Where To Ride: Hantamland, Northern Cape

21 june 2023, calvinia, south africa | jacque marais writes about mountain bike routes to ride in the calvinia region of the northern cape as published on bike network

The Karoo and riding is a match made in heaven, and none more so than on those truly extra-terrestrial plains surrounding Calvinia...

The history of this Karoo dorp dates back to the 1850s and since then, its development was very much dependent upon the local agricultural industry. Calvinia remains one of the Northern Cape’s key regional growth points and lies at the centre of one of South Africa’s main mutton- and wool-producing areas. This means the lamb chops here are the best you’ll get in all of Msanzi! Located within the high-lying water catchment of the Oorlogskloof River, the town is surrounded by the flat-topped, dolerite mountains so typical of the scenic Hantam region. [The word ‘Hantam’ comes from the Khoi language, and can be translated as ‘where the red bulbs grow’, in reference to the abundance of red sage on the plains.]

It is, therefore, no wonder botanists, horticulturalists and plant lovers flock here from across the globe, especially during the spectacular spring wildflower bloom characterizing the arid centre of SA. Literally, millions of flowers burst forth from every nook and cranny to spread for hundreds of kilometres on end, with the display usually peaking between mid-August and early September. Botterboom, Kersbas and the endangered Sterboom are just some of the rarities found here.

Earthly floral displays are mimicked by the night skies above, with the ‘billion-star experience’ of the celestial firmament drawing astronomy enthusiasts and astrophotographers in their thousands. ‘Fix’ may just be the operative word, too, should you dare to attend the Afrika Burn Festival, a cult celebration based on the internationally acclaimed Burning Man.

If you could rewind time 250 million years on these plains, you would be surrounded by prehistoric dinosaurs upon what was once a vast inland seabed. Fossils, Khoi rock art and petroglyphs abound amidst an abundance or herbaceous Karroid botanical species, and untold riches when it comes to birds, reptiles and mammals.

Legendary tales of Noord-Kaap hospitality are a dime a dozen, and the full gamut of destinations here upon the edge of the high Hantam mesa will not disappoint. Get ready to tuck into a ‘smiley’ (or a traditional sheep’s head, baked in a clay oven); visit Loeriesfontein windmill museum down the road, or take in a Karoo sunset. And make sure to check out Handvol Gruis Guesthouse for the most amazing mountain escapes in all of the Hantam Karoo!


The Routes

Get ready to discover two stunning farm stays in Handvol Gruis and Hantamland. These gems are situated on one of the oldest registered farms in the Calvinia region, and the landscape is utterly unparalleled. You need to navigate approximately 15km of gravel road to get there, but you will feel as if you’ve utterly escaped the rat race …

Handvol Gruis is situated in the low-lying valley, but with a tranquil poplar forest and several large farm dams nearby. The arid plains make for easy cruising, with around 14km of flat gravel roads and jeep-track to explore. Most of the riding is on good gravel, but there will be sand drifts here and there, so stay sharp.

From your back door, pedal in a generally northerly direction to the largest of the earthen dams. The shale dongas below the dam outlet make for a natural technical play park of epic proportions, with chutes, gullies and drops to keep you busy for hours. There’s no specific route, but the whole plain is the perfect outdoor arena to go wild in. The real deal awaits when you tackle the gravel pass onto the escarpment, where you’re about to get high on a parallel reality. Johan and Ronelle Nel built their second guest cottage on this high-lying plain, with scree-studded cliffs reaching right up to the very underbelly of the clouds.

On any given day at ‘Hantamland Cottage’, the aroma of succulent-Karoo vegetation will make you stop in your tracks and breathe in the intoxicating scent of this wonderland. Harpuis, koperdraad, suurpol, wild rosemary, pelargonium and hundreds of herbaceous plant species flourish here, and it is as if you’re riding through the heather-covered hills of distant Scotland.

The ascent from the plains makes for a solid 4km climb onto the verdant Karoo mesa, with endless roads, tracks and game paths to explore. This is exceptional trail running terrain, too, but you need to stick to the tracks, as the tufty sour grass veld makes for tough conditions underfoot. Explore their new hiking trail onto the western cliffs for unparalleled sunset views, or meander to the high-lying water pans to the south of the access road. All in all, you’ve got a 30-40km route to explore if you combine the valley and the escarpment. None of the trails are currently marked, but watch this space …

| Words & Images: Jacques Marais – MTBroutes |


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