FC route in 21 days

Described by Mike Woolnough

The Freedom Challenge route spans 2,150 km from Pietermaritzburg to Wellington, carrying riders across some of South Africa’s most remote, beautiful, and demanding landscapes. Along the way, they face a series of iconic sections that have become legendary in Freedom Challenge lore. Early in the race looms Lehana’s Pass, a brutal ascent that requires riders to shoulder their bikes up a steep escarpment into the highlands of Lesotho’s border country. Later, the rugged Stormberg region delivers the notorious Osseberg jeep track, often overgrown and unforgiving, demanding strength and determination just to get through. From there, the trail plunges into the vast and awe-inspiring Baviaanskloof, a World Heritage wilderness reserve where towering cliffs and river crossings test both endurance and resolve. As riders push deeper west, they confront the grandeur of the Swartberg Pass, one of South Africa’s most famous mountain passes, before dropping into the isolated valley of Gamkaskloof, known as “Die Hel.” The only way out is the steep, lung-busting Die Leer, a hike-a-bike section that epitomizes the raw challenge of the route. And finally, with the finish nearly in sight, the Freedom Challenge saves one last sting in the tail: Stettynskloof, a wild, boulder-strewn canyon that forces riders into hours of scrambling and portage, demanding every last ounce of energy and determination before they emerge into the vineyards of the Cape Winelands and the finish at Diemersfontein Wine Estate in Wellington.

I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.

26 days

2150 km

33 000m

June - July

map & compass

Day 1: PMB → the Oakes → Allendale

105 km, +2775 m

Your Freedom Challenge journey begins before dawn at the steps of the Pietermaritzburg City Hall. The first day introduces the essence of the Challenge: a mix of gravel roads, forestry tracks, barely discernible singletrack, and a waist-deep river crossing. The constant navigational tests will remind you this is not a race of speed, but of constant awareness. Unless you’ve spent the last month hacking your way through Panamanian forests, don’t be lulled into thinking 105 km is a short day out. It can take an average rider 9 to 12 hours to complete. Leaving the City Hall, a short ride on tar takes you into the Bizley Nature Reserve. Before long your legs and lungs will be tested as you make your way through sugarcane plantations. A short respite on easy rolling tar ends when you start the 14 km grind through Baynesfield and begin the first major climb of the race. After another 14 km of relentless climbing on forestry roads that will test your navigation, you’ll top out on the mountains overlooking Byrne in the valley below. You’ll be rewarded with a fast 9 km descent to the Oaks Hotel in Byrne. Racing snakes may choose to bypass this optional stop, but for the rest it’s a good place to grab a snack and refill bottles before the challenge ahead: the Umkomaas Valley. Leaving Byrne, you’ll pass the first rural homesteads populated by local Zulu communities. You will ride through countless villages for the first 450 km of the race. After a forestry section, you’ll emerge on a plateau overlooking the mighty Umkomaas Valley. What follows is the infamous concrete road. Calling it a road is generous. Showing restraint on the descent may keep you off the growing list of riders who have ended their race there. In the space of a few kilometres, you will burn off 400 m of elevation in less-than-ideal conditions. The mercury will rise slowly as you descend. Bottoming out you make your way toward the riverbank and start riding/walking/scrambling through riverine scrub that demands a blood sacrifice, willingly or not. By the time you face the climb up Hella Hella Pass, you will already have completed your first major river crossing and the day will have tested both body and mind. The Hella Hella gradient bites hard and each corner promises a summit that never seems to come. 9 gruelling kilometres after you’ve crossed the river you’ll reach the top of the Pass. What follows is 17km of undulating gravel road to your first support station. It’s 105 km of riding, but it will feel longer — not because of the distance, but because of constant shifts in terrain and gradient. The route is deceptively technical in sections, demanding patience and early respect for pacing. Arriving at Allendale marks your first milestone. The welcome of the friendly Waddiloves, toasted sandwiches, and your first overnight stop on the trail. Here the road ahead begins to whisper of remoteness. Take a moment to absorb it — you’ve left the comfort of civilisation and stepped into the wild rhythm of the Freedom Trail. Tomorrow, the real isolation begins.

