Thabaphaswa MTB Trails

About Thabaphaswa MTB Trails

Where: Thabaphaswa Mountain Retreat in the shadow of Thabaphaswa Mountain, just outside Mokopane
Level: easy to difficult
Type of route: four trails designed by Tim Fair
Best: any time of year

Thabaphaswa Mountain Retreat is a working cattle stud farm (Thaba means mountain and Phaswa refers to Nguni cattle) not even three hours from Johannesburg, in the Limpopo.

There are many trail options on the farm. One network covers Thabaphaswa and an adjoining farm offering trails up to 20 km long with great views over the Pietersburg plains and valleys.

The second trail network lies outside the farm, along rural dirt roads that form a circular route to Ga-Mashashane and Percy Fyfe Game Reserve and back.

A third network lies exclusively on the farm and incorporates bike trails created by Tim Fair - four loops that range in distance between 7 km and 15 km, and include:

Thabaphaswa Loop – 7 km
This loop starts in the middle of the farm and is the backbone of the trail network. It is aimed at all levels of fitness and skill and is ideal for families, or those who don't bike often. The trail follows gentle contour roads alongside pretty dams.

Witvinger Loop – 13 km
This loop heads down through the beautiful valley below Thabaphaswa Mountain and deep into the Witvinger Reserve, criss-crossing the major stream through the valley, which, when it rains, becomes a lot more exciting.

Aloe Loop – 11 km
Aimed at more advanced MTB riders, this route follows the Thabaphaswa loop for a while, climbs up partway to a lookout point, and then down again through a valley before linking back to the Thabaphaswa trail. It's rough and a lot more technical to ride.

Lookout Loop – 15.6 km
Aimed at those who want a tough workout, Lookout Loop follows the Aloe Loop but instead of turning off halfway up the climb, carries on until you reach the lookout point, from where the views are well worth the ascent. You can also clearly see Thabaphaswa on the opposite side of the valley. Then you fly home.

Additional trails include Lookout Point Ride and Lunsklip Loop Ride.