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Orange Elephant BACKPACKERS
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Main Street • Addo
South Africa • 6105
tel: +27 (0) 42 233 0023
mobile: +27 (0) 74 1796 715
e-mail: contact us
South Africa • 6105
tel: +27 (0) 42 233 0023
mobile: +27 (0) 74 1796 715
e-mail: contact us
MORE MOUNTAIN BIKING ROUTES | ADDO ELEPHANT PARK
3) Ride from PE to Addo. Short route. (+- 55km)
If you want to ride to Addo on your bike there is a way. Get someone to drop you off at the Barclay Bridge turn off just outside the town of Coega and meet you in the Town of Addo. The way to get there is to follow the dirt road all the way to the top of Grass Ridge. Here you will find the farm belonging to the Erasmus Family. NMMU had there Game Ranch faculty here. Just after the farm there is a fork in the road. Take the left hand fork and that will lead you to Barclay Bridge. This is a single lane bridge that crosses the Sundays River. At the cross roads you turn left and follow the road until you get to Addo. Remember this is the short but NOT flat route. The road surface from Coega to Barclay Bridge is not good and has quite a lot of loose rock on it.
If you want to ride to Addo on your bike there is a way. Get someone to drop you off at the Barclay Bridge turn off just outside the town of Coega and meet you in the Town of Addo. The way to get there is to follow the dirt road all the way to the top of Grass Ridge. Here you will find the farm belonging to the Erasmus Family. NMMU had there Game Ranch faculty here. Just after the farm there is a fork in the road. Take the left hand fork and that will lead you to Barclay Bridge. This is a single lane bridge that crosses the Sundays River. At the cross roads you turn left and follow the road until you get to Addo. Remember this is the short but NOT flat route. The road surface from Coega to Barclay Bridge is not good and has quite a lot of loose rock on it.
Long route. (+- 80km)
At the fork just after the Erasmus Family farm you take the right hand fork. Be prepared for loose stones and potholes in the road. On this route be prepared to spend sometime in the saddle! Kudu, Bushbuck and other small antelope have been seen on this road as it is quite remote. Follow this road all the way to the train line. There are about 3 or 4 gates that you have to go through. Please remember the farmers rule. If you open a gate close it behind you. If it is open, leave it open. Please remember that although this is a public road, it does go through a private farm. The farm belongs to the Lake family and they have been there longer than anybody can remember farming dairy and beef cattle. About 4km from the train line you will come to the sheds and homesteads on the farm. Stop and say hello to Peter, Gordon or Chris and assure them all the gates are as you found them. They love to talk so maybe this would be a good rest area. When you leave the farm turn left onto the old Grahamstown Road(R102). You will have to cross the old Mackay Bridge across the Sundays River. Get onto the Addo - Colchester Road and turn left. Now you only have about 30km to go until you get to the Orange Elephant Backpackers and the Addo Elephant National Park.
At the fork just after the Erasmus Family farm you take the right hand fork. Be prepared for loose stones and potholes in the road. On this route be prepared to spend sometime in the saddle! Kudu, Bushbuck and other small antelope have been seen on this road as it is quite remote. Follow this road all the way to the train line. There are about 3 or 4 gates that you have to go through. Please remember the farmers rule. If you open a gate close it behind you. If it is open, leave it open. Please remember that although this is a public road, it does go through a private farm. The farm belongs to the Lake family and they have been there longer than anybody can remember farming dairy and beef cattle. About 4km from the train line you will come to the sheds and homesteads on the farm. Stop and say hello to Peter, Gordon or Chris and assure them all the gates are as you found them. They love to talk so maybe this would be a good rest area. When you leave the farm turn left onto the old Grahamstown Road(R102). You will have to cross the old Mackay Bridge across the Sundays River. Get onto the Addo - Colchester Road and turn left. Now you only have about 30km to go until you get to the Orange Elephant Backpackers and the Addo Elephant National Park.
Things to remember.
Mountain Biking is about getting out there and leaving only your tracks behind.
Water and energy drinks have to be carried as there are no shops along the way. The water around here is not good for drinking.
There is cell phone reception on most of the routes, most of the time.
The roads are normally very dusty and dry so plenty of chain lube. I use the dry lube like Squirt or White Lightning.
Take a spare tube, chain and patch ect with you.
Plenty of water and on the longer rides something to eat. No Fast Food places along the way until you get to the Orange Elephant Pub.
Mountain Biking is about getting out there and leaving only your tracks behind.
Water and energy drinks have to be carried as there are no shops along the way. The water around here is not good for drinking.
There is cell phone reception on most of the routes, most of the time.
The roads are normally very dusty and dry so plenty of chain lube. I use the dry lube like Squirt or White Lightning.
Take a spare tube, chain and patch ect with you.
Plenty of water and on the longer rides something to eat. No Fast Food places along the way until you get to the Orange Elephant Pub.