Day 2: Allendale → Centocow → Ntsikeni: 93 km, +2480 m

The first challenge of the day comes within a hundred metres of leaving the overnight accommodation. In daylight, the navigation through the first few gates demands attention. For those leaving in predawn darkness, those gates and the track leading down to the first small farm dam are hard to spot. Dot watchers have had plenty of entertainment over the years tracking wayward riders going walkabout on the farm. Once the first few hundred metres have been successfully navigated, there’s still work to be done as you make your way through to the small town of Donnybrook. The route on either side of Donnybrook is on forestry roads. You’ll need to keep your wits about you, otherwise you’ll end up wandering around the plantations. There have been a number of plantation wanderers over the years — so much so that such detours are now formally known as “Donnybrook Manoeuvres.” A successful routing through the plantations empties you out onto a tar road a few kilometres before the emergency support station at Centocow. Centocow offers refreshments for those pushing on to Ntsikeni, and beds for those choosing to stay the night. Leaving Centocow, the undulating district road will tug at your legs before the first big climb of the day threatens to rip your legs from your body. A handful might take on that challenge; most will walk. Once over the watershed, it’s an easy ride to the Ngwangwane River crossing. After wading through, you’ll enter yet another plantation and head up and over the next watershed before crossing the Gungununu River. This time on recently constructed bridge. Rejoining the district road gives a few kilometres of respite before facing The Wall. The Wall is a badly washed-out, rugged cattle track that is impossible to ride. The first two kilometres will test your ankles as you scramble over rocks and washed out track while gaining more than 300 metres of elevation. Once back on the district road, the next task is to reach the wattle forest that guards the gated entrance to the Ntsikeni Reserve. After making your way along six kilometres of rutted track, the final challenge is to pick a line through a soggy wetland to reach the lodge. Today’s challenge lies not in the distance alone (~90 km), but in slow, rough terrain and relentless climbing. You’ll push, carry, and coax your bike up eroded cattle paths. Expect thick mud after rain and unpredictable weather as you climb to over 1,900 metres. Ntsikeni’s wetland plateau feels like another world — high, silent, and untouched. It’s one of the most beautiful sections of the entire race, where cranes and antelope share the marshland with wind and solitude. Reaching the lodge marks your first true wilderness victory. It’s a day of honesty — where progress comes not from power, but from perseverance. At Ntsikeni, you begin to understand the rhythm of the Freedom Challenge: forward motion, no matter the pace.

Day 3: Ntsikeni → Two Springs → Masakala: 102 km, +1750 m

Departing the misty wetlands, you’ll descend toward the foothills of the southern Drakensberg. The route threads through open grazing lands, rural villages, and remote valleys where locals wave from rondavels and children run alongside your bike. As before, the days navigation will demand your attention — expect unmarked turns, faint tracks, and multiple river crossings. The first five kilometres are easy enough. Once you leave the main reserve access road and head on to a little-used jeep track, progress slows dramatically. The next 15 kilometres can take a couple of hours. The track is sketchy in places and might include some walking. Make sure you keep track of your progress and know where you are on your map at all times. Once through the maize fields, you’ll be on a good farm road that takes you to the Underberg/Kokstad road. A few kilometres down that road is Two Springs — another emergency stop offering refreshments and beds for those who choose to stay over. Leaving Two Springs, you’ll finally have a chance to stretch your legs as you make your way out of KZN and into the Eastern Cape. Shortly after entering the Eastern Cape, you’ll face the first of two off-road deviations from district roads. Each section takes about 2 hours and offer plenty of opportunity to head in the wrong direction. Close attention to maps and compass will ease your passage through these sections. Back on district roads, it’s a matter of crossing a floodplain and riding on to Masakala Guesthouse. Masakala lies near Matatiele, offering a warm welcome from the community hosts and a chance to reconnect with other riders. It’s a cultural shift too — the rural rhythm deepens, and the trail begins to reveal its human side. At around 100 km, it’s a solid day, but manageable with steady pacing. The mix of adventure and interaction makes this stage memorable — a reminder that Freedom is as much about the people as the places.

