High Altitude Mountain Biking

Lesotho MTB  and Northern Drakensberg Tour – 12 Nights- 13 Days

Day 1: Depending on flight arrival?

Pickup at Maseru airport and be transferred to lodge, bike setup and Roma Valley ride with dinner at the student pub and have a local barbeque and a Maluti beer.
Roma Loop Route details: 20km (easy riding in and around Roma)
Surface: 8km single track, 8km gravel road, 4km tarred road.

Overnight: Guest lodge.

Day 2: Depart after breakfast for the, ride.
Route details: 45km, 920 meters.
Surface: 10km single track, 25km gravel road, 10km tarred road.

Overnight: Guest House.

Day 3:  Depart after breakfast for the ride.
Route details: 63km, 1415 meters.
Surface: 6km tarred road, 12km single track, 45km gravel road.

Overnight: Guest lodge.

Day 4: Depart after breakfast for the Malealea Loop.
Route details: 54km, 1480 meters.
Surface: 27km single track, 27km gravel road.

Overnight: Guest lodge.

Day 5:  Depart after breakfast for the  ride.
Route details: 62km, 1620 meters.
Surface: 48km gravel road, 14km single track.

Overnight :Trading Post lodge.

Day 6 : Rest Day or  do the Semonkong loop with ride around Maletsunyane waterfalls-204 meters.
Route details: 16km, 400 meters.
Surface: 12km gravel road, 4km single track .

Overnight:  Trading Post lodge.

                  Maletsunyane waterfall - 204 meters

                              Guinee’s book of records Abseil

Day 7:  Depart after breakfast and do the ride.
Route details: 51km, 1235 meters.
Surface: 8km tarred road, 31km single track, and 12km gravel road.

Overnight:  Trading Post lodge.

Day 8:  Depart after breakfast and do the  Dam Loop.
Route details: 61km, 1520 meters.
Surface: 45km gravel road, 9km single track, 7km tarred road.

Overnight: Trading Post lodge.

Day 9 : Depart after breakfast and exit Lesotho via Maseru Bridge border post!

Travel through the Orange Free State, have lunch in Clarens, after lunch travel via the Golden Gate National Park and arrival at lodge in the Northern Drakensberg late afternoon.

Overnight: at Guest Lodge.

Day 10 - Breakfast only!

The first day starts off down the valley on flowing single track through the Acacia Meander and past the pecan grove

before climbing up to Montusi Lodge via a short section of tar. From Montusi its back on the single track down into the Wanhoop Valley, across the Wanhoop stream and into the Langkloof community. Stop for cold drinks at a local spaza shop before heading up the spectacular Berg Traverse. This section of trail is usually only accessible as part of the Ridetheberg race, so this is a special section. The descent back into the Wanhoop Valley offers some challenging switch backs – just to make sure everyone is wide awake. The trail then climbs steeply back to Montusi via Angry Astma, and then back up the valley to The Cavern. +- 45 km

If the group stays at Montusi, the route will exclude the ride down the valley past the Pecan Grove and back again, but will include more of the single track around Montusi.

The distance will be +- 30km.

Overnight: at Guest Lodge.

Day 11 -Breakfast -only!

Back down the valley on the fast single track, but this time keeping to the track that runs parallel to the road. Then the

climbing starts. Over the hill to Alpine Heath, then 6km of steep climbing on the concrete strips to Greenfire Lodge. The

pain is worth the reward at the top – the new Ingwe trail is a mind blowing meander through the sandstone outcrops

and yellow wood trees. The trail then joins back up with the Nook road – a 4x4 trail which hugs the Sandstone cliffs and

ends with an arm pumping descent past Montusi. Stop in there for a cup of tea and a scone, (or a lovely Drakensberg

Brewery Craft Beer) before meandering back to the Cavern via the single track of the Windmill trail and the awesome

berms on Forbidden Pass. (+- 38km)

If the group stays at Montusi the ride will start down the Berms at Forbidden Pass, take in the switchbacks on the Quad

Trail past the Montusi Water fall Cave and Owls Pass, before heading through the fields past the Pecan Grove and the

climb over to Alpine Heath and up to Greenfire. The ride finishes with the fast Nook Road descent. (+- 36kms).

Overnight at Guest Lodge.

Day 12 -Breakfast -Only!

Today’s route starts with a sharp climb out of the Cavern on to the spectacular Grotto Trail and heads over to All Out

Adventures via Down Time – an 8km masterpiece of co-ordinated turns that drop down form the ridge into the valley.

After a cappuccino fun continues down the Berm Trail into the Montusi Gorge. If the guys have the legs for it they can

have a go at the Lap Race (2x 5km laps) to see if they can get on to the leader board. If the Lap Race isn’t on the cards,

the route meanders back through the valley on a gentle gradient, along the river in the acacia trees, until the last climb

up The Cavern (+-25km)

If the group stays at Montusi the ride will start down the berms of Forbidden Pass and through the single track beside

the Pecan trees, before joining with the trail that climbs up to The Cavern. The ride finishes back up Forbidden Pass. (+-

35km).

Overnight : The Resort.

Day 13:After breakfast depart for Durban airport!

                                 END OF TOUR!