100% Pure Frontier Country Cycling

Experience

Makhanda Grahamstown has traditionally been associated with Education and The Arts. Host to Rhodes University, world class schools, the National Arts Festival, an extraordinary array of churches and cathedrals and a plethora of beautiful stone building that date back to the mid 1800.

But there is another side of city that few people have discovered. This is the incredible network of jeep, cattle and pedestrian tracks that have been woven into the terrain over the years. This has provided a web to knit an abundant series of cycling paths all around the city. Within minutes from the city centre, one can be either cycling up Mountain Drive with scenery resembling that of the Scottish Highlands, or if heading north towards Makana Brick, one can meander through endless paths of typical Karoo terrain. Breathtaking, particularly at sunset or sunrise, the terrain offers an endless network of paths scattered with aloes, ‘doring’ trees, quarries, streams, extraordinary rock formation and best of all, not a soul in sight. 

Description

Makhanda is now proud to offer a world class cycling network of over 60km in and around the city. From Mountain Drive in the south, Burnt Kraal in the north west and Makana Bricks in the north east, the web of cycling paths is growing weekly. The tracks offer all types of mountain biking, from the novice cyclist who wants to do a shorter less adventures route around the ‘old’ golf course, or for the more adventurous rider a trip down Aloe Ridge is well worth the effort. The aim is to make cycling accessible to all parts of the community. 

History

As a cycling enthusiast one is overwhelmed at what Makhanda has to offer for cycling. Having spent 3 years exploring the area on morning and evening rides, each time going further and further into the untouched hills and valleys coming out the other side saying ‘wow this is incredible!’ Although there are an abundance of cattle and jeep paths, these tracks were largely un-groomed, with rocks,  Karoo plains , a couple of us raised we had to share what we have . Hailing from Johannesburg, where we you will be group of pure cycling enthusiasts have us called the Amariders!