Day 4: Masakala → Malekholonyane: 56km, +860

This stage traverses the soul of rural Eastern Cape — wide horizons, traditional villages, and mountain backdrops that steal your breath. The route follows cattle paths and district roads that rise and fall through the rolling foothills of the Drakensberg. Expect smoother riding today — fewer brutal climbs, but still plenty of technical moments. The start of this day is on busy district roads. Keep your wits about you as you’ll be sharing the potholes and rutted roads with a steady stream of cars and minibus taxis. After an hour of busy roads you’ll turn off the main road and weave through the villages and wetlands that line the eastern bank of the Knira river. The many villages are punctuated with a number of deep water filled dongas that you’ll have to make your way through. Crossing the last and biggest dongas you’ll reach the large settlement of Queens Mercy. After navigating through Queens Mercy the next big settlement is Mpharane. Entering the village you’ll make your way up onto the ridge that towers over the huts and houses below. Riding across the Mpharane Ridge is one of the highlights of the race. The decades old practice of harvesting wattle for firewood and dragging it back to the villages below - originally by oxen and more recently by tractor - has polished the landscape into smooth drag paths that offer an amazing riding experience. Dropping off the ridge the trail passes the Mariazell Mission School—home to the Freedom Challenge Scholarship Fund scholars. A historical landmark that stands like a sentinel in the landscape. From there, it’s a steady push to Malekholonyane, nestled on the ridge above the school. Weather can shift quickly — warm mornings may turn to cold, windy afternoons. Carry enough food and water; resupply options are scarce. At Malekholonyane, you’ll feel a shift in mindset — the early chaos of the trail gives way to rhythm. You’re riding deeper into the story now, moving at the speed of the land. It’s a 60 km stage filled with quiet beauty and gentle reminders: every hill conquered is one closer to the heart of the Freedom Trail.

Day 5: Malekholonyane → Tinana → Vuvu School: 74 km, +1490 m

Today’s ride is iconic Freedom terrain — gravel road riding connecting sections that are remote, raw, and unfiltered. Dropping off the ridge from Malekholonyane, you’ll have 5 kilometres of cattle track to get to the district road near Ongeluksnek. These 5 kilometres will test your resolve taking at least an hour to cover. After reaching the district road you’ll have fairly good riding with a mix of gravel and single track until you hike down a rugged cattle track to cross the river between the villages of Thaba Chitja and Koebung. Making your way through Koebung you’ll start the iconic section known as Black Fountain. This section entails making your way to the tiny settlement of Black Fountain and then tuning to trace a line across the peaks of the mountains before dropping into Tinana. The Black Fountain route is comprised entirely of cattle tracks which offer magnificent riding as well as views of the towering mountains that trace the border of the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. There is an emergency support station in Tinana. Leaving Tinana you’ll make your way over a mountain and cross the Tina river for the first time. Fortunately there is a bridge for this first crossing. Reaching the district road you’ll pass through a number of villages before turning off toward the settlement of Setabataba. Leaving Setabataba you’ll enter the Vuvu valley. The path is often vague — a patchwork of cattle tracks winding through the deep valley. Navigation is critical; getting lost here costs both daylight and energy. You’ll likely dismount often, pushing or carrying your bike through rocky sections, along riverbanks with a number of river crossings. The approach to Vuvu is one of the memorable moments of the Trail — a steep ascent followed by a final push into the village, where the school serves as your overnight haven. It’s only 70 km, but time on the trail can stretch to 10 hours or more. The terrain humbles everyone. As the sun sets over the valley and smoke rises from cooking fires, you’ll feel the magic of the Freedom Challenge in full — raw Africa, timeless and alive.

Day 6: Vuvu → Rhodes: 52km, +1390 m

Today begins with one of the trail’s signature challenges; Lehana’s Pass, a test of endurance and spirit. Leaving the village at first light you’ll wind along a district road for 14 km before turning off and starting your climb to the blue container. Climbing steeply on faint cattle paths toward the Lesotho border, the route rises relentlessly through grassy slopes and rocky gullies, a full-body effort that will see you pushing and carrying your bike. As you crest the ridge, reaching the fence under the blue container, take a moment to look back at the valley you left 7 km and many hours before. The view a reward carved in sweat and resolve. The descent toward the Bell River and Naude's Nek leads you into an entirely different landscape - gone are the packed villages, replaced by fencing, grazing land, and distant farmhouses. From there, the trail joins the district road into Rhodes, a charming highland hamlet, a quiet sanctuary after days of rugged trail and the bustle of countless villages. Only 52 km, but a long, physical day. Cold winds and sudden weather changes are common at altitude — pack accordingly. Rhodes offers a bed, a hot shower, and the comforting warmth of a fire. Tonight, you rest well — you’ve crossed the first true mountain divide of the Freedom Challenge.

