When you take your adventure bike on gravel roads to reach Clarens, the journey becomes the destination.

Clarens is a pretty town of sandstone buildings and a main road lined with quirky shops and art galleries. There’s even a craft brewery where you can taste beer and enjoy pub-style meals. And given that it’s just 3.5 hours, mostly on the highway, from Gauteng, it’s clear why Clarens is a top getaway destination. But what if you could swap the tar roads for gravel and turn the breakaway into an adventure to boot? Adventure biker Willem Rudolph set himself the goal of finding a different approach to Clarens and came up with a route that is 90% gravel. Tracks4Africa asked Willem about the route.  

What is the appeal of riding on gravel?

It’s about leaving the city behind you and seeing the countryside. I find it magic, perhaps because farming is in my blood – my dad was a farmer. And typically, you can associate dirt roads and gravel roads with heading out and away from civilisation. Riding on gravel is the antidote to city life, to the hustle and bustle. That moment your tyres leave tar and hit that first piece of dirt is not just a physical experience, it’s as much a psychological experience.

Could you describe the route?

The route starts from the Witkop Blockhouse and for 22km you travel on country tar, passing the south-western boundary of Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve. You then turn onto country gravel roads and head towards the eastern shoreline of the upper Vaal Dam, close to the inflow. It’s spectacular as you cross the massive bridge over the Vaal River to reach Villiers. You ride through massive expanses of farmland, which in summer will be green with maize. 

Frankfort is roughly the halfway mark and from here the geology starts changing and the ride becomes more interesting. The track winds between koppies and past abandoned stone buildings. You pass quite a few guest farms as you make your way to Reitz, which is really the last spot with some infrastructure. You can stop at any of these places – Villiers, Frankfort or Reitz – to refuel or stretch your legs.

After Reitz you head towards the foothills of the Maloti Mountains, the area known as Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Whereas the first stretch is more fast-flowing farming roads, it soon becomes more off-road orientated. There are off-camber tracks and deep ruts to negotiate. But it’s very scenic, since you steadily climb in altitude while surrounded by sandstone formations. It’s a magical experience to meander through these foothills. When you see the well-known Titanic Rock, a massive sandstone buttress, loom ahead, it signals your arrival just north of Clarens. All in all the route runs over 348km.

What was your trip like?

We left the Blockhouse at 08:30 and we were on our bikes for the better part of the day. But there was no chance of being bored because the scenery and road surface kept changing. 

Our refuelling stop was in Frankfort – it’s worth noting you have to drive into town to find the fuel station. From here on the landscape became more undulating and close to Reitz we had two smallish water crossings. We got to Clarens some seven hours later, between 15:00 and 16:00. It was a treat riding towards Golden Gate in the late afternoon as the sun was lighting up the rockface.

On our trip we stayed at a place called Linwood Guest Farm, which is situated on the main scenic road towards Fouriesburg. We loved the restored farmhouse and the warm, friendly nature of everyone we dealt with. 

What level of riding does this route involve?

Riding on gravel will challenge your skill level, whatever it is. Compared to tar, which is a solid surface, gravel is a loose foundation which decreases the traction of your tyres. You need to be comfortable with the fact that the bike will move around its lateral axis quite a bit. While there are mostly good sections of gravel where the going is smooth, you will have to deal with a few sections of deep sand. You will also come across a section of ‘marbles’, small round stones that cause the bike to twist and sway below you. The biggest challenge comes from sharp rocks – our group suffered around seven rock-related punctures.

It’s not just a case of jumping on your bike and riding; it’s an adventurous challenge in an awesome setting. Besides, if you go on an adventure bike ride thinking that you’re never going to fall over, it’s highly likely you will come away disappointed. It’s helpful to do a specialised training course before heading out – a lot of the adventure bike brands run their own.

For this ride, you must be able to handle a variety of surfaces, like sand and rocky sections. As you approach the Golden Gate area, there are a few rocky drop-offs and steep ascents that you need to negotiate. Because of the distance involved, you also need to be relatively fit.

When is the best time to ride it?

I’d suggest going during the shoulder seasons: spring (September to October) and autumn (April to May). In summer you face the risk of rain. In winter it could get freezing cold, you have fewer daylight hours for riding and gravel tracks tend to be more dusty during the dry season.

Dirt roads also tend to be maintained following the first good rains in the area, since this loosens up the surface and makes it easier to grade. When it hasn’t rained for a while and there’s regular traffic, these gravel roads tend to deteriorate. So in spring the route may be more challenging, in autumn smoother.

To see more of Willem Rudolph’s gravel adventures, follow WillTour on Facebook. 

Planning for gravel travel

Want to plan your own route on gravel roads? The Tracks4Africa online trip planner indicates road surface and what percentage of the route is unpaved.

For the GPX file of this trip, send a request to magriet@tipafrica.co.za.