Mountain Biking
 

Sabie - arguably the best mountain biking destination in South Africa - is the ideal springboard for both novice and accomplished mountain bikers to practice this sport in a secure environment amidst breathtaking scenery.  Sabie offer both the competitive and the casual mountain biker a wide range of well marked, self-guided mountain bike trails.
These routes & trails can get extremely slippery and muddy in wet conditions. "Slick" and "semi-slick" tires are not recommended.  Ensure that you have spare tubes and a working pump before setting out. Energy drinks and food are essential to keep your strength and stamina levels up.	Self-guided Day Routes Self-guided Over-night Trails Competitive Mountain Biking
PERMITS You need a permit for these routes at R30/person/day. Without it your may well be arrested by forestry security staff. Permits and route maps are available from   Merry Pebbles Resort 013 764-2266 Route Maps & Profiles available on Merry Pebbles web site.

Self-guided Day Routes
The self-guided routes all start and finish at the Municipal (Castle Rock) Caravan Park in Sabie and traverse the Ceylon and surrounding plantations.
 

YELLOW Route		Great Night Ride Start by following a jeep track parallel to the Sabie River, right at the foot of the densely overgrown and moist cliffs of Castle Rock. A tight single track lures you off to the left via a dense bush tunnel before spitting you back out onto the jeep track. Expect to spin out on slippery loose slate and rocks until you eventually end up at the finish - returning on the same jeep track.
Distance:	6 km
Duration:	15 - 45 min
Rating:	Easy

GREEN Route		Steep Climb & Single Tracks The route consists of single track, jeep track, wooden bridge crossing and short steep climbs in the Tweefontein Forests. Once you reach an altitude of 1,250 m, you plunge over a ridge along a series of winding and slithery single track loops and continue all the way home on single track.
Distance:	15 km
Duration:	1 - 2 h
Rating:	Intermediate

BLUE Route		Some Steep Hills & Great Single Tracks An intermediate return ride on forestry roads to Lone Creek Falls. Starting off with 8km of flat riding, over a wooden bridge passing Oelof's dam, towards Lone Creek Falls. Followed by a 1km climb and then 9km jeep track towards Bridal Veil Falls. After which you have 7km of single track all the way back to the finish.
Distance:	25 km
Duration:	1½ - 3 h
Rating:	Intermediate

BLACK Route		Single Tracks, Big Climb & Technical Descent The most technical of all the routes. It starts along the Sabie River with single track towards Ceylon forest station. Up a 4km jeep track climb straight into slithery single track loops.  Lastly to finish off a 1km scary technical single track section with a drop-off. Warning ! Do NOT ride behind Shooting Range if in use, or if roads have warning barriers.
Distance:	13 km
Duration:	1 - 2 h
Rating:	Difficult

RED Route		Some Steep Hills & Great Single Tracks, some Technical This route snakes along the banks of the Sabie River, passing through pine plantations and Oelof's dam on an undulating gravel road towards Bridal Veil Falls. A demanding 4km off-road climb up to the Ceylon and Tweefontein boundaries, leading to a fantastic view of the glorious Sabie valley. Returning downhill on ±10km of technical single track to the finish. Be warned - not downhill all the way.
Distance:	30 km
Duration:	2 - 4 h
Rating:	Difficult

PURPLE Route		Some Steep Hills & Great Single Tracks This scenic route snakes along the banks of the Sabie River, passing through pine plantations and Oelof's dam on an undulating gravel road towards Bridal Veil Falls. The route then returns, past the shooting range, to Castle Rock Caravan Park.
Distance:	17 km
Duration:	1 - 2 h
Rating:	Easy to Intermediate

  Self-guided Over-night Trails
For the over-night trails you will need a hiking permit from Komatiland Eco-Tourism (Phone them on 013 754-2724 or contact them by e-mail on ecotour@klf.co.za).
 

Maritzbos Trail		A trail of medium length. The start is very easy along the river as far as Lone Creek Falls (8km), where the kids can turn back. A short steep climb of 2km to the top of the falls splits the fit from the unfit, and then follows lovely riverine vegetation to the Matizbos Hut, where lunch can be eaten before a leisurely ride back on an easy gravel road. Or arrange to sleep over before tackling the Black trail to Stables Hut (1,900m a.s.l.) and the magic views which await you on top of the world.  The route should take 1.5  to 2.5 hours to complete.
Distance:	25 km
Duration:	1½ - 2½ h
Rating:	Suitable for intermediate riders.

 

Stables Trail		For a single day this is a long trail, mainly due to the steep climbs involved from 1000m a.s.l. to 1900m a.s.l. and back down again. You can split it by sleeping over at Maritzbos or Stables Hut at a reasonable cost. If the weather is good, views are endless, but the mist can move in within minutes! The 15km downhill is hard on the arms, hands and EXCELLENT brakes are essential. Be warned! This trail should take 3 hours for the fit and 5 to 6 hours for honeymooners.
Distance:	45 km
Duration:	3 - 5 h
Rating:	Experienced, and fit riders only!.

Competitive Mountain Biking
Sabie is well known in the competitive mountain biker's fraternity for the annual challenging Sabie Classic, and the fun-filled Noon to Moon day/night race. These prestigious mountain biking events are hosted by the Lowveld Chaingang Mountain Bike Club.  For dates of these events, see our Calendar of Events page.

SUBARU Sabie Classic - 2007
Photo: Nicolene Olckers/Lowvelder