Jacques

About Jacques Marais

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So far Jacques Marais has created 19 blog entries.
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 [...]

4 04, 2023

Trails: Namaqua Gems at the Brandkop Guest Farm

By |2023-04-04T12:11:11+02:00April 4th, 2023|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Namaqua Gems at the Brandkop Guest Farm

Yup, we’ve all cruised the N7 bisecting those Knersvlakte plains en route to the Northern Cape, but have you ever turned off at Vanrhynsdorp to explore the high inland escarpment? Do it next time, my friend, but make sure you and your bike stop off at Brandkop Guest Farm to explore their trails.  Copy and images [...]

6 03, 2023

Trails: Cranking Kouga’s Woodridge Loop in the Eastern Cape

By |2023-03-06T12:48:00+02:00March 6th, 2023|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Cranking Kouga’s Woodridge Loop in the Eastern Cape

That corner of the Oos-Kaap radiating outwards from ‘the world’s perfect wave’ rates as one of SA’s most underrated adventure destinations. The next time you come play in Kouga, you’d better pack your bike, backpack, and boots! Words & Photographs by  Jacques Marais Local Buzz Khangela mfethu, Kouga is ‘n kief plek, no matter what [...]

8 02, 2023

Trails: Wines to Wilderness Route in the Groot Winterhoek Mountains

By |2023-02-08T10:35:29+02:00February 8th, 2023|Trails|Comments Off on Trails: Wines to Wilderness Route in the Groot Winterhoek Mountains

The Edge of Wild: The Groot Winterhoek ranges, above Porterville, must surely rate as one of South Africa’s most under-utilised mountain biking destinations. This is about to change with the local Berg Rivier Tourism Region’s initiative, a ‘Wines to Wilderness’ Route. Copy and images by Jacques Marais Wines to Wilderness Local Buzz: Porterville comes across [...]

12 01, 2023

Wild Coasting: MTB Routes in the Wild Heart of the Eastern Cape

By |2023-01-12T21:43:47+02:00January 12th, 2023|Trails|Comments Off on Wild Coasting: MTB Routes in the Wild Heart of the Eastern Cape

The breathtaking Wild Coast boasts truly epic riding, all the way from the scenic ‘tamer’ section that languishes down south near the muddy roil of the Great Kei River, all the way north to where it nudges up again KZN. Let’s just say it is a vast and exhilarating MTB playground. Words and Images by [...]

14 12, 2022

The Yzers Darling Duo: !Khwa ttu and the Living Colour Trail

By |2022-12-14T21:01:53+02:00December 14th, 2022|Trails|Comments Off on The Yzers Darling Duo: !Khwa ttu and the Living Colour Trail

Ah man, what a jol you can have on the West Coast! In this month's MTB ROUTES Trail Blog, we give you the low-down on both the !Khwa ttu San Experience Trails, near Yzerfontein, and the new Living Colour Trail Adventure Centre, just up the road en route to Darling. Go give it gas!  Photographs [...]

24 11, 2022

Piketberg Mountain Gravel Road Circuit

By |2022-11-24T11:54:04+02:00November 24th, 2022|Trails|Comments Off on Piketberg Mountain Gravel Road Circuit

Get your Vitamin G(ravel) fix the next time you visit the Berg River Tourism Area, approximately 90min from Cape Town. The challenging Piketberg Circuit meanders via the scenic Sandveld plains and boasts a total riding distance of up to 300km, depending on your choice of route.   Photographs & Copy: Jacques Marais Local Buzz: A [...]

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