Most of us hate to admit it but we all know that exercise is the answer to most of our issues – be it physical or mental. Once your heart rate is up and the blood is flowing, everything suddenly seems clear. And we might hate it in the moment but still always find ourselves saying afterwards, “Wow, I should really do that more often”.
So why not make your exercise routine that much more exciting and explore beautiful South Africa on a bike?
The Hemel en Aarde MTB trails
The Overberg region has so much to offer. With Hermanus and the ocean on one side of the mountain and a stunning wine valley on the other. And not only does the Hemel en Aarde valley boast some of the best wine farms in the country, but also some of the best MTB routes!
There is a variety of MTB routes to choose from and each one starts from the Hemel en Aarde Village in Hermanus.
Green trail: 5 km – should take ± 30 minutes
Blue trail: 15 km – should take 1-2 hours
Red trail: 25 km – should take 2-4 hours
Black trail: 35 km – should take 3-5 hours
All routes will venture past the Onrus River and in between vineyards as the valley spreads out in front. And while the Green and Blue route turns back before entering Volmoed, the Black and Red MTB trails continue climbing up the valley on the banks of the Onrus River.
As these two routes continue, beautiful waterfalls may interrupt your trail. And as the Red trail falls away, the Black trail continues through more vineyards and berry farms. And as soon as you hit the top of Rotary Drive, be sure to keep your eyes on the ocean – maybe you’ll spot a whale!
There are plenty of wine farms and restaurants on all four routes, so cyclists should feel free to stop anytime for a break and appreciate the stunning view of the Hemel en Aarde valley.
What to keep in mind
Permits will need to be obtained in order to ride one of the trials.
They can easily be picked up from the Wine Village in Hermanus at the starting point.
The trails are open all year round. And for those who would want to spot some whales on their MTB route, the official whale season is from July to November.
What to do off the bike in and around Hermanus
There are so many restaurants and coffee shops between Onrus, Hermanus and the Hemel en Aarde region, so when visiting the area, all you have to do is choose and enjoy!
For those that are more adventurous, there is quad biking, paintball, tree-top slides and even sea kayaking available in the area. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with a day on the beach and ending it off with a cocktail at one of the bars or restaurants overlooking the stunning ocean and mountains.