Wheels of Time Trail

About Wheels of Time Trail

146 kilometres in 4 days:

As its name suggests the Wheels of Time trail, one of five trails in the Cape West Coast Biosphere, is a back road cycling trip from Mamre to Darling, Elandsfontein Farm, the West Coast National Park and !Khwa Ttu.

Aimed more at recreational cyclists than Absa Cape Epic trainees, the mountain bike ride traces the secondary roads of the West Coast, with varying destinations and overnight stops. You can be assured of incredible scenery and fun, but at times challenging, cycling. The trail can be divided up into two weekends if you can't manage the four day trip.

Day one takes you from Cape Town in a support vehicle and heads up the coast to Atlantis, following the 'blue gum avenue' to the Mamre Moravian Mission Station, where you breakfast. Choose your bike and kit and you're off on a journey across historic farmsteads to Darling, home of artists, wine, olives and flowers. Overnight in town and have dinner and a show at Evita se Peron.

The second day takes one from Darling to Elandsfontein along the gravel roads of the eastern Darling hills, past the Hildebrandt Monument and on. At Elandsfontein in the dunes there are fossils of three-toed horses and short-necked giraffe.

Day three is from Elandsfontein to Duinepos in the West Coast National Park, a 30 km cycle down to the R27 and across, entering the park at Gate 2. Cycle through the park, followed by lunch and an afternoon choice of scouring nearby dunes for fossils, or exploring Kraalbaai, place of Eve's footprint and a great swimming spot.

The last day takes one to !Kwha Ttu after a cycle through the West Coast National Park, keeping an eye out for wild ostrich, snakes and tortoises. You now have time to explore the San Cultural Centre before lunch.