The Pink Hill Karoo Cyling Holiday.
A beautifully restored 1860 Karoo farmhouse, stylishly decorated with all your comforts in mind, makes the Nagtegaalsfontein homestead the ideal base for the Pink Hill Karoo Cycling Holiday.
Each day starts with a hearty breakfast at the Long Table, giving you enough time to get ready for the day’s cycling route. Weather and time of year will be the deciding factor on the starting time of the daily cycle which anything will take you between 3 and 5 hours. Cyclists who wants to cycling a longer distance, can explore the district roads towards Phillipstown or Colesberg.
Lunch will be served buffet style, as we know some people want to shower first while others can’t wait to fill their empty tummies! The bedrooms are all facing the garden with an outside door, so afternoons can be spent sleeping, bird watching, reading or just chatting.
Late afternoons everyone meets on the stoep around the fire, taking in the most beautiful sunsets so typical of the Karoo.
Nagtegaalsfontein lies 13km to the west Colesberg, easily accessible from any of the provinces. Three circular rides start here and proceed over the farms Esperanza and Sewenfontein. The route is moderate on jeep track, dirt roads, district roads and some single track.
The Colesberg District is mainly a sheep farming area spread over half-a-million hectares, breeding many of the country’s top Merino’s. Game is often found on these Karoo farms and on Nagtegaalsfontein you will be able to see Gemsbok, Springbok, Blou Wildebeest and Sable – not to forget warthogs and meerkats! Birdlife is ample.
Non-cyclists are also welcome to spend quality time with their cycling friends and family. There is WiFi in the rooms but what beats a book under a century old tree and just birdsong as company?
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival day. Make your way to Nagtegaalsfontein. A welcome dinner will be served where you will meet your fellow cyclists and crew.
Day 2
30km circular route through Esperanza, starting on the Phillipstown – Colesberg Road. A Karoo Mountain gives us a few climbs while a short (and maybe scary) downhill brings some excitement, also making this is the most challenging day.
Day 3
32km through Sewefontein a farm with 7 fountains. Expect to cycle through a few wet patches! The landscape changes from grassland, to thornbushes, wetland and thorn trees.
Day 4
Breakfast is served in Colesburg, before we turn back to Nagtegaalsfontein where the vast grasslands of the Karoo and a few koppies will once again amaze you. We finish around the Pink Hill Karoo Guest House before we return to Nagtegaalsfontein.
Day 5
Depart after breakfast.
Accommodation and meals
All meals are catered for, starting with supper on day 1, and ending with breakfast on the last day. You are welcome to bring your own soft and alcoholic drinks which we will keep cold. There will be ample ice.
Alternative accommodation before or after the event is possible.
Daily routine
Breakfast is served at 08h00, and cycling commences at 09h00 (we will take the different seasons and weather on the day into account when making a final decision). Water will be available en route, and lunch will be served back at the next farm. We are normally done with cycling around 13h00, and the afternoon is spent relaxing, reading, hiking, swimming, or playing games. Please bring your own power/emergency snacks.
There will be points to charge e-bikes at R50 per night (not included in the rate).
Accommodation
All accommodation and ablution facilities are shared, no single supplements are available.
Available rooms:
1. Double bed with ensuite bathroom (bath)
2. Double bed with shower/toilet
3. Double bed with ensuit bathroom (bath and shower)
4. Couple/2 x singles with bathroom next door
5. There is a 5th room in the house with 2 x single beds, who then will have to share the same bathroom as room 4.
6. Room right outside room 1 with double bed, bath and shower
500m from the main house is the Pink Hill Karoo House, with
1. Double bed and bathroom
2. Room with 2 extra wide bunk beds and bathroom
Guiding and support
Eric Stewart will be cycling with you and Esti Stewart will follow in the support vehicle with water and coke, fruit and homemade biscuits.
Rates
Please contact us for current rates.
Contact
Esti Stewart 073 825 0835 or chokkatrail@gmail.com