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<\/a>The Tranquilitas Farmhouse is a total treat to stay in, if you\u2019re keen on quirky and thoughtful d\u00e9cor and awesome views. Photo: Jacques Marais.<\/span><\/p>\nMike Behr does not mess around, whether it is in his construction business, building trails or frying Middle Eastern delicacies \u2013 the Behr philosophy is \u2018do it right or don\u2019t do it at all\u2019. That\u2019s why, if you visit Tranquilitas Adventure Farm above the town of Waterval Boven in Mpumalanga, you will ride proper trails, built with purpose and the vision of a few genius minds drinking wine around bonfires at night.<\/p>\n
Mike and Ruth Behr hail from Pretoria, and bought Tranquilitas 11 years ago. The couple are well known in rock climbing circles, and the cliffs of Waterval Boven create the backdrop for one of South Africa\u2019s premier climbing destinations. When the opportunity came up to purchase the farm running along the cliff tops, they decided it was time to invest and subsequently set up a campsite, chalets and farmhouse accommodation, as well as pool and tuck-shop for campers.<\/p>\n Fortunately for the cycling community, Mike and Ruth discovered mountain biking. And the two-wheeled bug bit hard. Teaming up with another Waterval Boven local, Glenn Harrison (of JoBerg2c trail building fame), a relationship was formed that resulted in a small network of trails criss-crossing in the hillsides above the cliffs. With the farm being 492 hectares, the Tranquilitas crew started to eye out the Sappi plantations that climbed even higher towards the horizon.<\/p>\n A global paper and dissolving wood pulp company, Sappi are one of the largest land owners in South Africa. To produce paper and pulp, they farm trees (mostly varieties of Eucalyptus and Pine), and it is the even rows of trees that provide the infrastructure trail builders are after. The trees, their roots and the stability they offer allow berms to be built and twisting flowing trails to stay put, particularly in steep areas. As you may gather, Sappi land is pretty ideal for building trails.<\/p>\n Fast-tracking the story, the Behrs cemented their relationship with Sappi and completed the necessary paperwork and planning to enter a legal land access agreement through the Sappi MTB Project. They were \u2018A for Away\u2019, and Glen didn\u2019t waste time in putting his mini-excavator machine to work. When I finally had the chance to sample some of the goods, they were as good, if not better, than Mike\u2019s falafel.<\/p>\n The thing is, Tranquilitas has a vast range of feelings and moods that one rides through. Starting down at the camp, it\u2019s a highveld environment, tall grass, red rocks and safari-esque scenes studded with aloes and startling views of the Elands Valley below. Moving up a level towards the farmhouse, the trails zig zag between pockets of wattle that are bedded into compact iron-red clay. These are the original trails of Tranquilitas, and they thread riders past old farm walls, grave stones and bits of Boer era farming equipment. It\u2019s historical, eerie and beautiful; and just when you think you\u2019ve mastered the tight twists and flat corners, you\u2019re sent down steep channels filled with rocks and crazy bridge drops \u2013 they\u2019ve packed an immense amount of variety into a relatively small area.<\/p>\n With a bit of climbing though, riders plateau onto grasslands on the boundary of the farm that then enter Sappi property. It\u2019s here that things start to change again, with an alpine twist. I\u2019m not going to fib, there is some climbing to be done to access the new trails up high, but it\u2019s worth it. When you\u2019ve dropped into Go with the Flow, and start banking turns in berms reminiscent of European trail parks, the feeling of wanting to pinch yourself doesn\u2019t go away.<\/p>\n A personal favourite for me though, is the Morphine Drop trail \u2013 where I was plenty happy to be playing with a full spectrum of suspension. It\u2019s basically 5km of downhill trail jam-packed with playful natural features to hop, manual, jump, skid and plain flat-out rail all the way down. Just don\u2019t be like me and have your cleat get stuck resulting in a highside down a bank in a cartwheel of carbon, baggies and swear words.<\/p>\n<\/a>Tranquilitas provides a broad range of scenery, with safari-esque vibes along the cliff tops. Photo: Jacques Marais.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Everything from the signs to the trails are produced in an original and hand-crafted way. Photo: Jacques Marais.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Plenty of natural features to play on all over the Tranquilitas trails. Photo: Jacques Marais.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Big sky and big wheels, Tranquilitas offers plenty of mileage at high altitude for stiff training conditions. Photo: Jacques Marais.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Views of the Elands Valley below are quite something, while climbers scale the red faces of the cliffs in the gorge. Photo: Jacques Marais.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>The trails around the farmhouse wind through historical gravesites, skeletons of old farm machinery and creaking wattles. Photo: Jacques Marais.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>The trail network is the result of a partnership between the Behrs and Glenn Harrison, master trail builder behind JoBerg2c. Photo: Jacques Marais.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>The start of Morphine Drop, one Tranquilitas\u2019s stand out descents. Photo: Jacques Marais.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Bright greens and dark trails, the picturesque nature of the trails will appeal to all riders, no matter your preference of trail. Photo: Jacques Marais.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n