Enjoy the Tide

Enjoy the Tide is Follow the Tide's headline trip: a private, fully inclusive round trip from Durban along one of South Africa's wildest coastlines, inside the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every departure is timed to the spring low tides, when the beach exposes enough hard sand to ride safely, and only one group rides each tide window.

After a night at Lodge Umusa in Kosi Bay, riders cross Kosi Lake by barge past 700-year-old fish traps, then ride 45 km along the sand, past untouched bays and reefs, to a private camp in the dune forest at Mabibi with no power or phone signal. The next day is a relaxed out-and-back ride with time to snorkel and explore rock pools.

A 25 km ride then brings riders to Sodwana Bay and a night at Mseni Lodge. The trip finishes with an early snorkel charter or ocean safari over the reef before the drive back to Durban.

Highlights

• Barge crossing of Kosi Lake past 700-year-old fish traps, with a chance of hippos
• Riding the empty beaches of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Two nights at a private, off-grid camp in the Mabibi dune forest
• Snorkelling and rock pools on the Mabibi out-and-back day
• Snorkel charter or ocean safari over Sodwana Bay's reef
• Chance of dolphins, whales and turtles offshore

Surface and terrain
Almost entirely beach riding on the hard sand exposed at spring low tide, with some rocky shoreline near Sodwana. Flat overall. A standard mountain bike is all you need; a fat bike isn't required.

Weather
Subtropical coast: hot and humid in summer (November to March) with afternoon storms; mild, dry and sunny in winter (May to August). Coastal winds are common on the open beach.

Suitable for
Fit, adventurous riders and private groups of friends comfortable on a mountain bike and riding on sand. Moderate daily distances suit capable intermediate riders who are happy with two nights' camping without power or phone signal.