Mountain Bike Trails 

There are many mountain bike trails in South Africa but they are not always easy to find. New comers to the sport often ask where can you ride? Well luckily we live in South Africa which is a great place to get out on your bike and has no shortage of places to ride. Most if not all of the riding destinations are natural as opposed to main made trails which are constructed from artificial materials. Mountain biking in Cape Town is one of the favourite destinations with the slopes of Table Mountain providing the ideal backdrop. But there are many other destinations with great mountain ranges  like Knysna on the garden route, Drakensberg in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Sabie in Mpumalanga and the Magaliesberg in Gauteng. The trails are usually made up of dirt roads, jeep tracks, singletrack foot paths and hiking trails. There are not many purpose build and dedicated bike trails, most are dual purpose.

Most of the mountain bikers live in Gauteng so most of the riding happens in this general area. A maze of footpaths and open veld mean that there is no shortage of singletrack. In South Africa land access is also an issue as with the rest of the world, many routes are on private land and require owner permission for access. In the urban areas encroaching development and personal safety can limit riding possibilities. The most established formal venue in the country has been Dirtopia Trail Lodge outside Stellenbosch and then there was Clearwater trails in southern KZN. A recent phenomenon is the creation of mountain bike parks in South Africa. This is an international trend that has proved very successful in providing dedicated maintained mountain biking trails that are safe and easily accessible.  The first of these parks in SA was Logwood bike park in Muldersdrift Gauteng, and then there is Giba Gorge MTB Park in Kwa-Zulu Natal South Africa. The Toyota MTN Cycle park is the latest secure riding area to open in Gauteng.

The best way to find mtb routes is to hook up with some riders in the area because  local knowledge is the key to find out where to ride. You can join or contact the local club or the local bike shop to find out about regular rides, this is also a good way to find new routes in your own area. There are also some great resources on the internet with lists of trails to ride as well as books like Mountain Biking Trails of South Africa and Best Mountain Bike Rides in South Africa. Taking part in a mountain bike race or event is also a great way to ride some new and often inaccessible routes in remote areas. Another way to experience some new tracks is to go on a tour or holiday, there is a growing number of operators in South Africa offering some unique riding opportunities. 

MTB Routes | Gauteng | Western Cape | Kwa-Zulu Natal | Mpumalanga | Eastern Cape | Freestate

Mountain Bike Trails in South Africa
Comprehensive listing of mountain biking trails in Southern Africa, listed by town

Gauteng

Toyota MTN Cycle Park
Situated on the north western side of Johannesburg near Bryanston this is a new secure mountain bike park in Gauteng. They offer custom built single track for mountain bikes suited for ALL ages and ALL skill levels. All routes are graded, clearly signposted and include, beginner, intermediate and advanced circuits.
 

Northern Farms
Northern Farm, situated west of Fourways next to the R28, is a multi-user recreational facility is used by Horses, Birders and Hikers and Adventure outings. The Northern Farm MTB Trail Head does offer a selection of rides. The trials are specially designed for different riding experiences, duration and difficulties. Two trails are already permanently marked to prevent you from getting lost, and there are more to follow.

Groenkloof Mountain Bike Trails
The Groenkloof Nature Reserve in Tshwane has approximately 20km of market mountain bike trails with some great technical climbs and descents. The reserve has great vegetation and a good selection of game.

Western Cape

Mountain Biking Cape Town, Table Mountain
Some useful information on mountain biking in cape town and on Table Mountain. Including info on Deer park, Silvermine and Tokai.

Eselfontein MTB Track  
The Alexander Forbes MTB trail in the Ceres area is up to date the top MTB trial because of its design, amount of single tracks and year round marketing. The track is about 48 km and calls for a high level of fitness and handling skills. Shorter trials are also available.
Eselfontein.com

Montagu Mountain Bike Trails
Montagu offers the avid mountain biker a huge range of trailing options with guided mountain bike adventures in foothills of the Langeberg mountains. 

Harkerville Cycling Routes
Situated between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, Harkerville forest is the ideal location for recreational mountain-biking. The relatively easy gradients and diversity of the rides offer some of the finest cycling in the Southern Cape.

MTO Ecotourism mountain bike trails in SAFCOL forests
Riding options in the SAFCOL forests in the Western Cape, Jonkershoek, La Motte, Kluitjieskraal, Grabouw, Jonkersberg, Homtini, Lottering, Blueliliesbush, Witelsbos and Longmore

Knysna mountain biking trails
Trails in the Knysna and Garden Route area suggested by the Knysna cycle works, Harkerville, Homtini, Diepwalle, Poison spider, Oyster route

PaarlMTB Routes
Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve is a striking landscape dominated by the three enormous 500 million year old granite rock triplets, Paarl, Bretagne and Gordon. A diversity of indigenous vegetation and a gradient ideal for a day of leisurely recreational riding and not so leisurely for the more adventurous.

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Clearwater Trails
Enjoy some of the best terrain over farm roads, single tracks and down hills with panoramic views of the coast, gorge and grasslands. Our all-round service will make your MTB experience an unforgettable one!
Clearwater mountain bike trails review

Mpumalanga

Eastern Cape

Freestate