Day 7: Rhodes → Chesneywold → Slaapkrantz: 105km, + 2070m

Leaving Rhodes on fast rolling gravel, don’t be lulled into thinking it’s an easy day. Before long you’ll be grinding in granny gear. The day is punctuated with many steep climbs. On a positive note, most of those climbs are rewarded with fast flowing descents. Today is a change of scenery. Gone is the vibrant hum of village life. In its place stretches a stilled, deliberate landscape. Farms divided neatly by fences, gullies smoothed and erosion checked. Orderly rows of oak and poplar instead of tangled wattle. The land, tidy and more prosperous, carries a quiet beauty. Vibrant vitality has given way to tamed elegance. It’s stunning countryside but you’ll count on one hand the people you encounter along the way. The navigation to the lunch stop is uncomplicated as long as you keep your eyes on your maps. On cold winter days you’ll find it hard to leave the Aga warmed kitchen of Chesneywold. A small section of tar after the lunch stop gets you back on fast rolling gravel. Passing the farm Wintershoek, the road winds though a valley tracking the path of a trout filled river. The navigational challenge of the day starts when you reach the farm Kapokraal. After picking your way across open fields you’ll summit a saddle overlooking the ruin of the Spionkop farmhouse. Winding sheep tracks through low ankle snagging scrub will take you to a jeep track that leads out of the valley. At 105km it can be a long day. Like most days on the trail good weather will make for a memorable day. However, freezing conditions, rain, headwinds and bike clogging mud can make it a day you’d rather forget. With the navigational challenge at the end of the day you’ll do well to pace yourself so that you make Slaapkrantz before nightfall. Slaapkrantz sits in the shadow of big mountains. A welcome refuge. As the evening light spills over the ridges, you’ll feel both small and infinite in the vastness of the Karoo’s edge. This stage is a reminder that not every test is technical. Some are simply about patience, persistence, and the will to keep turning the pedals chasing horizons that seem ever out of reach.

Day 8: Slaapkrantz → Moordenaarspoort → Kranskop: 95km, + 1820m

If ever a day could be described as a day of two halves it’s this day. The first 20km are likely to take 4 or more hours as you scramble over the mountains. The first soon after stepping out the door of Slaapkrantz and the next as you take on the Bonthoek mountains. The steep, eroded and ouhoutbos tangled mess of a track out of Slaapkrantz will have you questioning your life choices. Dropping your bike off your back near the top take a moment to look back at the farmhouse, now a tiny speck at the foot of the mountain you’ve just climbed. Climbing a couple of fences you will join a farm track that snakes around and down the mountain to the district road below. Your reward is a mere 1 km of easy riding before you head back into the mountains. The track is steep in places and you’ll be out the saddle pushing. Once at the top of the Bonthoek you’re faced with a steep down portage that’ll turn your bike into a zimmer frame. Winding around cultivated fields you’ll reach the uninhabited Bonthoek farmhouse. After taking a moment to fill your water bottles and having a snack under the adjacent willow trees it’s back onto rideable track and gravel. Once through the settlement of Rossouw it’s a slow grind up the mountain followed by an exhilarating drop to the emergency station of Moodenaarspoort. Leaving Moodenaarspoort you’ll be aware that you are now in big country. The Eastern Cape horizon stretches out before you. Farmhouses are few and far between. You’ll feel the isolation. You’ll revel in the fact that for the most part you have the place to yourself. The ride from Moordenaarspoort to your overnight stop of Kranskop is flat and fast. You’ll traverse private farmlands, gates and fences frequent, with sections that demand both respect and permission. Keep your navigation sharp — some junctions are easy to miss. Kranskop lies in a hidden valley — a working farmstead surrounded by willows and grazing sheep. This stage teaches humility. The distances between farms can feel immense, the silence almost heavy. Yet in that silence comes clarity — the simple rhythm of breathing, pedaling, and being exactly where you are. When you reach Kranskop, you’ve earned rest the old-fashioned way — by pure effort across open land.

Day 9: Kranskop → Brosterlea → Vegkoppies → Romansfontein: 131km, + 1480m

A classic Freedom day — long, rolling, and deceptively demanding. As one of the longest days of the trail you’ll want an early start. The trouble being that the first navigational challenge will be upon you before your breakfast has settled. If you’re unlucky early morning fog will add to the challenge. You’ll tackle two farm sections linked together with a short section of district road. You’ll need to keep your wits about you as you thread your way around uninhabited farmhouses, through gates, around cultivated fields, cross a river, plod through waterlogged pastures and scramble through water filled dongas. By the time you reach the tar road south of Jamestown you might regret the time you wasted drying your cycling shoes the night before. A 400 metre ride on tar ends when you turn off to begin your pedal to your lunch stop. The road to Brosterlea constantly rises and falls. Each summit rewarding you with views over endless countryside. In midwinter it can arguably be the coldest part of the trail. -17°C recorded by riders a few years back. Leaving Brosterlea you ride on toward the Stormberg. Crossing the Stormberg you portage off the mountain to the Blockhouse at the Stormberg Station. The Vegkoppies farm track takes you past the site of the Battle of Stormberg. The farmhouse, a kilometre further on, serves as an emergency support station. The ride from Vegkoppies is fast, slowed only when making your way through the many farm gates as you pass through Seekoeigat. Romansfontein offers one of the most iconic overnights on the route — a gracious old farmhouse with warm hospitality and big meals that taste like home. Today’s lesson is endurance — not the fast kind, but the slow, steady grind that defines ultra-distance riding. You’ll begin to sense how far you’ve come, and how far you still have to go.

