On a mountain above the tiny sheep- and potato-farming town of Aurora, with views north to the Cederberg and west to the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll find a cycling escape like no other. It’s called Potkook, and it’s a slice of natural splendour where owner Riaan Landman has cut more than 25km of singletrack trails that celebrate the natural rock features and the fall of the landscape.

And what a ‘fall’ it is… On the eastern side, the mountain drops steeply into Kapteinskloof. To the west, the view fades more gently across the Sandveld to St Helena Bay. Riaan’s engaging, tricky trails take it all in. You have to force yourself to look up every few pedal strokes to appreciate where you are. 

The trails are clearly a labour of love – they’re meticulously built and well maintained, with myriad fun, technical challenges to keep things interesting. If you ever had the privilege of riding The U stage race in nearby Piket-Bo-Berg before it went on hiatus, you’ll have an idea of what to expect. 

There’s only one road into Potkook, and it’s steep. From Aurora, a gravel jeep track switchbacks up the mountain, all the way to the SANDF radar station on the summit. This is also an option for more serious riders – the climb is about 15km in total, and gains nearly 1 000m in altitude. Aiming for that radar station feels like you’re in some gravel version of the Tour de France, pushed to your limit on an HC climb in the Alps. 

You can also descend the mountain, loop around through Kapteinskloof and climb back up to Potkook for a 100-odd-kilometre challenge that will test anybody’s legs. 

But the riding is only part of the joy of spending a weekend in this special place. It’s a private nature reserve, and nobody except guests – and the owners of a few private cabins – are allowed in. Get a group of buddies together, and you have the whole place to yourself. 

Riaan and his wife Susan will spoil you rotten: the rate includes all meals (breakfast, snacks, three-course dinners around the braai) and all drinks. Yes, including the red wine you’ll be sipping on the deck at the eco pool, watching the sun drop off the edge of the world.

Non-cyclists are also welcome. There are beautiful walks to lookout points and rock art sites, and trail runners will find the singletrack equally engaging and challenging. Birders will be in their element: you’ll definitely see the breeding pair of Verreaux’s eagles, along with other rare specials like the protea canary and ground woodpecker. Leopards are regularly snapped by Riaan’s camera traps. And the accommodation is bright, contemporary and luxurious. After two days you’ll wish you could stay forever. 

Get a group of friends together, and go and experience what Riaan has built in this secret corner of the Cape.

THE DETAILS

Where? Potkook is about 180km north of Cape Town, via the N7 and R399. You don’t need a 4×4 to get up the mountain road, but a vehicle with high ground clearance is a good idea. 

Riding info: Only Potkook guests are allowed on the trails, unless by prior arrangement. If you ride all the singletrack in one session, you’ll cover about 25km and climb about 600m. The trails are mostly independent loops with clever names, which intersect at key points. 

Most loops are suitable for all riders, but there are some technical, rocky and steep ones. It’s easy to exclude these according to your abilities. You can ride them in sequence, ride the fun ones more than once, or mix and match to build your own adventure. 

The Potkook 1000 is a real challenge – the descent down the mountain road is thrilling, and the climb back up is a beast. There are plenty of quiet gravel roads at the bottom of the mountain that you can combine with the Potkook 1000 to make a Big Day Out – on gravel bikes or mountain bikes.

Accommodation: There are six en-suite bedrooms in three separate units, with the option of two singles or a king-size bed in each. You can only visit as a group – minimum of six, maximum 12. 

Rates: R2 850 per person per day, including accommodation, all meals, drinks and access to the cycling and hiking trails. Minimum stay two nights. 

More info: potkook.co.za and @potkook_mountain_experience on Instagram

 

 

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