Read the first part about one of the lesser known Garden Route mountain bike trails, the Homtini Cycle Trail here and find out how to get there…

Homtini Mountain Bike Trail

And apparently that is where it starts!  A 4km uphill battle, over a rather rocky forest terrain.  As said before, I am not a mountain biker, but even Erik said he had to get off his bike.  On more than one occasion.  And he is fit!  At least in my humble opinion.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that this trail is not for the unfit – like me…  Anyway, turning around and going back is not an option, as then you would have to climb the single track.  Something you don’t want to do either.  So just keep climbing!  After this seemingly never-ending ascent, the reward is a most fantastic view over the mountains, the forest communities and the Goudveld Forest.  By now the road no longer takes you through the indigenous forest, but you will ride through natural Fynbos with – if you are there at the right time of the year – flowering protea’s.  The trail is now undulating, but the hard work is over and done with.  From here you can just enjoy the views, and before you know it you will find yourself on the main forest road again and all of a sudden you are in your last kilometer of the trail.

Erik said this is probably one of the most varied mountain bike trails in the area including thick indigenous forest, plantations and Fynbos and a variety of terrain including forest roads, logging paths and single track.  I did a little research, and on the Garden Route Mountain Bike Trails’ brochure it says it should take you between 1.5 and 2.5 hours.  It took Erik 1hr 45min.  Told you he’s fit!

Next time I’ll tell you about the hike from Krisjan-se-Nek.  ‘Cause that IS one I did!

(*)  Dalene Matthee – for those of you who are not from South Africa – was a writer with a deep passion for the area, and especially the Knysna Forest and the people and animals that lived in the forest.  Some of her most famous books about the woodcutters of the Knysna Forest are ‘Kringe in die Bos’ or ‘Circles in the Forest’ as well as ‘Fiela se Kind’ or ‘Fiela’s Child.’  Her grave can be found at the beginning of not only the Homtini Cycle Route, but also the 3 or 9km forest hike named after her.

TIP: For more information on other Garden Route mountain bike trails check SANParks’ website!