Day 10: Romansfontein → Hofmeyr Padstal → Elandsberg: 109km, + 1175m

Rolling out of Romansfontein you’ll soon spot one of the iconic sections of the trail — Aasvoelberg A 45 minute scramble up the north face of the mountain is followed by and equal about of time flowing down the south face shaving off hundreds of metres as you begin your drop off the Eastern Cape highlands into the flat Karoo. Once clear of the mountains the trail takes you to the Padstal in Hofmeyr, a welcome stop for a meal and supplies. From here, the route heads south toward Elandsberg through flat endless farmland. After 20 km of fast flat gravel road the final challenge of the day is to wend your way around the base of the Elandsberg mountain. The portage is tricky so eyes should be on the map at all times. At 95 km, it’s a solid day out. A few technical sections with a touch of monotony. Before settling for the night at Elandsberg, step outside and take in the vast expanse of the Karoo night sky.

Day 11: Elandsberg → Groenfontein → Fietskraal: 122km, + 1360m

The start out of Elandsberg is arguably the best start of the entire trail — 20 km of riding bliss as you drop down into the Fish river valley. Once across the Fish you cross the Cradock/Middelburg road and make your way into the Spekboomberg valley where you will ride through a game enclosure where you are sure to spot African wildlife. Out of the game farm stay alert as you make your way down the short section of tar on the Cradock/Graaff-Reinett road. The never ending stream of long distance minibus taxis with trailers will remind you of the beauty of traversing remote gravel roads devoid of traffic. Shortly after crossing the Pauls River bridge you will turnoff toward Newlands farm. The track traces the river up to the farm house. Behind the farmhouse outbuildings you’ll cross the river and make your way along a farm boundary fence that will test your patience. Rocky terrain, more suited to goats than bikes and countless gates will make you long for open roads. Wading across the Pauls river for the second time you will arrive at the Grouenfontein support station of Groenfontein. After Groenfontein, the terrain roughens as you make your way around the Mountain Zebra Park. At once point you’ll traverse a remote corner of the park. Once through the park you’ll face the challenge of crossing the Schurfteberg. The climb up and over the mountain is memorable. Once over it’s easy riding before having to thrash through the Coetserskloof valley to access the fast flowing gravel road to Fietskraal. The 95 km from Groenfontein to Fietskraal feels longer under the big sky. Take care with navigation at farm junctions — tracks can fade into nothing more than game paths. Fietskraal is a quiet haven offering hearty meals and star-strewn silence. The night air here feels timeless. You’re deep in the Freedom now — beyond comfort, beyond distraction, and fully immersed in the rhythm of the trail.

Day 12: Fietskraal → Pearston Hotel → Toekomst: 125km, + 1220m

Today unfolds as a two-part journey — first to the small town of Pearston, then onward to the solitude of Toekomst. The first stretch from Fietskraal rolls easily, a gentle warm-up for what lies ahead. A truly honest warm-up for what awaits at Grootvlakte would be a punch in the face from Mike Tyson. Once you turn into Grootvlakte, the polite veneer of the Karoo falls away. Locked three-metre gates and a landscape bristling with cacti and every imaginable thorn-covered plant lie in wait. Your investment in tubeless tyres pays dividends here. Following the rocky, eroded track up the mountain, you’ll meet yet another locked gate — just as tall and just as testing. Once over it, there’s still work to be done. The rocky jeep track ends where it joins an old disused district road. Following this, you keep climbing toward the ruins of the Montreux farmstead. By the time you reach the old homestead gate, your legs will have had their fill of punishing water bars. Unfortunately, a few more lie ahead as you work your way up to the start of the Struishoek down portage. The Struishoek portage entails picking your way down a rock-strewn gully thick with thorny things. Rolling an ankle is a real possibility. Take it slow and you’ll reach the bottom with bike and body intact. Once clear of the portage, the fast, easy ride from the Struishoek farmhouse into Pearston feels like a gift. Pearston’s hotel and small shops offer a brief return to comfort — cold drinks, a hot meal, and a chance to gather strength. It’s worth pausing here; the Karoo sun can be merciless by midday. After Pearston, the route quietens again, heading south across the semi-desert of the Karoo flats. Turning off toward the Klein Karoo farm, it’s back onto farm tracks. A gnarly climb followed by flowing jeep track brings you to the gate of Koedoeskop Game Ranch. The ride through the farm, cradled between towering cliffs, is a small Eden. Keep an eye out for buck and the ever-present giraffe. Exiting the ranch, you ride on to Toekomst. Toekomst greets you with open skies and old-world charm — a true Karoo farmstead where time seems to stand still. This is a stage that bridges two worlds: human warmth and the wild spaces that still lie ahead.

