Adventure and Travel

Trail Daze | Jungle Fever in the Garden Route

By BikeHubCoreAdmin · 31 comments

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About an hour’s drive further up the coast from last month’s Trail Daze destination, we re-visited the now world-famous Garden Route Trail Park, to round off our trip up the N2.

Nestled at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains and the Karatara River Gorge, lies one of South Africa’s top mountain biking destinations. Proper trails cutting through lush indigenous forest with an incredible ambiance of bird sounds and other wild life, and a majestic mountainous backdrop is what defines this place. Add to that accommodation in the form of the Trail Park House, or a 20 person dorm room setup hand crafted by the land owner and trail builder Rob Dormehl, and you have the perfect place to rally together some friends and shred the 40km trail network from dawn till dusk. And with 4 trail options varying in difficulty and distance, and a pump track/dirt jump line, it really caters for all riders of all abilities.

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The ever-expanding network of trails and accommodation at Garden Route Trail Park is something to admire. Well built jumps in every size you could ever want, means it’s the perfect place to get airtime and it’s one of the few places in SA that you can ride proper singletrack under an indigenous tree canopy. Phone your friends now and plan a weekend getaway now!
Daniel Dobinson | iRideAfrica

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The Garden Route Trail Park is definitely a must if you’re going anywhere up the coast. I’m lucky enough to visit the park frequently and it’s definitely on the favourites list. The trails vary from deep, dark, and dense forests with big bomb holes and tight branches, to open grasslands with amazingly flowy trails. I love riding here because of the natural forest that just makes you forget about the world for a few hours. And it’s always nice to finish with a few pump track laps and a good coffee.
Matt Lombardi

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This project is made possible by:

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Garden Route Trail Park GPS: 33°55’01.3″S 22°51’47.7″E

Riders : Daniel Dobinson | Matt Lombardi

Permit: R100

All images by Ewald Sadie

instagram:

@ewaldsadie

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Comments

Headshot
Headshot

Mar 29, 2017, 9:46 AM

Why is this place so far away from CT?

Robbie Stewart
Robbie Stewart

Mar 29, 2017, 10:11 PM

Why is this place so far away from CT?

 

Cause that's where the forest is...and without the forest, it won't be the same. But ja, would it not be lekker to hop in the car, even for a quick hour drive to get there, instead of having to mission there for a long trip out. 

 

But then, all the more reason to go in the first place... :clap:

Bos
Bos

Mar 30, 2017, 1:33 PM

I've ridden this place about 4 times and agree with you all. Its crazy. I really enjoy how one can carry a good amount of speed through most of the lines. Also the jumps and berms are a breath of fresh air compared to many of the trails around Cape Town which are not built for ripping..These trials inspire the inner shredder to come out.

 

As a word of warning, it gets very hot and humid in there and since what goes down must come back up, prepare to sweat a whole lot going up the technical climbs out of the ravines on sunny summer days.

 

My favourite trails are:

Short drop line with decent sized table top jumps and berms

Yellow pumping smaller version of above.

The new Mountain mania.. No Jumps (at least when I rode it) see video below evidence of the property I bought halfway down. Its a 10 minute leg burner that will blow your mind. The climb up there is pretty nasty though.

 

Here's a clip that Fellow Hubber "Nox" took of us riding the new line. "#Mountainmania" in January. It was very wet this day so slightly sketch but unbelievably fun you can pretty much go as fast as your nerves allow you to go.

 

GLuvsMtb
GLuvsMtb

Apr 17, 2017, 5:24 PM

A few mates and I with our families had the privilege to stay in the GRTP cottage over Easter. What a blast! I've done some of the trails on previous weekends, but this time we had the whole Easter to indulge in what could only be described as Mountain Bike Nirvana. The new Mountain Mania blew my mind into smithereens. So much flow! Jungle Fever got almost as much airtime and Forest frenzy, Lunacy lane and Mad cows was mixed and matched throughout. The pump track was a hit with my 32 month old son and it was awesome to see how his skills progressed with just a few visits to the pump track.

The house itself sleeps 8 with 3 bedrooms and a loft. The stoep and living areas are comfortable and you don't really miss the finer things like microwaves at all. The house runs on solar and gas and is towards the top end of jungle fever. It was awesome just to be able to drop into the trails whenever we felt like a quick ride. It will become an annual pilgrimage for sure.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Duane_Bosch
Duane_Bosch

Apr 18, 2017, 10:33 AM

It sounds crazy but this is the closest I've come to an Alpine experience in SA. The house being at the trailhead is amazing.

 

To those that haven't been and live in CT.

 

1. Get 7 mates together

2. Take the Friday off

3. Drive up early Friday morning.

4. Ride Friday Arvo, Whole of Saturday, Sunday morning

5. Back Sunday arvo.

 

You'll be in for 1k (ish) each.

T-Bob
T-Bob

Apr 18, 2017, 11:40 AM

Love this guy for his pure enthusiasm... whether it's a bike, a trail or an MRP insert! 

 

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Apr 18, 2017, 12:07 PM

Love this guy for his pure enthusiasm... whether it's a bike, a trail or an MRP insert! 

 

riding with him is an absolute hoot as well. 

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