunning waterfall hikes. There is also tennis, bowls, putt-putt and a host of activities to keep other members of the family happy. The Coyote Café must be the top foodie spot in the region; I’ve never had Jamaican Jerk Chicken or Prawn Curry this good. Plus, their Flat Whites and carrot cake rate at least 11/10.

GPS: 28°34’50.4″ South / 29°02’59.4″ East