Why your next MTB Holiday should be in South Africa
Cycling and mountain biking in particular is a great way to travel and explore exciting new places around the world. South Africa is by far one of the best countries on earth for a cycling or mountain biking holiday, and here are our top five reasons why:
The Weather: South Africa is a large country, but can be loosely split into two climatic regions – Temperate in the South and South West, with weather patterns being very similar to the Mediterranean, and Sub tropical in the North and North East. What this means for you if you are considering a cycling holiday in South Africa, is that the weather is pretty much perfect for this all year around. However, we would recommend visiting the Western Cape in the spring and summer months, from September through April or early May, as the winters can be a little wet. Conversely, the sub-tropical regions along the East Coast and the Northern parts, can be visited year-round, but do experience extremely high temperatures and humidity from October to February, and are better enjoyed in Spring and Autumn.
Trail Networks: South Africa is blessed with an abundance of truly world-class mountain bike trail networks, spread right across the country. Ranging from the Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands, with the impressive backdrop of the Drakensberg mountain range, through to the iconic trails around Cape Town in the Western Cape, where many of the top professional riders from around the world spend their off-season training, and the major brands come to test new gear while escaping the northern hemisphere winters.
On top of these amazing trail systems, the country is also blessed with thousands of kilometres of beautiful gravel roads and tracks, where you can spend countless hours taking in the magnificent scenery as you cycle from village to village. No matter what kind of rider you are, South Africa has some amazing riding waiting for you.
Nature: It would be impossible to make a list of reasons to take your next mountain bike adventure in South Africa, without mentioning the natural beauty and wildlife that South Africa is famous for. With hundreds of kilometres of single track traversing the mountains and the plains, where you have the opportunity to cycle through some of the most biodiverse floral kingdoms of the world in the Western Cape, or across plains teaming with wildlife like Zebra, Wildebeest and Kudu, and even the opportunity to spot some of the magnificent big 5, no trip to South Africa would be complete without including a visit to one of the many game reserves and national parks scattered across the country.
World Class Cycling Events: With the amazing weather and the countless miles of tracks and trails around the country, it is no wonder that South Africa is host to many world-class cycling and multisport events. Whether you want to take part in the world’s largest road bike race in Cape Town (the Cape Town Cycle Tour) or tackle what is widely regarded as the most brutal mountain bike race on the planet, the Absa Cape Epic, or anything in between, there will be an event for your liking to do in South Africa, including multiple Ironman events, countless stage races, and amazing marathons. So why not plan your next mountain bike or cycling holiday around one of the many great events on the South African events calendar?
Value for Money: We all know cycling and Mountain Biking are expensive hobbies, and travel is often considered a luxury, but there is no denying the incredible value for money South Africa offers for travellers. The combination of a very favourable exchange rate, excellent value on accommodation to suit every budget, and the fact that South Africa grows a large amount of the world’s best fruit and vegetables, and some of the best red meat on the planet, makes it very affordable to indulge in some great delicacies while visiting us. When a delicious steak dinner costs you less than 6 Euro, what’s not to love, and what better way to end a day of amazing trail riding than around a barbeque with your best friends, great local wine, and cheap steak?
Taking all this into account, why not let Africranks Biking host you for your next cycling adventure in South Africa. We have several experiences ranging from day trips, and weekends away right through to multi-day adventures of anywhere from 4 to 15 days. Alternatively, contact us if you would like to plan something unique for your next adventure.
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