Mountain Biking Routes
The 58 km Kranskop 4x4 route is a loop of bliss for the serious mountain-biker. Once out of town, you’ll ride peacefully all the way to Kranskop, following the border with KwaZulu-Natal to the south along farm roads, passes and mountain tops.
Wonderful views of the escarpment, steep rocky downhills and a drift crossing or two will ensure happy and interesting riding.
A must-do on your mountain-biking list should be the dual-track exploration in the Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve. An easy option would be to head out of town along the dirt road following the Klip River to the south.
The route features rocky hillsides, mist-belt forest and wetlands as well as great birding opportunities. A 23 km loop is possible, starting off along the Kranskop route, but then staying close to the Klip River towards the south before crossing and heading back toward Memel.
Wetland Birding
Search for almost mythical grassland birds like Rudd’s lark and Botha’s lark south of Memel, or opt for Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve and the meandering Klip River where more than 350 species of birds twitter away. Hippos were recently reintroduced, 100 years after the last one was shot, but visitors can still fish, canoe or hike here.
Here you’ll be able to spot birds such as Whiskered tern, crowned and blue cranes and the endangered wattled crane. Seekoeivlei has been a Ramsar site (list of wetlands of international importance) since January 1997.
A Must For Hikers
Two magnificent hiking trails, the Langberg (Vrede) and Ingogo (Newcastle) Trails is a must for hikers.
Hikers can also tackle the Sediba Trail which takes two days to complete and covers a distance of 16 km. The trail is shaped in a figure-eight and has been constructed with ladders and bridges for the convenience of even beginner hikers. Apart from the pleasing scenery, hikers can also enjoy various waterfalls and pools and maybe spot some rare birds on the way.