Tankwa Karoo bike packing - help please

[michaelbiker]

Those roads... 

[mrcg]

21 hours ago, capediver said:

You're right, apologies, I wasn't having a go at the 4 x 4 specifically, just traffic in general, I supppose.

No apologies necessary. I was merely pointing out some additional facts on this subject. Of course, 4x4 drivers also contribute to the problem.....nothing happens in a vacuum

[deniel_dp]

I did a 270km, 3 day trip in the Cederberg area. The route i followed was the route of the Cederberg circuit. Great route, Day 1, op die berg -> campsite near Clanwilliam. Day 2 -> Cederberg Oasis. Day 3 arrive back. Stunning route would suggest might do again.

[capediver]

DAY 2: is a pretty straight-foward route along the top ridge of the Tankwa, from Gannaga Lodge to OuPoort Ecofarm.... the road conditions were good, with some scarring and mud tracks near the lodge. This route takes you through MiddelPos, a "town" that doesn't look like it should exist...it looks more like a farm that the main road goes through...a hotel, a shop, two or three other buildings and that's it! There is some fame connected to the place though!.....it's home to a well-respected breeder of short-legged boerboels!

The road out of Middelpos does play tricks on your mind and mood! It appears flat but there is a steady climb up a number of steps and just when you think you have done the last, the next little climb appears...it slowly builds up to the point where you question your life choices!

Arriving at OuPoort, you are met by Len and Juanie who are the perfect hosts for a bike packing tour...they have a great little garden where you'll be able to cool off after a few hours on the road then taken into the veld to their campsite under tree next to a windmill-filled reservoir of the coolest sweet water around! 

A nice short day on the bike after the big climb the day before...

 

[DJCilliers]

16 hours ago, capediver said:

Permit? I stopped at the SANpark office for water on my way to Gannaga Pass...was told I don't need a permit...!?

We also stopped at the office for water, but at Gannaga Lodge when we checked out and settled our bill we payed the park fee there. But we did go back down into the park the next day to get to the Tankwa tented camp. 

[capediver]

14 minutes ago, DJCilliers said:

We also stopped at the office for water, but at Gannaga Lodge when we checked out and settled our bill we payed the park fee there. But we did go back down into the park the next day to get to the Tankwa tented camp. 

OK, all a bit weird...I went into the office and there was a distinct lack of interest in my movements....oh well next time I go, I'll offer to pay!

[Baracuda]

54 minutes ago, DJCilliers said:

We also stopped at the office for water, but at Gannaga Lodge when we checked out and settled our bill we payed the park fee there. But we did go back down into the park the next day to get to the Tankwa tented camp. 

love the South African approach to bikepacking, with your braai pack cable-tied onto your bike

[Milosh]

12 hours ago, deniel_dp said:

I did a 270km, 3 day trip in the Cederberg area. The route i followed was the route of the Cederberg circuit. Great route, Day 1, op die berg -> campsite near Clanwilliam. Day 2 -> Cederberg Oasis. Day 3 arrive back. Stunning route would suggest might do again.

 

 

 

 

Very cool, looking to do similar. Where did you leave your vehicles in Op-Die-Berg? 

[capediver]

2 hours ago, Baracuda said:

love the South African approach to bikepacking, with your braai pack cable-tied onto your bike

Essential gear! I have 2-chop grid fits inside a pannier!!

[capediver]

7 minutes ago, Milosh said:

Very cool, looking to do similar. Where did you leave your vehicles in Op-Die-Berg? 

You can do same route and leave your car for a small fee with Appel at Citrus Creek in Citrusdal...!

Edited October 10, 2025 by capediver
Spelling

[deniel_dp]

2 hours ago, Milosh said:

Very cool, looking to do similar. Where did you leave your vehicles in Op-Die-Berg? 

I actually have family that owns a farm just outside op die berg so I started there. 

[Milosh]

1 hour ago, deniel_dp said:

I actually have family that owns a farm just outside op die berg so I started there. 

Nice 👍

One more question please : what was the road between Op-die-berg and Cedarberg Oasis like ? 

[capediver]

DAY 3 was a rest day spent in Sutherland...a unique place in South Africa..usually one of the coldest places in South Africa in winter and also home to SALT..(South African Large Telescope), taking advantage of the clear skies and stargazing to study our universe....this has also borne a few side attractions for amateur star-gazing and one of the best is Oom Jurg from Sterland (Starland) who hosts public talks and a look through his array of huge telescopes to spot the Moon and other favorite objects in the clear cold night sky! Sutherland is also the home of the V8 Lodge and the owner of V8 Motors welcomes everyone into his muscle car workshop...where he was tuning a Cosworth-powered, double Weber carb, rocket engine inside a steroid pumped Ford Escort Mark 2 specially designed for hill-climbing!!! A visit to the local watering hole, the Boorgat (Borehole) is also a must and if you are there when the national rugby team are playing then....well...just to say the locals are rabid Springbok rugby supporters!

DAY 4.... After a comfortable night at the V8 Lodge, I headed out back to the Tankwa...downhill ....and Tankwa River Lodge...so it was a relief to hit a few kilometers of tar down the escarpment and back into the Tankwa bowl. I had begged and pleaded with Peter from the Tankwa River Lodge for a place...he was full, but said come along, speak to Gerhardus!!!! He of gentle giant stature and hands the size of a standard dinner plate! He took me to a spot in the bush...a typical farm windmill, small reservoir and a sheep's water trough...pointed to a small Acacia Karoo and said "I heard you looking for a tree"! So there I was in the middle of nowhere...an unbelievable experience especially close to full moon!

Edited October 11, 2025 by capediver

[deniel_dp]

On 10/10/2025 at 5:18 PM, Milosh said:

Nice 👍

One more question please : what was the road between Op-die-berg and Cedarberg Oasis like ? 

We followed a dirt road most of the way to clanwilliam and dirt road all the way to Cederberg oasis, wasn’t too bad, had some corrugations here and there but I did it on a hardtail without much issue. If you’re talking about the road directly from Cederberg oasis to op die berg from oasis side there was a big tough climb and quite a corrugated long road back as you leave the Cederberg, which eventually turns into a tar road back to op die berg.

[capediver]

On 10/10/2025 at 5:18 PM, Milosh said:

Nice 👍

One more question please : what was the road between Op-die-berg and Cedarberg Oasis like ? 

If you travelling from Op-die-berg to the Oasis, it will be pretty flat and good going until the climb out of that valley, tar for a few k's then gravel.......until you get to Moon River and a bit further to the Aankoms Farm Stall, then its up until you enter the Cederberg then a nice long, mostly downhill with stretches of tar where it is very steep but from the other direction....down to Mount Cedar....then a HUGE climb up Groot Rivier out of Mount Cedar and a drop down the other side to the Oasis...the surface is pretty good with typical corrugations but generally OK.

Here's the reverse from Mount Cedar to Heiveld Cottages near Op-Die-Berg

 

Sanddrif to Mount Cedar...via Oasis..

 

Edited October 12, 2025 by capediver

[capediver]

Day 5...final day...from Tankwa River Lodge back to Da Doer...from the Lodge to the main park road, the surface is good, undulation, slowly rising, typical gravel but from the main road back to Da Doer...about 25k's, its all hard work along  corrugations and sand with no place to go.....

Finally done and after lots of planning and some changes...(next time it will be down OuBerg pass, come hell or high water!!)...one of my bucket list rides is over...time to start the next plan...Garden Route loop or Die Hel...mmmmmmm, hard to decide....