WILD MOUNTAIN DIRT RIDE
Located in wild mountain country in the Rhodes area, this adventure ride offers you beautiful scenery in the rugged mountains of the South Western Drakensberg. Steeped in rich history - from the Bushmen who lived in the area to the settlers who moved into the valleys in the late 1800s - the mountain passes are numerous in size and incredible feats of engineering and design for their time. Riders will have the chance to experience rides throughout many of these passes in this stunning part of the world. Set in this exquisitely remote part of the country, often the only other people you’ll see are the blanket-wrapped Shepherds and men of Lesotho, riding ponies. This area is known for its extreme seasons; with stark white winters dropping below 10 degrees, to vivid explosions of colour and warmth in the summer months, alive with incredible birdlife and fiction-worthy waterfalls.
Photography by Allan Isted
ITINERARY
The Wild Mountain Ride is four nights and five days of which three days are spent riding the rugged mountains of the Rhodes area. The ride will be hosted by Kevin Wood on all three days of riding and the afternoon activities, for those who are interested in the history, will be in the hands of Allan Isted, who has grown up in the area and brings with him a vast knowledge of the local history, fauna, and flora.
The three-day ride will take you over and through mountains of breath-taking beauty. The routes are untrammeled and dependent on the season’s offering of ever-changing light, colours, sounds, and smells. Ride at your own pace and savour the beauty in which you find yourself. Total riding distance over the three days is 161 km with roughly 3700 m of elevation.
DAY 1
Arrive at Bidstone cottages at your leisure
Dinner will be served at 19h00
Overnight at Bidstone Cottages
DAY 2
Dangers Hoek
81 km with 2 161 m elevation. Ride to Dangers Hoek over Lundeans Nek and back. Refreshment stands with water/energy drinks are available along the way and a boerie roll at the waterfall (halfway). Swimming is a great way to freshen up at this point. The climb out is long but not tough. At this stage, should you wish to call it a day, the option is there to put your bike on the trailer and ride out in the support vehicle. Back at Bidstone, it is time to freshen up and spend the afternoon at leisure. A Bushman painting walk is on the activity list for those who wish to experience a short walk to some of the best examples of bushman artwork in the southern hemisphere.
Overnight at Bidstone Cottages
Afternoon activities: rock art walk
Breakfast at 07h30
Ride starts at 08h15
Lunchtime is announced before the morning ride based on the consensus of the group
Dinner served at 18h00
Cash bar available
DAY 3
Steel Bridges
38.6 km with 1 981 m elevation. A one-waygravel ride from Bidstone to Branksome Country House. The route will take you over the Kraai River crossing one of the signature vintage bridges of the region. Refreshments will be served at this bridge, allowing time to marvel at the engineering of yesteryear. The balance of the day’s ride follows the beautiful Kraai River all the way to the night’s stopover at Branksome Country House.
Overnight at Branksome Country House.
Optional afternoon activity is fly fishing in the Kraai River
Breakfast at 07h30
Ride starts at 08h30
Lunchtime is announced before the morning ride based on the consensus of the group
Dinner served at 18h00
Cash bar
DAY 4
Volunteershoek Pass
71 km with 2 682 m elevation. The days ride is spectacular but tough. It starts off with a 40 km bus ride to the village of Rhodes. We then start the long climb, roughly 12 km long, up to the highest point in the Eastern Drakensburg, Makhollo (Great Mother) at 3 001 m. This is one of the highest altitude roads in South Africa and offers spectacular views and endemic flora and fauna. There is very good chance of seeing the rare Bearded Vulture. The ride takes us along beautiful valleys on our way to a steep rocky decent which should be ridden with care. This takes us down to Bidstone where you will be welcomed to hot showers, delicious pizza and ice cold Bidstone Ale. At this point you pick up your vehicles to take the short drive back to Branksome for the last evening.
Overnight at Branksome Country House
Breakfast at 07h30
Ride starts at 08h15
Lunchtime is announced before the morning ride based on the consensus of the group
Dinner served at 18h00
Cash bar available
DAY 5
Breakfast at 07h30
Depart at your leisure
PROVISIONAL DATES
Please note, the dates listed below are provisional and will be confirmed. Please enquire for any questions or queries.