Freedom Trail East Griqualand Meander | By Mike Woolnough
Heading home after completing the inaugural Freedom Challenge East Griqualand Meander, I find myself reflecting on five days spent pedalling through what must be some of the most spectacular countryside in the country.
To be fair, South Africa has no shortage of spectacular scenery. I suspect my impressions of what East Griqualand had to offer were shaped by my low expectations of southern KwaZulu-Natal and the northern Eastern Cape. Whatever the reason, the landscape was a revelation. At this time of year, everything is a verdant green, with rolling grasslands stretching before us like an endless carpet. Albeit a lumpy one in places.
The route offers a satisfying mix of singletrack, jeep track and district roads, combined in just the right proportions to keep things interesting. There is enough variety to make every day feel different, and enough remote countryside to remind you why you came in the first place.
At first glance, the distances covered each day look manageable, even bordering on easy. That is, until you consider the elevation gain over those distances. A large part of each day is spent climbing. Anyone familiar with the Freedom Trail knows that kilometres can be deceptive. When someone asks how far it is from A to B, the more useful answer is often measured in hours rather than distance. On the easier sections, you might average 20 km/h without much trouble. On the tougher ones, your speed can drop to something more akin to walking pace.
The East Griqualand Meander captures the best of both worlds. It gives riders a taste of some of the tougher sections of the official Freedom Trail race route, balanced by the more forgiving country that surrounds them. The result is a route that challenges you without making every day a battle, rewarding effort with scenery, a sense of achievement and the satisfaction of travelling through this remarkable part of South Africa under your own steam.
The overnight stops offer more than enough pampering to replenish and recharge before heading out for the next day’s ride.
If you have ever wondered what the Freedom Challenge is all about, but felt that committing to the full race was a step too far, the East Griqualand Meander could be just the introduction you need. Five days is enough to discover the character of the trail, test yourself against its challenges, and experience the extraordinary landscapes and people that make this part of the world so special.
You will finish with tired legs, plenty of memories and, quite possibly, a desire to come back for more.
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