FEDGROUP BERG & BUSH 3 DAY DESCENT ROUTE

Day 1
Distance: 90km
Ascent: 1282m
Descent: 1924m

Rated South Africa’s best stage race in 2009 and as the name Descent implies, on Day 1 we plunge 1000’s of meters from the top of the escarpment in the Drakensberg to the valleys of Kwazulu Natal. The start begins on a private cattle farm in the Freestate near Sterkfontein dam below the famous Kerkenberg Mountain. After the Retief ascent, a local farmer has discovered some exhilarating trails among wild protea plantations.   Before crossing the KZN border we hug the escarpment with its majestic views far below before descending down Bezuidenhout’s Pass, a 6 km pass still used by cattle farmers to move herds of cattle up into the mountains in spring.
Passing through many private farms we eventually drop down into the Tugela Valley Bushveld before reaching the banks of the Tugela River via 7 kms of legendary single track known as the Garden of Eden. This is a purpose built track cut through the trees and vegetation of the area. It is designed to blow our minds!
Emseni Camp on the banks of the Tugela River provides our overnight stop after an exhilarating day’s riding.

Day 2
Distance:  75km
Leaving Emseni we enter Spionkop Game Reserve. After passing huge herds of game we circumnavigate Spionkop Dam to arrive at the Braithwaite’s maize and Brahman stud farm . A new route around the dam delivers us to the base of Spionkop Mountain. Here an ascent of 400m awaits us to take us to the summit of this historic mountain, the scene of a bloody battle during the Anglo Boer War.
15km of game and cattle tracks brings us down and home to Emseni camp.

Day 3
Distance: 70km
Ascent: 1060m
Decent: 975m

A climb up to Bullers Cross early in the day allows great views of the Drakensberg before an exciting descent down Puff adder Pass through thick African Bushveld.   After following many kilometers of single track along the banks of the Tugela River we cross at Schietsdrift by zip line or by foot.   A final wicked climb up Mikes Pass allows for a thrilling descent down Big Red Mountain towards home. A final river crossing, this time the Little Tugela River, brings us into the friendly host village of Winterton at their Country Club.