Trails & Travel

It is an opportunity to discover the most popular tourist destination in South Africa. Cape Town has been named as number one on the prestigious New York Times’ 52 Places to go in 2014 list. In Nov 2019 Cape Town was voted The Best City in the World by readers of the Daily Telegraph in London. This was the seventh consecutive victory for Cape Town.

Cape Town is the most popular international tourist destination in Africa. It is famous for its Waterfront as well as its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, as well as for such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Cape Peninsula Cycling includes sections of the route taken by the iconic Cape Town Cycle Tour (the world’s largest timed cycle race held in Cape Town every March). The tour follows a route around Cape Town’s peninsula from the historic V&A Waterfront to Cape Point through the southern section of the Table Mountain National Park, with superb views of mountains and the coast. Along the way there are many opportunities to stop and experience the rich culture of the Cape from local markets to seaside villages and historic sights.

This is an opportunity to discover the area around Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Somerset West in style. This area is regarded as one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa, with distinctive and spectacular countryside, world class wine estates and cuisine. TripAdvisor listed Franschoek in 2014 as one of the top three destinations in South Africa

Experience the Cape's finest wines while discovering the natural beauty of the Cape Winelands countryside, Wine Estates and historic towns. Sample renowned wines straight from the cellar and dine in some world class restaurants. Enjoy excellent accommodation, making this a trip to remember.

Your cycling adventure begins in the historic town of Franschhoek, known as the food and wine capital of South Africa. From Franschhoek over Helshoogte to Stellenbosch,the second oldest town in South Africa. Explore the Jonkershoek Valley and Nature Reserve, as well as estates in the Blaauwklippen Valley. The final destination is Somerset West where the historic Vergelegen- and Lourensford Estates will provide some of the highlights.

Your cycling holiday in the Cape Winelands includes four days of easy to moderate cycling. The route follows quiet roads, where possible. The daily distance is between 35/45 km (about 3/4 hours cycling).

Cycling in the Cape Winelands is recommended at any time from spring to autumn. Summer days can be hot.

With its unparalleled scenic beauty, modern infrastructure, upmarket shops and endless adventure options, it’s little wonder that Hermanus has grown in size and popularity during the last decade. Hermanus has the status of being the best land-based whale watching destination in the world. Southern right whales visit Walker Bay from June through to December and can be viewed from aboard a boat, an airplane or the shore. Hermanus is home to the world’s only Whale Crier who blows his kelp horn when whales are spotted along the central sea route. Hermanus is a cosmopolitan town but has retained some of its historical fisherman’s village heritage. A number of craft markets sell a range of interesting wares and create a vibrant atmosphere. The old harbour with its restored fishing boats gives a glimpse of times past. Hermanus's two lagoons and the ocean provide a water sport paradise for kayaking, canoeing, wind surfing, etc. Shark cage diving provides an adrenaline fix for adventure lovers. Hermanus has something for everyone. Hermanus may no longer be a village, but the character and atmosphere of this vibrant town offers a lifestyle few places can match.

Shipwreck cycling is in the southern Overberg (“Over the mountain”) region of the Western Cape, South Africa. The route is along country roads and charming villages at the tip of the African continent where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. The rugged, windswept coastal plain is geographically striking, with a rich natural and cultural heritage

Villages
Start in the town Bredasdorp and then charming historical villages such as Arniston, Struisbaai,  L'Agulhas and Elim

Shipwrecks
The coastline is renowned for shipwrecks, and streets and businesses in Cape Agulhas bear the names of some ill-fated ships. These include Meisho Maru, St Mungo, Brederode, Nossa Senhora dos Milagros, Juno and Martha. Some 250 ships have been wrecked here over time. History and information at the Shipwreck museum in Bredasdorp and the old Lighthouse at L'Agulhas

Coast and Plains
Ride inland along sand plains, farmland, vineyards, wetlands and dunes and along interesting rocky and ruggedly beautiful coast. 

National Park
Experience the Cape Agulhas National Park, which covers about 21 000 ha. It has more that 9000 species of flowering plants and the coastline supports a rich marine and intertidal life, with breeding sites of rare birds such as the African Black Oystercatcher. The focus is on some of the most splendid examples of lowland fynbos and lowland fynbos on limestone soils - considered endangered and restricted largely to the southern Overberg.

Flora
The Overberg area is the smallest plant kingdom in the world with the greatest number of different species. Of the nine thousand species, some can be found nowhere else. The Strandveld Agulhas Plain is unique and significant by international conservation standards due to its rich biodiversity. The Cape Floral Kingdom consists mostly of fynbos and renosterveld. Of the 800 Erica species in the world, more than 80 % grow in the Cape Floral Kingdom. Interesting plants in this habitat include the mountain bluebell, the flame red Bredasdorp lily, the granny bonnet and the Cape everlasting.

Views
Stunning views, beautiful beaches, pebble bays, rock pools. Whale watching from September to November.

