Jacques

About Jacques Marais

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Jacques Marais has created 25 blog entries.
15 08, 2024

Trails: Welcome to the Wild Side

By |2024-08-15T19:41:59+02:00August 15th, 2024|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Welcome to the Wild Side

Gqeberha and the Sunshine Coast have a reputation as one of the friendliest regions in all of SA. That holds true for the Fat Tracks MTB Community in Port Elizabeth, too, and even more so if you should decide to explore the undeveloped western shores. Copy and images: Jacques Marais Local Buzz Few people who [...]

20 05, 2024

Mankele Trail Park: Iconic Mpumalanga Trails Re-Open

By |2024-05-20T20:02:43+02:00May 20th, 2024|Trails|Comments Off on Mankele Trail Park: Iconic Mpumalanga Trails Re-Open

Good news from the ‘Province of the Rising Sun’! Yup, the popular Mankele MTB and Adventure Park in Mpumalanga has officially been re-opened, which means you have some kickass riding waiting just on 4hrs from Jozi… Photographs & Copy: Jacques Marais Mankele has been one of the favourite playgrounds for up-country mountain bikers for well [...]

16 03, 2024

Trails: Tranquilitas Adventure Farm

By |2024-03-16T21:05:18+02:00March 16th, 2024|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Tranquilitas Adventure Farm

Tranquilitas Adventure Farm, in Mpumalanga, is Total Tranquilo writes Jacques Marais. Photographs & Copy: Jacques Marais The Buzz: Yup. The town of Waterval Boven is known as Emgwenya these days, and if you translate this into English, you get ‘Place of the Crocodile’. Right. This does sound slightly ominous, but luckily the trails surrounding this [...]

29 01, 2024

Trails: Hantamland Heartland!

By |2024-01-29T13:55:35+02:00January 29th, 2024|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Hantamland Heartland!

The Karoo and mountain biking is a match made in heaven, and none more so than on those truly extra-terrestrial - Hantamland - plains surrounding Calvinia. Endless roads, farm tracks and trippy footpaths mean you have proper exploration riding to look forward to …  Words and images: Jacques Marais Hantamland Local Buzz: Calvinism used to [...]

15 11, 2023

Trails: Exploring The Home of the Whale Trail by MTB

By |2023-11-15T15:16:44+02:00November 15th, 2023|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Exploring The Home of the Whale Trail by MTB

De Hoop Nature Reserve is best known for its incredible land-based whale watching and the famous Whale Trail multi-day hike. But did you know you can explore this magnificent Cape Nature Reserve's trails by bike too? Check out the De Hoop MTB Trails in this month's MTB Routes feature.  Words and Images by Jacques Marais [...]

3 10, 2023

Trails: Viswater Mountain Bike Route

By |2023-10-03T19:52:02+02:00October 3rd, 2023|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Viswater Mountain Bike Route

You’re up for an authentic slice of West Coast living if ever you decide to travel up to the Namaqua West Coast. Doringbaai and Strandfontein are just two of the picturesque fishing villages you’ll discover here along the ‘bossieveld-see’ plains unfolding along the the Olifants River valley. And there's mountain biking on offer too, along [...]

20 08, 2023

Trails: Great Brak Gravelling

By |2023-08-20T13:39:06+02:00August 20th, 2023|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Great Brak Gravelling

Gravel biking is somewhat of a traveling circus, with riders trying to outdo each other when it comes to the coolness factor of their respective steeds. Everything is analyzed – from wheel size, tire tread and fork to bars – so a pedal to Great Brak will never end up being boring… Words and images: [...]

26 07, 2023

iSimangaliso – A Wilder Side of the KwaZulu Natal Wonderland

By |2023-07-26T11:02:52+02:00July 26th, 2023|Trails|Comments Off on iSimangaliso – A Wilder Side of the KwaZulu Natal Wonderland

Great mountain biking trails. Big game viewing. Nine months of summer every year … you can do worse than saddling up your MTB in iSimangaliso, northern KZN’s ‘Place of Miracles and Wonders’. Copy and images: Jacques Marais iSimangaliso Local Buzz There is this magical place known as iSimangaliso, situated way up high on the KwaZulu-Natal [...]

9 06, 2023

Trails: Tar Road Cruising Through Cape Point Nature Reserve

By |2023-06-09T11:22:27+02:00June 9th, 2023|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Tar Road Cruising Through Cape Point Nature Reserve

Cape Point National Park is one of South Africa's most visited nature reserves. It is also a great place to visit by bike, with easy rides, along a network of tarred roads, providing a selection of meandering routes through the most southern tip of the Cape Peninsula. Copy and images: Jacques Marais Local Buzz: Cape [...]

10 05, 2023

Trails: Cederberg Cranking in the Kagga Kamma

By |2023-05-10T13:58:19+02:00May 10th, 2023|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Cederberg Cranking in the Kagga Kamma

The San roamed the high reaches of the southern Cederberg from more than 6,000 years ago, and one still very much gets a sense of their earthy spirituality amidst the dramatic sandstone outcrops gracing Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve. High-altitude fynbos and renosterveld plains add to the attraction of the Swartruggens Conservancy. Copy and images: Jacques [...]

Go to Top