Cycle Mashatu Goldrush Trail

Gold Rush Trail - Mount Anderson

The Goldrush trail in the eastern highlands of South Africa provides classic free riding in pristine afromontane surrounds. Enjoy the comforts of a luxury ranch-style homestead, and ride exhilarating single track through game rich grasslands. Explore relics of South Africa’s gold mining era and appreciate utter seclusion from the outside world.

Duration: 4 days/3 nights
Start/End: Mt Anderson Ranch, South Africa
Departures: Available throughout the year

Itinerary:

The Goldrush experience in the Mount Anderson Reserve, near Lydenburg, boasts some of the best single track riding in South Africa. It is a land of open grasslands, rugged valleys and crystal streams that reflect vulture spotted skies. Sunbirds sip from red poker aloes and eland, zebra and black wildebeest gather on mountain slopes while the bark of baboon’s echo off cliff faces. Single track weaves up to alpine heights, down winding forested valleys, along dramatic quartzite escarpments and over rocky crests. The Goldrush is exhilarating all mountain riding. The Golden Cottage, a home from home, caters for 10 guests in 5 double en-suite rooms.

Day 1: Meet at Golden Cottage, Mt Anderson Water Catchment Reserve, South Africa
Meet your hosts and guides at the cottage anytime from 14:00. We'll have an opportunity to settle in to the Golden Cottage, set up bikes and enjoy the surrounds.

Day 2: Alpine heights
We're on holiday, so no wake up calls here. After a light breakfast we climb to above 2000m and emerge on highland plains. This is a day to go back in time and ride through crumpled ruins and relics from the gold mining era. We investigate old mining villages and abandoned mineshafts, navigating through mining trenches and rock gardens, trails that were originally cut into the mountainside by gold prospectors from the late 1800’s. We break for lunch and a swim and then head back to the cottage for well-deserved siesta.

Day 3: Bushman's trail
After breakfast we ride the Bushman's trail with it’s short steep climbs, winding single track and sweeping views of the valley below. We take a slow gradual loop back to the start of what must be the most amazing descending single-track, herding eland and zebra as we go, and eventually dropping into the Spekboom river valley. We'll stop lunch at a small dam on the trail and be back at the cottage in the afternoon for some well deserved down time.

Day 4: Rush Hour
A morning of leisure, or if you prefer we can hit some more trails before returning for farm style brunch. It's time to say farewell, but you'll be back for more.

FAQ’s

Location:
The Goldrush trail is situated in the Mount Anderson Reserve near Lydenburg, Mapumalanga, South Africa. Approximately 3 ½ hours (check?) drive from Johannesburg.

Travel dates:
Departures are available Tuesdays and Fridays all year round.

Accommodation:
A luxury ranch-style homestead. Sleeps 10 people sharing.

Group Size:
Groups of up to 10 people are recommended.

Technical Rating:
The distance, pace and route is tailored to each group. The aim is to ride 4-5 hours per day, covering 30-40km’s. Being a mountainous area, the trails are challenging with a fair amount of climbing and treacherous rocky sections. Beautiful single track has been carved into the area and for the trail for the most part, is very ridable. Rated 4/5.

A backup vehicle is on hand at all times to rescue tired riders or tired bikes!

Bike requirements:
Mountain bikes with off-road tyres and tyre sealant. Helmets are compulsory.

No bike, no problem! We have robust all terrain mountain bikes for hire at R250/day.

Food and Beverages:
All meals are included in the package price. Please bring your own riding snacks. A fully stocked cash bar is also available.

Age Limit:
Children of all ages are welcome although the terrain is rated as highly technical and may be too challenging for young children.