History
The country's second oldest working lighthouse was built at L'Agulhas in 1848. Other historical features include the 200 year old fishermen's village at Kassiesbaai and fisherman's cottages at Hotagterklip. You can also explore fish traps and other valuable historic and cultural legacy left by the Khoikhoi beach nomads who lived along this coastline for centuries.

 West Coast Cycling is a self-guided cycling holiday. It is an opportunity to view the unique West Coast of South Africa.

Unique coast & fishing villages
Discover the beautiful Atlantic coastline with long stretches of unspoilt white sand and little coves of alternating rock and sand. Experience Yzerfontein, Langebaan and life in the fishing villages St Helena Bay (Shelley Point) and Paternoster.

Dolphins and Whales
A number of different species of cetaceans (dolphins and whales) move through the nutrient-rich waters of the West Coast, fed by the Benguela current. On your route you might spot seals, dolphins and whales. Southern right whales are regular visitors to the West Coast from middle winter onwards with the most sightings in December.

Wild flowers
Every spring, from August to September/October, the apparently barren soil of the West Coast, from the mountains to the ocean, bursts forth in a kaleidoscopic carpet of flowers. Many tourists are drawn to this glorious and world famous annual display.

Nature Reserves
The West Coast National Park, including the Langebaan lagoon, covers some 40 000 ha. The park is particularly well known for its bird life  and for the spring flowers which occur in the months from August to September. Over 280 species of birds. Seagulls, cormorants, sacred ibis and the Oystercatcher using this coastline as their breeding ground. Wildlife in the park includes large antelope such as eland, red hartebeest, bontebok, kudu, gemsbok, steenbok, mountain zebra, duiker and ostriches. 

The reserve at Cape Columbine is on a peninsula and covers 263 hectares of gorgeous wild, rocky coastline. The huge round rocks just inside the bays are ideal for the sightings of dolphins and whales- in season. The Cape Columbine lighthouse is the only brick and mortar in the reserve. Built in 1936, it was the first South African lighthouse to receive all navigational safety features.It is usually the first lighthouse sighted by ships coming from South America or Europe.

Accommodation 
4 star standard hotel or guesthouse. The seafood from the West Coast is legendary.

!Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre
Learn about the San Bushman culture- the history, livelihoods, challenges and successes of all San groups in southern Africa. The centre is the only one of its kind dedicated to the story of southern Africa’s first people.

West Coast Fossil Park
The fossil site near Langebaan is world-renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved fossil faunal remains. See the fossils of bears, sabre-tooth cats, short-necked giraffes and the many other exotic animals which inhabited the West Coast area some 5 million years ago.

Other activities
Other activities in the West Coast area can be added to the cycling package

Your tour starts in Malgas - an off the beaten track destination for those who enjoy something different. It is a small settlement on the western bank of the Breede River in the Overberg region of the Western Cape. Enjoy the peaceful tranquility of the Breede River. The historic ferry (or pont) across the Breede river at Malgas has been in operation for more than 100 years. It is probably the oldest, and only, manually operated cross-river ferry in all of South Africa. Visit Sijnn Wines, a beautiful pioneering wine estate in the middle of nowhere at the end of a long, dusty, bumpy road at the Southern tip of Africa. The word “sijnn” is derived from the Khoisan word meaning riverbank. Today Sijnn Wines has become well known for their interesting and bold choices of cultivars and award-winning blends. They believe in natural farming and natural winemaking, and focus their skills on blending Mediterranean-style varieties that are best suited to the low rainfall climate and poor soil quality.

De Hoop Nature Reserve
Positioned on the Western Cape’s coastline and extending 340 square kilometres, De Hoop is one of the largest areas managed by Cape Nature, and one of few parks to boast such a large diversity in marine and land animals, birdlife and vegetation! De Hoop coast is a marine reserve which extends 3 kilometres out to sea

Few other reserves offer as complete an outdoor experience as De Hoop – sea, sand dunes, the vlei, a floral sensation of rare fynbos plants, diverse antelope and the Potberg Mountains. Birders observe wading birds on the shores of the vlei while the Potberg Mountains are home to a colony of endangered Cape vultures. Hikers and cyclists have close-up encounters with bontebok, Cape mountain zebra, eland, baboons and ostrich.

Whale watching
The De Hoop Marine Reserve is one of the world’s most important calving grounds for the southern right whale and an important nursery area for depleted angling fish species.

