In fact, the Cape Winelands boasts some of THE best mountain biking trails in the country. The bonus, of course, is that once you have packed your cleats away for the day, you can get to sampling all that food and wine!
Stellenbosch Wine Route
Stellenbosch is largely considered to be the MTB capital of South Africa and with more than 500km of trail to explore, that’s no surprise. Having recently played host to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup event earlier this year, Stellies is quickly cementing its place as a world cycling destination.
If you’re brave enough, you can take on the track that was cut into the Coetzenburg Mountain for the event – not for rookies or faint of heart! As the country’s MTB mecca, Stellenbosch obviously has a number of trails to explore with some of the more well-known including the G-spot MTB Trail, the Jonkershoek Trails, the Eden / Paradyskloof MTB Route and the Bottelary Hills MTB Trail.
There are plenty of operators in town who can help you navigate which trail suits your needs best, while you can also download the Stellenbosch Cycling Map, which includes all the routes, ratings, and operators in the area.
Franschhoek Wine Route
The Franschhoek Valley is well-known for its incredible wine and world class cuisine, but it is also home to some of the best MTB trails in the country. Like Stellenbosch, Franschhoek has something for everybody, whether you are a beginner rider or an experienced downhill racing snake.
The Robertsvlei Loop is perfect for beginners, cutting through gently undulating farmlands and offering incredible views of the Franschhoek River and mountain, while advanced riders can take on the Franschhoek Pass MTB Route, which will test you with a steady 25km climb to the top of pass, and reward you with an EPIC view of the valley below. The Matoppie MTB Route is a local favourite – a 14km ride that includes a tough climb and a technical contour route – also not recommended for beginner riders.
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