Mankele

[cat-i]

Mankele \Man'ke'le\

(adj) Superlative degree of huge: big grin, huge grin, makulu grin, Mankele grin. He had a Mankele grin on his face after they avalanched downhill.

(interj) An exclamation of extacy, usually after a specifically technical or fast piece of singletrack. Mankele, but that was a good ride!

source: Adri's Dictionary of Montainbiking terms

 

The first time I experienced the Mankele-grin was after the inaugural Mankele-Sudwala marathon way back in 2007. Afterwards I vowed to go back there to explore at leasure.

 

Years later I criss-crossed the tracks on foot, this time during an adventure race. The morning after the adventure race (while all other sensible adventurers were sleeping or recovering) team Lickety Split explored the singletracks.

Again I vowed to go back to explore at leasure.

 

When Team Clueless finished the 3 Towers and experienced the Mankele-grin again on all the faces around us, we knew it was time to share the Mankele Secret.

 

Quick-quick we identified a few friends, a weekend, a campsite and a menu. Game On.

 

The first few car-loads of people and bikes arrived on Thursday evening before the Reconciliation long weekend. They pitched tents in rain while the left-behinders frantically baked last-minute muffins. On Friday morning the early-arrivers tested their bikes on the orange tracks while waiting for the last carloads of people and bikes.

 

The weekend followed a pattern exploring different coloured bike routes, lazing around in the sun around the swimming pool, eating, tubing and more singletracking.

 

The camping kitchen is well-equipped with kettles, stoves, a fridge, a microwave, sunlight liquid and basins.

The bathrooms are kept clean and we had no issues with hot water.

There's 2 swimming pools, a small shop, powerwash for dirty bikes and outside hot showers if you'd prefer to shower with your bike after a particularly muddy ride.

 

Some notes on some of the tracks:

Orange - I didn't get to do the full route this time, but it's the cross country track and sufficiently technical without being too intimidating. About 8 km of good fun. Includes a climb to get the heart rate up.

Yellow - This is supposed to be the beginner route, but two search parties couldn't find it. When we asked the guard for instructions, he frowned and asked why anyone would want to ride a beginner route. Indeed

Green - A fair amount of climbing with some excellent rewards through the bushtunnels. The stuff Mankele is famous for, and the reason why we went there.

Blue - Around 5 km of moderate tracks, with optional techincal loops. An excellent track for night-riding, albeit a bit short. Add a bit of pink to up the night-distance.

Pink - Don't be fooled by the short distance. It includes a descent climbie and some seriously cool flowing singletrack.

Red & Purple - I didn't get to ride these the weekend, but from the grins on Mummy Man, Nadine & Donovans' faces, it was some good riding.

Black - The best parts, but not for beginners, and possibly not for night-riding. The hardtail managed, but it probably would have been a bit quicker (and safer) to tackle those trails on the Trance.

Fourcross-track and kiddies track: great for riding with the kids, night-riding, testing other peoples' bikes, and adding a bit of distance and smileage.

Tubing - Tubes are included in the camping fee; collect them from Christopher at the gate. Make sure he pumps them. Small (slighlty deflated) tubes seem to be quicker on the river than the big ones. Remember to lift your bum in the rapids!

 

All the cycling routes are well-marked (except the yellow, which we couldn't find.)

 

Batteries properly recharged. Life is too short to not have a Mankele weekend every now and again

Edited December 28, 2011 by cat-i

[Slowbee]

cat-i loved the post of the floating down the river on a tube. didnt know you could do that their

[rouxtjie]

After the three towers I find myself daydreaming about that singletrack...sigh

 

Mark and Geoff run an awesome setup...Defnitely in for the 3 towers 2012

[katz201]

In my opinion the best part of Mpumalanga!!

[katz201]

And as we found out, the hospital in Nelspruit is not too far away.

[cat-i]

And as we found out, the hospital in Nelspruit is not too far away.

 

We had some close calls. Underestimated the technicality of the pink track and took a newbie there. And after that, overestimated the abilities of another rider and took him on the black. We were very lucky to only have a few bruises and minor blood to show for the weekend ... and a broken derrailleur ... and huge grins, of course!

[29pgc10]

And as we found out, the hospital in Nelspruit is not too far away.

 

 

how true. two weekends ago my seven years old managed the blue river trail just fine but was stopped by the wire on the trampoline. three stitches later all was fine.

next morning the girls ( seven, ten and forever 21 ) did the green from top of the climb!

 

still our favorite place for long weekend away!

[TheV]

how true. two weekends ago my seven years old managed the blue river trail just fine but was stopped by the wire on the trampoline. three stitches later all was fine.

next morning the girls ( seven, ten and forever 21 ) did the green from top of the climb!

 

still our favorite place for long weekend away!

 

we going for an entire week, leaving on the 30th, wanna get some night rides in too... maybe ride into the new year!

[Beer4Recovery]

any photies of the place? camping site, trail, vibes? would love to go there some time!

[Slowvelder]

Check out Mankele Photo Gallery at: http://www.mankele.co.za/gallery.php

 

I went there for the first time in Dec 2011 and rode the Orange trail, very awesome.

 

Watch out for the Black Dot technical options throughout the trail...... fun, but not for newbies.