Every year, some 40% of the world’s southern right whales come to these shores to breed. Females and their calves swim in the clear waters, while males put on spectacular displays. These endangered mammals ensure that the De Hoop Reserve in South Africa, is one of the world’s best land based whale watching areas. As a marine reserve and World Heritage Site, De Hoop guarantees a safe nursery for these pods of visiting cetaceans. They come so close to the shore that visitors can relax on the unspoilt sand dunes, watching in awe as these beautiful creatures calve, blow, breach and belly-flop. The whale season is from June to December

“Fynbos” plants and wildlife
The diversity of 1 500 plant species is amongst the highest in the Cape Floristic Region, with a large percentage of rare, threatened and endemic species. Fynbos is the dominant vegetation group and is largely confined to nutrient-poor soils in the winter rainfall areas of the Western Cape. It is adapted to fire and drought and is defined by four growth forms:
proteas – tall shrubs with large leaves
ericas – heath-like shrubs
restios – wiry, reed-like plants which are always present in fynbos
geophytes – bulbs that store moisture in fleshy underground organs.
The discerning visitor is privileged to walk or ride amongst pristine fynbos vegetation and view the flowering plants at close quarters. The invertebrate animal wealth is equally diverse. The reserve has 86 mammals species. A safe refuge is provided for rare mammals such as the Bontebok and Cape Mountain Zebra, smaller predators and various bat species. Approximately 260 bird species have been recorded including the rare Damara and Caspian terns, the vulnerable Cape vulture and Stanley’s bustard.

De Hoop vlei
The De Hoop Vlei is 17 km long and a highly productive ecosystem; a Ramsar site of international ecological importance where aquatic birds and other organisms breed and feed undisturbed. Many of the 260 bird species which occur at De Hoop can be seen here. The vlei boasts several pairs of African fish eagles. Their high-pitched call, the voice of Africa, contributes to the wild charm of the area. The area is a safe shelter for twelve waterfowl species during the dry summer months. As many as 13 species of migrant waders including curlew sandpipers, ruffs, little stints, whiskered and white winged terns visit the vlei in summer, when the water level drops and the mud flats are exposed

Activities
Activities in De Hoop Reserve are diverse. In addition to mountain biking along selected gravel roads and trails your program includes a scenic nature drive, an eco boat tour and interpretative marine walk. Other options are a vulture experience and a guided bird walk. Relaxing on the beach and snorkeling in the many turquoise rock pools is simply another way to pass a rewarding day. 

The Southernmost cycling holiday is in the Agulhas Plain. It is in the southern Overberg (“Over the mountain”) region of the Western Cape, South Africa. The route is along country roads through farmland, nature reserves and charming villages at the tip of the African continent where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. The rugged, windswept coastal plain is geographically striking, with a rich natural and cultural heritage

Highlights

Villages
Charming historical villages such as Stanford, Napier, Elim and Agulhas

Coast and Plains
Ride along interesting rocky and ruggedly beautiful coast and through inland sand plains, farmland, vineyards, wetlands and dunes.

National Park
Experience the Cape Agulhas National Park, which covers about 21 000 ha. It has more that 9000 species of flowering plants and the coastline supports a rich marine and intertidal life, with breeding sites of rare birds such as the African Black Oystercatcher. The focus is on some of the most splendid examples of lowland fynbos and lowland fynbos on limestone soils - considered endangered and restricted largely to the southern Overberg.

Flora
The Overberg area is the smallest plant kingdom in the world with the greatest number of different species. Of the nine thousand species, some can be found nowhere else. The Strandveld Agulhas Plain is unique and significant by international conservation standards due to its rich biodiversity. The Cape Floral Kingdom consists mostly of fynbos and renosterveld. Of the 800 Erica species in the world, more than 80 % grow in the Cape Floral Kingdom. Interesting plants in this habitat include the mountain bluebell, the flame red Bredasdorp lily, the granny bonnet and the Cape everlasting.

Views
Stunning views, beautiful beaches, pebble bays, rock pools. Whale watching from September to November.

Conservation
The Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area (SMA) is an initiative by 25 private landowners and local communities to collectively manage certain land for conservation.Some 46,000 hectares of often critically endangered habitat on the Agulhas Plain is protected. The primary goal is to protect and use the land sustainably- to find the balance between environmental integrity, human well being and economic efficiency within the area.Biodiversity and wetland conservation is promoted as well as sustainable farming practices. One of the initiatives was to re-introduce buffalo to the Agulhas Plain for the first time in more than 200 years. Now, with their numbers steadily increasing, the Agulhas Plain has once again become a source of disease-free buffalo.This collaboration between landowners and local communities is the first of its kind in South Africa. UNESCO has expressed interest in the Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area (SMA), as a working example of its Man and the Biosphere programme.

Shipwrecks
The coastline is renowned for shipwrecks, and streets and businesses in Cape Agulhas bear the names of some ill-fated ships. These include Meisho Maru, St Mungo, Brederode, Nossa Senhora dos Milagros, Juno and Martha. Some 250 ships have been wrecked here over time.

History
The country's second oldest working lighthouse was built at L'Agulhas in 1848. Other historical features include the 200 year old fishermen's village at Kassiesbaai and fisherman's cottages at Hotagterklip. You can also explore fish traps and other valuable historic and cultural legacy left by the Khoikhoi beach nomads who lived along this coastline for centuries.