Brought to you by the same helpful folk behind the 1000 Miler, the Eastern Cape Passes Challenge runs on the same principle: an open-source attitude to route and information sharing, with the only expectation being that you open your adventure up to the dot-watchers. 

The route begins and ends at Lady Grey, deep in the mountains of the Eastern Cape bordering Lesotho. The best place to base your stay there is South African bike-touring guru Grant Freeme’s comfy Comfrey Cottage. The route leaves town and almost immediately climbs 556m, to the 2 234m top of Joubert’s Pass. 

You then snake your way up to the Tiffendell Ski Resort, via a few minor passes, and then over the daunting Volunteershoek. This pass is in poor condition, which on the plus side means there are hardly ever any other vehicles; it crests after a gain of 662m in altitude, the second-highest pass on the route.

Shortly after passing Tiffendell it’s time to tackle Carlisleshoek, and its famous cement tracks. Yes, it needs them – it’s that steep! The town of Rhodes offers a welcome resupply and rest, and then off you go to the challenge of the Great Escarpment, including South Africa’s second-highest pass, Naude’s Nek, and the slightly-less-high Bastervoet and Otto du Plessis passes. 

The return to Lady Grey is via Joubert’s Pass once more. 

We should perhaps point out here that while there is an official list of seven passes to conquer, there’s not much respite in between – the only flat terrain you will find on this route might be from the front door of your hotel in Rhodes to the barman. 

The appeal of the route, beyond its obvious beauty, lies in how remote and rugged it is. It’s low on human habitation and other vehicles – which makes it relaxing, in spite of how physically challenging it is.

And it turns most interactions with other road users into lengthy chats, more often than not comparing notes with 4×4 or enduro motorbike adventurers doing just what you’re doing (with a bit of internal combustion doping). 

How to do it

Unbound Africa have embraced the unsupported ethos with their tours (there are more coming – keep an eye on their newly reworked website for endurance awesomeness in other provinces too), without being as super-controlling about it as some similar organisers can be. 

‘Unsupported’ means you carry your credit card, or a sleeping system of some sort, and anything that’s available to any other explorer is available to you: B&Bs, restaurants, spaza shops, even the odd hotel if you need a pamper. That’s the purest way to tackle an adventure like this; but you’re more than welcome to do it with a back-up vehicle, and enjoy the big blue skies in a bit more comfort. 

Where the 1000 Miler is relatively gravel-bike-ready, this one probably isn’t, from two angles: there’s an awful lot of steep climbing, which your average mountain bike is better geared for, and the descents can be properly gnarly, demanding 2-inch-plus tyres and maybe the extra leverage that flat bars offer. 

The only rule, really, is that to use the open-sourced route put together by Unbound, you should rent a tracker and become part of the WhatsApp group that follows your every pedal stroke with encouragement, advice and not a small amount of banter as you cross the countryside. 

There’s no prize money, there are no medals, or any memorabilia for finishing the challenge. All that’s up for grabs is fun, free bragging rights, great memories of the adventure, and some good braai-side stories to tell (especially when things go pear-shaped)… and of course, a place on the Roll of Honour on the Unbound website.

The Details

DISTANCE: 521km

TIME: When there was a race on this route in 2020, Sarah van Heerden won it outright in 2 days, 13 hours… to make it more enjoyable, we suggest you take a bit longer! Five days is the sweet spot.

WHEN? Not in winter! This is real snow country – you’ll need to pack warmly, even in spring and autumn. Moderate heat (compared to Karoo-type riding) makes full summer a bit more challenging but doable, if you can carry enough water. But even summer evenings can be chilly.

THE COST: Renting a tracker will cost between R700 and R1000, depending on how long you plan to take. Food and accommodation can be from a few hundred rand a day, and you can sleep comfortably and cost-effectively with careful planning. The folk at Unbound will help you with the most up-to-date accommodation and refuelling options.

HIGHLIGHTS: The Passes

Joubert’s Pass 2 234m
Volunteershoek 2 581m
Carlisleshoek 2 563m
Naude’s Nek 2 590m
Bastervoet 2 240m
Otto du Plessis 2115m
Joubert’s (the other way) 2 234m

SECURITY: Deep in the rural Eastern Cape, security is hardly a worry. 

HOW?  Visit www.unbound.africa, or email info@unbound.africa

 

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