Day 13: Toekomst → Bucklands → Hadley: 139 km, +1540 m

This stage marks a transition from the wide-open plains of the interior to the folded ridges of the Baviaanskloof foothills. The morning ride to Bucklands is fast and fluid, with just enough climbing to wake your legs. After threading through the gnarled track between Perdepoort and Kleinpoort, you’ll welcome a stop at the Kleinpoort Padstal for something to eat. The ride on to Bucklands is straightforward and quick. Beyond Bucklands, the terrain begins to tighten and rise. The mountains draw closer, the road twists upward, and the rugged country ahead starts to reveal itself. Keep an eye on your navigation as faint side tracks and private farm roads can easily lead you astray. Although the distance to from Bucklands to Hadley is only 41km, it’s going to take three to four hours to traverse. The approach to Hadley is unforgettable, a descent into a hidden valley framed by cliffs and ridgelines. Hadley is steeped in Freedom history, a farm that has welcomed countless riders over the years. It offers warmth, a hearty meal, and the quiet satisfaction of another milestone behind you. Tomorrow, you cross into the wild.

Day 14: Hadley → Cambria: 54km, + 1170m

One of the most memorable and physically demanding days of the race. The stage begins gently, as you plummet hundreds of metres to the Grootrivierpoort where you cross the Grootrivier. All the exhilaration you experienced on the way down to the river will bleed off as you haul body and bike up the other side of the river regaining all the elevation just lost. Hard riding will bring you to the top of a ridge from where, on a clear day, you can see Jeffrey’s Bay in the distance. A short while later is start of the Osseberg jeep track. The track fell into disuse nearly two decades back. Since then it has slowly deteriorated to the point where in places the jeep track is no longer visible. This section is now known as Mordor. It’s a wild section nestled between the towering mountains of the Baviaanskloof. The terrain is raw — steep descents, loose rock, thick bush, and nearly a dozen river crossings. There’s no obvious line, just a constant wrestle with nature. It’s not fast — but it’s unforgettable. The view from the top, across the Baviaanskloof wilderness, is pure Freedom Challenge: wild, ancient, and humbling. Once in the valley, the route winds along the river toward Cambria. Expect multiple crossings, thick vegetation, and stretches of technical riding It’s only about 54 km, but this is a full day’s work. Cambria marks the gateway to the Baviaanskloof — lush, green, and alive after the austerity of the Karoo. Rest well here; tomorrow, the wilderness truly begins.

Day 15: Cambria → Dam se Drift: 78km, + 1460m

Today takes you through the heart of the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve, one of the most awe-inspiring sections of the entire Freedom Challenge. There are a number of challenging climbs that wind between towering cliffs and crystal streams, past baboons, kudu, and perhaps even buffalo if luck allows. The track alternates between smooth dirt and rocky, washed-out sections that will test both tyres and legs. Expect frequent water crossings — shoes will get wet, and spirits will rise and fall with the terrain. This is raw, ancient Africa — a corridor of stone, silence, and life. The distance is about 78 km, but it can take the full day depending on conditions. Carry extra food and water; there are no supplies along the way. Dam se Drift is a small oasis at the exit of the kloof — a working farm offering rest and simple comfort. Tonight, as you sit under a deep, star-filled sky, you’ll feel it: you are deep in the heart of the Freedom Trail, and there’s no place you’d rather be.

