Odyssey Mountain Bike Trail and Safari

Meet your guide at OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, or preferred hotel and drive 4hrs to Mt Anderson Reserve. Upon arrival you’ll have an opportunity to settle into our stunning location, prep our bikes, and enjoy a sundowner on the terrace. The Golden cottage is a luxurious ranch style homestead, catering for a max of 6 guests in 3 double en-suite rooms. All mountain bike enthusiasts will love this.

You’re on holiday, so no wake up calls this morning. After a light breakfast we climb steadily to above 2000m. We emerge on highland plains and cruise down winding single track trails, herding eland, wildebeest and zebra as we go, eventually dropping into the Spekboom river valley. We break for a swim and lunch and head back to the cottage for well-deserved siesta. (Approximately 30 km’s). We’ll ride mostly single track today, in pristine highland wilderness (up to 2000m), at a relaxed pace with plenty of stops to soak up the views. We may encounter wildlife including zebra, black wildebeest, baboons, reedbuck, jackal and eland.

Activities For The Day

• Mountain biking

After breakfast we ride the Bushman’s trail – short steep climbs, winding single track along an escarpment with dramatic views of the valley below, through late 1800s gold prospecting scars, flowing descents with some technical and steep sections, past San rock art and over stream bridges. We’ll lunch on the trail and be back at the cottage in the afternoon for down time. (Today’s covered distance is approximately 30 km’s).

Wake up to a hearty breakfast and set for perhaps the longest day’s ride of the trip. Over Olifant’s Nek, we descend the course of the upper Blyde River mostly on forestry dirt roads, through unparalleled vistas, as it tumbles down to the 1800’s Gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest. We lunch in a local tavern and spend some time exploring the historical village. We’ll shuttle back to the Golden Cottage. (Approximately 50 km’s)

We depart early for the five and a bit hour drive to Pont Drift border post where we’ll meet the Botswana team. After sandwiches and packing the land cruisers we ride to our 1st wilderness camp. (Approximately 20 km’s). The wilderness camps are set up prior to our arrival and contain basic amenities to offer comfort without distracting from the wilderness experience. Meals prepared on open fires, hot water bucket showers, camp cots and cold beers all add up to a comfortable and exhilarating night out.

We awake at sunrise to a healthy breakfast of yogurt, cereals, toast and fruit. We ride a variation of paths and single track trails to return to our camp by lunchtime. We relax during the midday hours and then enjoy a sundowner from a vantage point in the afternoon. (Approximately 30 km’s)

The riding at Mashatu is very relaxed where we ride for approximately 4 to 5 hours today, with many rest stops en-route. You’ll most likely encounter wildlife such as elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, kudu, and eland among others and occasionally we see lions and leopards. Two qualified trails guides accompany each group and ensure the safety and enjoyment of the group. A back-up safety vehicle is in radio contact with the group at all times.

Activities For The Day

• Mashatu Cycle Safaris

After a breakfast and home brewed coffee, we ride out on our last cycle to the sandstone ridges of the Limpopo valley, through stellar moonscapes and gardens of Eden. We’ll arrive at our Kgotla camp where we’ll enjoy an afternoon of relaxation and a final epic sunset. (Approximately 40 km’s)

We wake in your own time, have breakfast and the pack bikes. We’ll return to Pont Drift border post for the road transfer back to Johannesburg and a farewell to new discovered friends.