Kogelberg Nature Reserve: The Perfect Local Adventure

[Bike Hub Features]

With international travel not really on the cards for the foreseeable future, you probably aren’t the only one looking out for some local options for a weekend away with the family. Local travel is the perfect way to satisfy that travel craving and let’s be honest, we live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. People travel from all over the world to visit what we have right on our doorstep.

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[Shebeen]

what...you can't do highlands road=> palmiet anymore? that sucks

 

[EssBee]

I rode there twice in December last year and quite enjoyed it in that it's vastly different to what I'm used to here in KZN. Both times I rode in from Kleinmond as far as I felt comfortable with then turned around and rode back. 

Days later I was looking at the area on Google Earth and realised that it would have been possible to get to Highlands Road, then head back down to the R44 and back to Kleinmond. ( not taking land access into consideration of course )

I must confess that both times I rode rogue....I was just too early the first time and the office at the boom was still closed. I then took the trouble to call them to ask if I could buy a permit on the previous day....I couldn't....so I asked what time they open and planned ride #2 accordingly. Well, they still were not open timeously so I went in regardless. I don't like doing things like that by principle....but I still can't figure where and when you get that permit.

 

[Jbr]

https://www.strava.com/activities/4982055657

To this day one of the best MTB rides I've done, not on the fun side but it was quite an adventure (in a good way, except for having to jump a couple of gates to rejoin the road on arabella side)

[Knersboy]

Me and the wife stayed there a few months back, didn’t take the bike though.

Look that place is next level mooi.

[Theo-Augusta Van Rensburg]

1 hour ago, Jbr said:

https://www.strava.com/activities/4982055657

To this day one of the best MTB rides I've done, not on the fun side but it was quite an adventure (in a good way, except for having to jump a couple of gates to rejoin the road on arabella side)

 

1 hour ago, Jbr said:

https://www.strava.com/activities/4982055657

To this day one of the best MTB rides I've done, not on the fun side but it was quite an adventure (in a good way, except for having to jump a couple of gates to rejoin the road on arabella side)

Jumping gates is not accepted. Do you want intruders on your property?

[Jbr]

5 minutes ago, Theo-Augusta Van Rensburg said:

 

Jumping gates is not accepted. Do you want intruders on your property?

it was a gate to leave the kogelberg reserve to get back on the road, not the opposite. Sorry you had to create a profile to call me out on this though

Edited September 9, 2021 by Jbr

[Shebeen]

On 9/9/2021 at 11:11 AM, Jbr said:

it was a gate to leave the kogelberg reserve to get back on the road, not the opposite. Sorry you had to create a profile to call me out on this though

except maybe not.

 

The higlands road=>palmiet river used to be open. according to this article it no longer is due to private property concerns.

THEREFORE you probably unknowingly trespassed at the point where it meets highlands road.

I've done this section quite a few times, sometimes in the gravity adventure festival as well as in adventure races i was a part of organising. further private land was used for the totalsports challenge from the Iona section of highlands. 

The first time I did it was in 2000, as part of a 4 day bikepacking trip. We had arranged permits to go UP from the R44 to highlands but the oke on the gate wouldn't let us as it was one way only then. We had to cycle back to stellenbosch on clarence drive instead.

It would be a real pity if this remained closed in perpetuity. I guess it has been shut either because there is no gate at highlands or because of trespassing riders with a flippen attitude. 

[bikebloke]

there is a gate from the back of the reserve which gives access to fire roads which connect with the highlands road . the gate has been locked for as long as i remember problem is the fence only goes 5 meters on either side of the gate and ends so it may block vehicles but not animals/people and bikes 

there is plenty of signage from the river crossing all the way up to gate telling MTB riders to turn back and no access etc but lots of riders dont 

so you dont have to 'jump' any gates you just walk around them (you still shouldnt do it though )

[Jbr]

so how come from that gate to the road there was no other gates ? an no, haven't seen any signage like that

Edited September 14, 2021 by Jbr

[bikebloke]

51 minutes ago, Jbr said:

so how come from that gate to the road there was no other gates ?

there are a bunch of routes back to highlands road from the gate most dont have any other gates ,some of the roads are really bad or partially blocked doubt even a 4x4 could handle them so nobody goes that way 

signs probably burned in the fires 

Edited September 14, 2021 by bikebloke

[Bos]

OK, so I am heading to Kleinmond for a long weekend. I am doing the W2Whales in Nov so have enough motive to put one or two big days in.  From this thread I gather the highlands to Palmiet traverse as we did for the gravity festival a decade back is a no-no.

So this far I'm thinking of Using the highlands climb, to get to Lebanon, do some Lebanon, and back. However it may be just to far.. Perhaps park at Arabella.. Otherwise, ride to Wildekrans, ride there, and back. How far can one ride at Wildekrans? never done it. 

 

Will appreciate some feedback/advice. 

[PhilipV]

1 hour ago, Bos said:

OK, so I am heading to Kleinmond for a long weekend. I am doing the W2Whales in Nov so have enough motive to put one or two big days in.  From this thread I gather the highlands to Palmiet traverse as we did for the gravity festival a decade back is a no-no.

So this far I'm thinking of Using the highlands climb, to get to Lebanon, do some Lebanon, and back. However it may be just to far.. Perhaps park at Arabella.. Otherwise, ride to Wildekrans, ride there, and back. How far can one ride at Wildekrans? never done it. 

 

Will appreciate some feedback/advice. 

Stay away from Lebanon. It's a shanty town now. 

I'd suggest organizing a Hemel and Aarde day pass (snapscan?) and riding to hermanus via H&A. 

Perhaps meet the crew there for lunch?

[Hairy]

some really great photos in the article!

[Bos]

3 hours ago, PhilipV said:

Stay away from Lebanon. It's a shanty town now. 

I'd suggest organizing a Hemel and Aarde day pass (snapscan?) and riding to hermanus via H&A. 

Perhaps meet the crew there for lunch?

Thanks @PhilipV. Good to know Lebanon is not worth it. anymore. Some good gravel roads about though for distance. I know Hermanus quite well, perhaps worth a mission that way from the back through Karwyderskraal, through the back of Hemel and Aarde area.

[Hairy]

23 minutes ago, Bos said:

Thanks @PhilipV. Good to know Lebanon is not worth it. anymore. Some good gravel roads about though for distance. I know Hermanus quite well, perhaps worth a mission that way from the back through Karwyderskraal, through the back of Hemel and Aarde area.

Lebanon .... been a while since I have been there ......... #WarthogsRide #HogGames2006