Day 16: Dam se Drift → Willowmore: 83km, + 1130m

You leave Dam se Drift in the cool morning light, legs heavy but heart full. The route opens into easier gravel after the Baviaanskloof’s rugged confines — a reprieve for both body and bike. The first few kilometres climb steadily, before dropping onto smoother district roads heading toward Willowmore. This is a transition stage, roughly 85 km, bridging wilderness and civilization. The sense of isolation softens as the road widens and telephone poles reappear. The riding is fast, the scenery rolling — Karoo scrub giving way to farmlands and the gentle hum of small-town life. Reaching Willowmore feels significant: you’ve emerged from the wild. Get in early enough and you can take in a coffee shop or laze around the hotel that serves as support station. Tonight, you’ll feel something new — the first glimpse of the end. It’s not close yet, but it’s coming into view.

Day 17: Willowmore → Rondavel → Prince Albert: 161 km, +820 m

On the face of it, it looks like a fast, possibly boring day’s ride. But lean into the experience. At the end of the day, you’ll be 161 km closer to your blanket. Leaving Willowmore, the road heads westward into the weathered plains of the Great Karoo, where distance is best measured not in kilometres but in hours. In the crisp morning air, there is a stillness peculiar to the Karoo. For miles, the world seems empty save for an occasional windmill. The faint shimmer of gravel roads runs toward a horizon that threatens to never yield. Far from boring, it’s a chance to enjoy the majesty of the Great Karoo — long roads, open plains, and a growing sense of anticipation. Gradually, the landscape begins to gather itself. You start to sense the Swartberg ahead before you see it: a deepening blue line, then a sudden wall of mountain, ancient and folded, shouldering up from the plain to the south. Passing the 90 km mark, keep an eye out for your first glimpse of the towering palm trees located at the interim stop at Rondawel Farm. At 96 km, Rondawel is a welcome stop to refresh before the final 65 km push to Prince Albert. Expect headwinds in the afternoon and sections of loose sand that sap momentum, but it’s mostly steady and rideable. Knowing that headwinds arise around midday, it’s advisable to get out of Willowmore as early as possible. With 40 km to go, the outline of Prince Albert can be seen tucked into a fold of the mountains. The thrum of tyres on hard-packed gravel brings you closer with every pedal stroke. Just shy of the town, a gentle climb — the first of the day — gives you your first proper view of the town. The Neo-Gothic structure of the NG Church beckons. Turning into Church Street, you’ll pass rows of tin-roofed Karoo cottages that doze behind low walls and rose bushes. The white gable and shaded verandah of The Lazy Lizard restaurant is inviting. Continuing on to the Yellow House, you will pass pepper trees and leiwater furrows that thread through the town. The Yellow House, your overnight stop, lies on the outskirts. Behind, the Swartberg looms — blue, ancient, and utterly still. This day is meditative. A change in rhythm and scenery. Hours of quiet pedaling where thoughts stretch as far as the horizon. You’ve covered one thousand seven hundred kilometres, and each pedal stroke feels deeply earned. Sleep well because tomorrow the mountains await.

Day 18: Prince Albert → Gamkaskloof → Sandrivier: 97 km, +2800 m

One of the great days of the Freedom Challenge — physically demanding, visually breathtaking, and emotionally unforgettable. You’ll begin by climbing up the Swartberg Pass, a masterpiece of old engineering that winds skyward through sandstone cliffs. The air cools, the views expand, and the sense of scale is immense. After seemingly endless switchbacks, nearing the summit, you’ll see the turnoff to Gamkaskloof — also known as “Die Hel.” A sticker-festooned warning sign — “Dangerous Road for 48 km! Use at own risk!” — is an indication of the challenge ahead. To be fair, it’s not that bad on a bicycle that needs just a small strip of good surface to find a riding line. Don’t be fooled into thinking you simply drop into Gamkaskloof. You will eventually — down a winding track carved into a cliff face that will test both nerves and brakes. Before that, the road will rise and fall as it makes its way through the folds of the mountain. Nearing the final drop into the valley, take a moment. Before you, Gamkaskloof lies cupped in the Swartberg mountains. The valley, long and narrow, is a thin green ribbon stitched into the harsh, folded rock. A place where a small community once chose this solitude over the world beyond the mountains. After dropping into the Kloof, you’ll see the remnants of the old smallholdings. Untended patches of land and orchards where the isolated families once coaxed life from stubborn soil, year after year. The quiet grit of a people now remembered in the names of cottages that line the single road that threads through the valley. After a lunch stop at the rustic Gamkaskloof Restaurant, the trail continues through the Kloof. After crossing the Gamka River, the track winds through private property, bringing you to the foot of Die Leer — The Ladder. Die Leer is an old, rugged footpath once used to gain access to the Kloof before the road was built in 1962. Manhandling your bike up the perilous cliff face, imagine what it was like for donkeys, laden with goods. Topping out a rugged track takes you to the district road near Bosluiskloof. From there, a good road takes you on to your overnight stop at Sandrivier. It’s a 98 km day that will keep you busy from before sunrise to sunset. By the time you reach Sandrivier, you’ll feel both spent and transformed. Today is pure Freedom — a day that demands everything and gives even more in return.

