Overberg Meander

All right, adventurers, if you’re looking for an authentic way to experience the Overberg, consider exploring it by bicycle. Our group recently completed a six-day cycling trip, the “Overberg Meander,” and it was a memorable way to see the region. This page details our journey and aims to encourage others, local and international, to discover the Overberg on two wheels.

Our trip began at Trail’s End Bike Hotel in Grabouw at 9 AM. The route was undulating with notable climbs up Highlands Road and Karwyderskraal, offering a mix of tar and gravel surfaces. We stopped for lunch at the Iron Bridge around the 40km mark, shortly after turning onto Karwyderskraal Road.

We arrived at High Seasons Farm in the Hemel & Aarde Valley by 2 PM. We stayed in their comfortable Lodge, which accommodates six people in three bedrooms. The farm offered a beautiful setting. We spent time walking around, using the swing, and relaxing by the pool before enjoying sundowners and supper. High Seasons Farm offers this accommodation to Overberg Meander cyclists for R3000/night (5/6 people) until the end of 2025. You can contact them at 021 200 2514 or info@highseasonfarm.co.za.

We started cycling from High Seasons Farm at 9 AM. The day’s route consisted of some tar but was primarily gravel, with a few challenging climbs. We stopped for lunch at Klein River Bridge at about 40km. Further along, at 46km, we made a comfortable stop at Raka Wines.

Our accommodation for the night was Beloftebos near Stanford, which provides various self-catering options. We stayed in “Melkstal,” which has two bedrooms and an additional bed in the living area. (We could also have chosen three separate rooms). Melkstal includes a large hot tub; if you plan to use it, request that they start heating it early. Our hosts, Coia and Andries, were friendly and offered helpful advice on routes. They also have mountain bike routes on their farm. Beloftebos Melkstal costs R2700 for 5/6 people. Contact them at 082 391 5331 or stay@beloftebos.co.za.

This was our longest cycling day. We added an extra 12km to visit Napier for coffee and cheesecake, which was pleasant but could be challenging for e-bike battery life. We departed Beloftebos at 9 AM, taking a quiet gravel shortcut through Sondagskloof, as recommended by Andries, which we found enjoyable.

We passed through Elim, which has a charming main road and a cafe offering basic supplies. To reach Black Oystercatcher, there’s a 7km tar road, but we opted for the more scenic 24km gravel road via Wolvengat. Along this route, we stopped to see an old Model A Ford in a farm garage. Alternative routes exist, such as heading towards Baardskeerdersbos and Lomond Winery, then to Elim on the Fynbos Road. It’s also possible to stay in Wolvengat and cycle to Agulhas from there. Our accommodation for the night was Black Oystercatcher, located between Elim and Struisbaai. We stayed in three comfortable, adjoining units. We paid R2680 (5 people). Their contact is 028 449 8541 or venue@blackoystercatcher.co.za.

The day started with only 3.5km on tar before we turned right onto the Struisbaai road. (This road was closed for flood repairs but was passable for cyclists). The terrain was a mix of undulating and flat sections, offering enjoyable cycling through the Agulhas National Park, home to Soetendalsvlei (South Africa’s largest freshwater lake), and various vleis and wetlands where hippos have recently been reintroduced.

To avoid traffic, we cycled through Struisbaai’s industrial/housing area to reach Agulhas and Africa’s Southernmost Tip. This route included a few short, unexpected hills. The relief map and boardwalks beyond the lighthouse are notable. We had lunch overlooking the sea. There is a dedicated cycle lane between Agulhas and Struisbaai. The road between Struisbaai and Bredasdorp lacks a shoulder and is very busy, so we opted to load the bikes onto a support vehicle. This reduced our cycling for the day to 45km instead of 77km. An alternative for those wishing to cycle the full distance would be to head back up the road we came from, then turn right towards Bredasdorp on a gravel road, adding 12km for an 89km day.

We booked into 17 On Hugo Street in Bredasdorp. This was a very comfortable house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a good option for an in-town stay, costing only R1800 for 5/6 people (Contact Annette 084 460 7104). Flames Grill and Bar was recommended for dinner and proved to be excellent.

We started with 5km of tar before turning onto the gravel road towards Malgas. We departed in thick mist, which, combined with heavy vehicles on busy, dusty dirt roads, required caution. High-visibility tops, brightly coloured jackets, and flashing lights are highly recommended under these conditions. Once the mist cleared, the scenery was beautiful, with ostriches visible alongside the road. The turnoff to the Renosterveld Reserve is 30km from Bredasdorp. We continued to Malgas and then drove back to our accommodation at Haarwegskloof – a good decision, as we would have missed views the next day due to continued mist.

In Malgas, we enjoyed rock shandys at the Malgas Hotel. Madgoose Foods at the Malgas turn-off is highly recommended for coffee, fresh baked goods, and groceries; the owner, Kyle, is very helpful. Our accommodation at Haarwegskloof, Renosterveld Reserve, was lovely, as was the new manager, Amauree. We had a whole house with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and ample living space, costing R2700 for 5/6 people. Contact them at 082 762 2787 or bookings@overbergrenosterveld.org.za. In the evening, we took a walk up the trail, where various plants were identified by descriptive boards. It offered informative insights and lovely views with a sunset from the higher elevation. To include this accommodation without driving, one could cycle the road on the Bredasdorp side to get there and then cycle down the road towards the Malgas side, forming a scenic loop through farmlands with corridors of Renosterveld.

After driving back to Malgas in the cold mist, we stopped for coffee at Madgoose Foods again. We then crossed the Breede River on the Malgas Pont and began cycling around 10 AM as the mist started to clear. The road up to Buffeljagsrivier is exceptionally beautiful, quiet, and scenic. We cycled directly through a farmyard, encountering geese and a friendly farmer with his dog. The road surface was generally good, though about 10km in, we encountered roadworks. The truck and grader crews were friendly and considerate despite the more challenging cycling conditions. Overall, we were impressed with the quality of the Overberg’s back roads; while some corrugations were present, the conditions were good.

We only cycled 30km on this final day, allowing plenty of time to return home. We recommend crossing the Pont and cycling to Buffeljags rather than continuing up to Swellendam, as the latter is a much busier road.

The Overberg Meander offers a unique and engaging way to experience the beauty of the Overberg region. We encourage you to plan your own cycling adventure and discover it for yourself.