by Ralph Pina | Jun 2, 2024 | cycling, Featured Posts, safari travel, Swartberg Nature Reserve
Completed by Thomas Bain and his team of convicts in 1888, the Swartberg Pass is now 136 years old, a national monument and a testament to Bain’s road-building skills. It winds through 23.8 km and the bulk of it traverses the Swartberg Nature Reserve, linking... 
by Ralph Pina | Nov 28, 2023 | Anysberg Nature Reserve, cycling, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, Swartberg Nature Reserve, Touwsberg Nature Reserve
Mitzi, Marion’s sister-in-law, owner of Makadas Adventures, planned this private cycling tour, and I assume, dubbed it the “Karoo corridor” too. In 5 days most of us covered 265 km, climbing through 2942 m and descending 2957 m. Some rode more and... 
by Ralph Pina | Oct 7, 2022 | Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve, cycling
After an absence of five years, a cycling trip to the Baviaanskloof was required. We planned it according to our usual, proven format: a small group of riders (6) who are accompanied by two vehicles (2 drivers), short to moderate distances per day and a leisurely pace... 
by Ralph Pina | May 3, 2021 | cycling, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Tankwa Karoo National Park
Via Ouberg and Gannaga passes Our regular private cycle tours were interrupted by the pandemic and as the Cape exited its second wave, with all beaches and parks having been closed to the public, the need to get out on some remote roads took hold. I started recruiting... 
by Ralph Pina | Apr 11, 2019 | cycling, Towerkop Nature Reserve
Why refer to our truncated, private annual cycle tour as a ¨para¨ cycle tour? Around the braai fire at our pre-tour campsite at Towerkraaltjie, we came to the joint realisation that almost all of us were nursing or recovering from some physical injury or other, not... 
by Ralph Pina | Apr 25, 2018 | cycling, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Rooiberg Nature Reserve, Swartberg Nature Reserve
By popular demand we arranged another private MTB tour aimed at occasional cyclists, and not racers. The format was the same: reasonable daily distances, emphasis on touring and taking in the scenery, backup vehicles trailing us, plenty of stops and camping all the...
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