The wild PONDO ride

4-day/ 3-night mountain bike adventure through the idyllic Pondoland.

Fully inclusive 4 day biking tour.

R6,300

/ per person
(Price depends on group size)

About The Wild Pondo Ride with Singletrack Adventures

The Wild Pondo Ride is a 4-day/ 3-night biking tour adventure through beautiful Pondoland. This is a bucket-lister for all off-roaders as we tackle cattle paths along the wild seaside as well as diverse landscapes. We will cycle past dramatic cliffs and cascading waterfalls, through coastal forests and immense valleys. The rugged terrain and inaccessibility of this region means that very few people have had the opportunity to explore this hidden gem.

Singletrack Adventures enables guests to focus 100% on the riding experience as we provide all meals, transportation and organise permits, ferry fees and more! Our riding tours always comprise small groups, typically with 14-20 people per trip.

Included
  • All meals provided
  • Snacks for the biking tour
  • Transportation from the Wild Coast Casino to the starting point
  • Logistical support during the ride and transfer of luggage
  • 3 nights accommodation
  • 2 professional guides per ride
  • Mkambati Nature Reserve permit
  • Canoe transfer fees
Excluded
  • All beverages
  • Transport to and from the Wild Coast Casino.

The Wild Kei Ride Itinerary

  • Day 1: Meet at the Wild Coast Casino at 7:30am (TBC)

    After meeting fellow mountain bikers at the Wild Coast Casino, we will embark on the group transfer to Mbotyi. We will travel via rural Eastern Cape towns and through rolling Transkei hills and valleys. It’s important that you have your mountain bike kit ready before boarding the tour vehicle, as we will disembark and immediately begin our ride in Magwa Tea Estate.

    The ride: We pedal through the maze of Magwa Tea Estate, with stops at Magwa Falls, Fraser Falls and Alice Falls, before descending through the Ntsubane forest and arriving at our overnight accommodation. (We will cycle approximately 20 km.)

    Afternoon activities: Relax, swim in the sea or enjoy a sundowner on the beach.

    Accommodation: We will overnight at Pumla's Place, in rustic, comfortable cottages that boast panoramic sea views of the Mbotyi coast that are second to none. The large indoor lapa at Pumla’s Place offers an ideal setting in which to bond over the day’s highlights and enjoy a delicious meal.

  • Day 2: Mboyti to Msikaba (34 km)

    After breakfast, we begin our biking tour from Mbotyi to Msikaba. The dramatic scenery on this day is simply breathtaking! We will pass many noteworthy landmarks, with highlights including Waterfall Bluff and Cathedral Rock, two remarkable natural phenomena of the Wild Coast. We will predominantly traverse grasslands, wetlands and coastal forest areas with small rivers and streams. Of note along our route is Grosvenor Bay, where a Portuguese ship carrying a valuable cargo of diamonds, rubies, gold and silver bullion was wrecked in 1782. (To date, only a few cannons and some gold and silver coins have been recovered by salvage operators.)

    Accommodation: We will overnight at Vonnie's Rest, which is nestled in a little valley on the bank of the Mbaxeni River. The charming cottages are simply furnished and cosy.

    Afternoon activities: It is an idyllic venue to relax and unwind and there are plenty of optional activities to enjoy, from sundowners at the local waterfall or a visit to the magnificent Cape vulture colony viewing deck at Msikaba Gorge; to a self-guided walk up the river gorge if you are feeling energetic and want to explore the lush surrounds.

  • Day 3: Msikaba to Mtentu (28km)

    The leg from Msikaba to Mtentu is one of the most memorable days, as we pass the local lighthouse before crossing the Msikaba estuary and entering the Mkambati Nature Reserve. The biking tour on day 3 meanders along the coastal trail until GweGwe Point, where we head inland to a view site high above the gorge of the Mkambati River. We then descend to the coastline again for a snack break at Horseshoe Falls. Hugging the coastline, we continue to Mkambati Falls, where the waterfall cascades spectacularly into the sea. (Mkambati is a unique place at which one can spot whales and dolphins playing in the surf while simultaneously viewing game grazing in the surrounding grasslands!) Just a short walk away is Strandloper Falls, where we can swim and refresh ourselves in the crystal-clear pools. Our final obstacle of the day is the Mtentu estuary, where we will be ferried across the river by canoe before continuing the short ride to Mtentu Lodge.

    Afternoon activities: Feel free to relax on Mtentu beach or hire a canoe and paddle up the Mtentu River to explore the magnificent rocky outcrops and waterfalls in the area.

  • Day 4: Mtentu to Mzamba - Wild Coast Casino (32km)

    Once we have enjoyed a hearty breakfast at Mtentu Lodge, we will then head out along the coastline to Sikombe and, after a short beach ride and river crossing, will head a little inland into the Xolobeni Red Desert. (The red sand here has been moulded by the wind into diverse, awe-inspiring formations that only Nature could envisage.) We will then break for an ice-cold cooldrink at the local spaza shop before either heading inland or following a beach route, depending on what the tide is doing.

    Should we head inland, we will ride up to Nyameni Falls, where we will break for lunch and relax by its incredible rock formations. We will then start up a short section of district road before heading onto some of the best singletrack the Wild Coast has to offer. The tracks here take us around gorges and through valleys with impressive waterfalls.

    When we reach the Mzamba gorge, we commence a challenging portage down a tough hill. (Locals are available to assist with portage should you need or want help.) Those who are up to it can then ride across the renowned Mzamba River suspension bridge. This puts us back in KZN, where we will have a short cycle along the river to our finishing point at the Wild Coast Casino.

    This tough day of riding is differentiated from the other legs of our trip, as, venturing inland, we will have the opportunity to view Pondo homesteads and farmlands... as well as the Transkei Big 5 (the goat, pig, cow, donkey and sheep)!

Book This Tour

Minimum 6 people per tour.

WILD PONDO RIDE TESTIMONIALS
From an organisational perspective, to be able to get off your bicycle after a solid day of pedalling in a place as beautiful and relaxing as the Transkei and have your bags, enough food to fuel 13 hungry and tired cyclists, and a few cold beers at hand makes every bit of difference to the experience. In a logistically challenging place like the Transkei, the efforts of the support crew and the general preparedness of the trip as whole is what has resulted in an unforgettable experience for everyone involved
Rob EvansScottburgh, KZN
Fantastic experience, great scenery, and genuinely nice people. Loved every minute of our trip. Highly recommend it for anyone up for a mountain bike adventure in the beautiful Wild Coast area.
Travis GaleDurban, South Africa
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Singletrack Adventures - Wild Coast guided Mountain Biking and Hiking Tours

Experience the wild and breathtaking coast of South Africa’s Pondoland with hiking and Mountain Bike experiences curated for various fitness levels. Contact us to book your Wild Adventure with Singletrack Adventures.

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