The following is a general outline for the Rythym of Africa trip.
Meet your hosts at the International Airport in Johannesburg or at your hotel. Today we transfer 5 hours to the Misty Mountain Lodge on the Long Tom Pass. Upon arrival we’ll set up our bikes, do a short orientation ride and perhaps visit the local brewery.
After a hearty breakfast we ride out towards the Mount Anderson reserve. Starting at 2200 meters we ‘keep to the peaks’ with sweeping views of the Sabie valley to the south. We end with a rush as we drop towards the spectacular Golden Cottage, our home for the next 3 days.
The Golden cottage is a remote luxury ranch style homestead, catering for a max of 6 guests in 3 double en-suite rooms. Trust us you'll love it. Monica, ably assisted by Lemos and Margeret will ensure every meal is an experience.
We're on holiday, so no wake up calls here. After a light breakfast we climb to above 2000 meter. We emerge on highland plains and cruise down easy winding paths, herding eland and zebra as we go, eventually dropping into the Spekboom river valley. We break for a swim and then head back to the cottage for a late lunch. There will be time to have a siesta before we depart for sundowners on a high ridge.
After breakfast we ride the Bushman's trail - short steep climbs, winding single track along an escarpment with sweeping views of the valley below, through late 1800s gold prospecting scars, flowing descents with technical and steep sections, past San rock art and over stream bridges. We may encounter wildlife including zebra, black wildebeest, baboons and eland. We'll lunch somewhere on the trail and be back at the cottage in the afternoon for down time.
We wake to a hearty breakfast and set for perhaps the biggest day’s ride of the trip. Over Olifant’s Nek we descend the course of the upper Blyde River mostly on forestry dirt roads, through unparalleled vistas, as it tumbles down to the 1800’s Gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest. We lunch in a local tavern and have the afternoon to explore the historical village. We spend the night in the Pilgrims Rest Royal Hotel.
We depart early for the 7hr drive to Pont Drift border post from Misty Mountain Lodge where we meet the Botswana team. After sandwiches and packing the Land Cruisers we ride from the border to our 1st wilderness camp.
The wilderness camps are set up prior to our arrival and contain basic amenities to offer comfort without distracting from the wilderness experience. Meals prepared on open fires, hot water bucket showers, camp cots and cold beers all add up to an exhilarating night out. Because we prefer to sleep under the stars, we request participants to participate in an hours night watch - itself an unforgettable experience. Tents are provided dependant on the weather
We awake at sunrise to a breakfast of yogurt, cereals, toast and fruit. We ride a variation of paths and trails to reach the next camp by lunch time. We relax during the midday hours and then enjoy a sundowner from a vantage point in the afternoon.
The riding at Mashatu is very relaxed, although we ride for approximately 4 to 5 hrs a day, with many stops en-route. We often encounter wildlife including elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, kudu, eland and others and occasionally see lions and leopards. The group is guided by 2 armed guides and we ride to certain safety protocols. A back-up vehicle is in radio contact with the group at all times.
After a breakfast and home brewed coffee, we ride out to the sandstone ridges of the Limpopo valley, through stellar moonscapes and gardens of Eden. We’ll arrive at our Tented camp where we’ll enjoy an afternoon of R’n’R and a final epic sunset.
We wake up at leisure, have breakfast and pack bikes. We'll return to Pont Drift border post for the road transfer back to OR Tambo International Airport for return flights or to your hotel.
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