Day 19: Sandrivier → Anysberg → Montagu: 151 km, +1553 m

The terrain eases slightly today, though fatigue makes every climb feel steeper. You’ll roll out from Sandrivier along district roads before turning off to take on the 20 km rugged and sandy farm track that crosses the farms, including the Buffels River, to meet up with another district road that brings you to the entrance of the Anysberg Nature Reserve. The Reserve road leads to the Nature Reserve admin buildings. A short way off to the left, a row of cottages and an ablution block provides resupply. Make sure to fill your hydration pack — it’s a long dry stretch to Montagu. The road through Anysberg is scenic and rolls easily. After crossing the Touws River, you’ll make your way out of the Reserve and on to Die Hoek. At Die Hoek, you’ll start the slow but short ascent to the top of the Ouberg Pass. What follows is an exhilarating downhill that goes on for 20 km, threading through the first vineyards and olive groves of the Western Cape. The return of civilisation after the starkness of the Karoo. De Bos, your overnight stop, offers comfort — showers, soft beds, and the welcome hum of humanity. Tonight marks a turning point: from wilderness to civilisation, from journey to reflection. The end is near, but you’ll wish it weren’t.

Day 20: Montagu → McGregor → Trouthaven: 148 km, +1197 m

Today weaves through the heart of the Cape Winelands — a place of vineyards, winding gravel, and gentle beauty that belies the effort still required. The route to McGregor is hilly, with short climbs and fast descents that keep the body working. McGregor Backpacker is a good spot to pause. A short ride out of town brings you to a cycling track that contours around the mountain, emptying onto the Robertson tar road. A short while later, tar yields to gravel, and you make your way west toward Worcester, tracing a line north of the Bree River. Nearing Worcester, you drop south, rounding the Brandvlei Dam and passing through Brandvlei Correctional Facilities. Leaving Brandvlei, the road climbs again, winding toward Trouthaven through orchards and mountain folds. It’s a relatively easy 148 km day, comprised mostly of smooth roads. Trouthaven offers rest beneath tall oaks and the sound of running water. Get in before 4 pm and enjoy a cappuccino at the Bistro. You’re a single day from Diemersfontein now. Every bruise, blister, and memory feels precious.

Day 21: Trouthaven → Diemersfontein: 51 km, +1750 m

The final day of the Freedom Challenge — 2,100 kilometres behind you, one last test ahead. You’ll leave Trouthaven in the half-light, climbing through the twisting Kloof and mist toward Stettynskloof — a name that stirs both awe and apprehension. Starting at the wall of the Stettynskloof Dam, you’ll begin a many-hours-long traverse through a valley that revels in silence — visitors an intrusion on its solitude. The Stettynskloof portage is legendary: steep, rough, and unrelenting. You’ll lift, push, and carry your bike through rocky riverbeds and dense bush. Progress is slow, but every step carries meaning. You’ll pass the site of the 1964 Shackleton crash, with shredded remnants scattered among the tangled scrub. Once you’ve scrambled up the final cliff, the view of the valley through which you’ve just traversed looks benign. Bruised shins and bloody scratches tell a different tale. A short hike across fynbos brings you to a jeep track that will lead you away from this remote valley. This final section isn’t about speed — it’s about reflection. Riding up the tar road of the Du Toitskloof Pass, you’ll have time to process the last three weeks. At Wellington, your blanket awaits. The blanket is precious but not the real prize. The blanket is a mere reminder of the journey undertaken — the joy of open spaces, the rare beauty of places most don’t get to see, the inner journey of self, and the appreciation of your endurance and ability to push on in moments of weakness or doubt. Below the vineyards of Wellington, the finish line at Diemersfontein waits with open arms. Crossing that line is unlike anything else — exhaustion, relief, and quiet triumph woven together. You’ve traced the country’s spine, crossed its rivers and ridges, and found something unshakeable within yourself. The Freedom Challenge doesn’t end here. It lives on, every time you remember the sound of gravel beneath your wheels, the taste of dawn on the trail, and the sight of that blanket.