Garden Route National Park: Progress in the Harkerville area after the Knysna Fires!

The Harkerville area in the Knysna section of the Garden Route National Park, an activity hub for nature and is known for its blue duiker population, was heavily affected by the Knysna fires in June 2017. South African National Parks (SANParks) just released an update on the current status of the activities available in the Harkerville area:

Kranshoek Picnic area

• The picnic area is open for use however there are portable toilets for visitors to use after the fire burnt the old toilet block.
• SANParks is fast-tracking the procurement process of new water tanks to provide drinking water by the 15 December 2017.
  

Kranshoek Trail

• The Kranshoek Trail is still closed, and maintenance work is currently underway.
• About 90% of the route is complete and the rest should be open by end of this week (week 46).
• Rebuilding and rehabilitating the route will probably continue until end of December 2017. The trail should be up and running by the end January 2018.
• There is a clear sign at the entrance and parking area to inform the public of closure and maintenance of routes.
  

Kranshoek Viewpoint

• Currently still closed and not accessible to visitors as yet until management and scientists have finalised urgent deliverables pertaining to the area.

Harkerville Trail

• The coastal portion of the trail is still closed.
• An alternative scenic route was opened along the coastal ridge
• Bookings the trail will be open as from 20 November 2017.

Garden Route National Park: Cycling & hiking trails in Harkerville open after fire!

South African National Parks (SANParks) announced on 04 July 2017 that most hiking and cycling routes in the Harkerville area in the Knysna section of the Garden Route National Park are accessible again.

• The Kranshoek Coastal Day Walk will most likely reopen on 07 July 2017
• The Perdekop Hiking Trail is open
• The Petrus-se-Brand Cycle Route is open
• Except for the Red Route, all MTB trails in the Harkerville area, including the Graspad Trail (Black Route), the Blue Route, Yellow Route and the Green Route, are open.
• The multi-day Harkerville Coast Hiking Trail and the Kranshoek Viewpoint and Picnic Site remain closed

Garden Route: Knysna forest not affected by the fire! >>

Knysna: The Pick n Pay 2017 Knysna Oyster Festival is going ahead as planned! >>

Western Cape: First part of the new Cross Cape Cycle Route has been launched!

update (04 May 2017): The Cross Cape Cycle Route will officically be launched on 12 May 2017 and will stretch over 742 km from Plettenberg Bay to Stellenbosch.


The official Destination Marketing, Investment and Trade Promotion Agency for the Western Cape, WESGRO, has officially launched the first five kilometers part of the new Cross Cape Cycle Route in Knysna on 29 July 2016. The new cycle track, which will eventually stretch from Plettenberg Bay to Cape Town, will offer local and international visitors the best of the Western Cape's mountains, sea views, food and wines along the Garden Route, Klein Karoo, Cape Overberg, Cape Winelands and Cape Town. The Cross Cape Cycle Route will include road track, mountain trails, jeep as well as forest tracks and will cater to all levels of riders. WESGRO and its partners expect to complete the Cross Cape Cycle Route within the next two to two-and-a-half years. We'll keep you posted!

South Africa: Pietermaritzburg to host the 2013 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships (26 August - 01 September 2013)

Pietermaritzburg, the capital and second largest city of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, will host the official 2013 UCI Mountain Bike Masters Championships from 21 August 2013 to 25 August 2013 and the 2013 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships from 26 August 2013 to 01 September 2013. The biggest events on mountain biking's world calendar will take place at the Cascades MTB Park, which is located right in Pietermaritzburg and is considered to be the finest mountain biking location in South Africa. The site hosts the only internationally accredited cross country and downhill courses in the country and has already been the venue for three official World Cup events in 2009, 2011 and 2012 respectively. The UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships are the world championships (m/f) in cross country, downhill, four-cross, cross-country eliminator and trials riding events, while the UCI Mountain Bike Masters Championships are the world championships in cross country and downhill open to men and women of 30 years and older.


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Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg will also host the opening round of the global cross-country and downhill UCI World Cup season on 05-06 April 2014.

Video: Mountain Biker gets taken out by a red wildebeest... only in Africa

South African mountain biker Evan van der Spuy was competing in the Time Freight MTB Express at Albert Falls Dam in KwaZulu Natal when, out of nowhere, a red wildebeest attacked him in full speed from the side. And all got filmed with a gopro-camera...



The mountain biker wasn't injured in the accident, although his helmet got badly damaged. No reports on the buck so far, but I reckon it won't be doing it again...