Where To Ride: Waterval Boven, Mpumalanga
Waterval Boven – these days known as Emgwenya, or the ever-so-scary sounding ‘Place of the Crocodile’ – used to be an old railway town, but now masquerades as a scenic tourist spot perched on the very edge of the Highveld escarpment.
Locals maintain that Boven is a ‘drinking town with a climbing problem’, but these days the same adage may just as easily apply to the mountain biking trails here. Situated in the vicinity of Tranquilitas Adventure Farm, most of the routes were created by none other than Glen Harrison, which is more than reason enough to go ride them. Much of the riding is on a rollicking combo of purpose-built single-track – with some hiking trails and gravel roads thrown in for good measure – so you can be sure to find something suitable for all riders. Embrace the super-tight, fast and flowing sections through the trippy forest sections, then stop for occasional breathers when you get the opportunity on higher ground to take in the truly incredible views.
There will be some solid climbs, but the ascents are eminently rideable as they contour the ridgelines. The good news is that the elevation gain is quick and very achievable, without the need for too much toiling. The descents are 98% rideable, and those of you with skills will blast the wooden bridges and drop-offs. All in all, the routes are extremely well marked, and the Blue Trail is suitable for families. Plus there are stacks of jeep tracks around the campsite to keep the kids occupied. The best way to properly enjoy the Boven trails is to get on your bike and explore. There are too many potential permutations to mention on these pages, as the complete route network can be combined in a dozen different ways.
The Trails
There are a number of ways to access the new Mountain Traverse trails. It is a properly wild ride and with a fair share of climbing. There is some joy mixed in and Go with The Flow is one of them. This new section in the SAPPI forests features a run of 2,4km through pine trees crossing some of the forest blocks. Virtually no pedaling is required. It’s rad! Don’t get too chilled though as the Turnminator and Stairway to Heaven section awaits. Whereas the other key segments mostly downhill run, this is a climb of note, full of convoluted twists and turns up through strands of Pine – try doing this without dabbing. You’ll then continue onto ‘Stairway’, a kickass Category 4 climb with 120m elevation in 2km. Cruise it at a sedate pace to save you for the downhill runs or blast your lungs to kingdom come by the time you top out at 1 950m above sea level. Anyone for some elevation training?
Next up is the glorious Magic Carpet Ride, the first in a series of 5-star segments flowing through the forest. This is one of the furthest segments from the campsite and the pine needles often cover the trail to deaden the sound of wheels passing over them … true MTB meditation. The Ridgeline follows immediately after this ‘magic’, blasting you into open space on an edgy grassland trail. Majestic views unfold down into the valley, but the riding includes some tricky terrain to keep you honest. Rock hopping eventually gets you to the apex, from where you’ll start picking up speed, with 3,5km of narrow single track snaking through the high grasslands. And then, to top it all, there is Morphine Drop. It is aptly named, as by now you’ll be in need of some mind-altering substances to keep you going along the Mountain Traverse Trail. And believe me, you’ll be getting it in serious doses along the next 4,5km of downhill single-track. The descent comes at you at full pace, with a drop of 320m over just 4,5km, making for an adrenaline-infused run of legendary proportions. Focus bru, if you want to survive the blind rises, sketchy drop-offs, and tricky rock gardens before you kick out on a serpentine series of fast-flowing curves down to the river’s edge.
Off the Bike | Boven boasts a landscape blessed with dramatic cliffs, steep ridges and sweeping escarpment views. There is superb hiking and trail running options, or of course, go vertical and rock climb the celebrated crags such as ‘Wonderland’ and ‘The Restaurant’. Discover ancient stone ruins of vanished civilizations at Stone Circle Museum, explore the ancient, circular monolithic stone calendar and then enjoy a fabulous country-cooked meal at the Stone Circle Country Kitchen. Hike along the amazing trail network around town or book a tour on the Num-Num trail. For climbers, Boven rates as a must-climb site by the planet’s top climbers. It is a climbing mecca of note and boasts more than 700 routes varying from beginner scrambles to bolted climbs and two-pitch routes with serious exposure. The Boven Trout Lodge, with three dams, is an excellent fly fishing spot.
Best time to Visit | This region makes for an excellent year-round ride spot, but you can expect it to be darn hot and with a chance of thunder rolls in summer. On the flip side, those winter mornings can be especially frosty, so layer up.
| Download the GPX files for these rides here | Or see more routes on mtbroutes.co.za | Images and copy by Jacques Marais & Facebook |