Routes » Freedom Trail
Overview
The Freedom Challenge is an initiative hosted by the Wilderness Foundation South Africa to establish a mountain bike trail that runs from Kilimanjaro to Cape Town. Already the lower third is in place (running 2300 kms/1450 miles from Pietermaritzburg to Cape Town) and the hope is to have the other two thirds set up by the June 2010 for the inaugural Kilimanjaro to Cape Town tour on the trail.
Trail Motivation
One of our goals is to utilize the trail to support rural economic development. There are accommodation stops provided by local communities at least every 4 hours of riding apart. All stops provide towels, bedding and 3 meals. The nature of the accommodation varies from huts to game reserve lodges. The current cost for riding the trail is ZAR450 per day (USD 45) which covers all meals and accommodation as well as downloadable maps and traversing permits.
The trail is focused on rural Southern Africa and runs through a number of conservation areas. In many places we offer a choice of riding surfaces. Riders can either stay on the main trail which is largely double track or single vehicle road, or they can opt for more technical single track which might also involve hike-a-bike sections.
The Freedom Challenge
Once a year we organize an event on the trail in order to publicize it. The Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa draws about 50 participants and takes place at the same time as the Great Divide (June).
elevation profile from TopoFusion software
GPS Data
FreedomTrail-Tech-Merged.gpx – This file highlights the more trail / technical route, whenever there is a choice.
Links
Official Trail site – http://www.freedomchallenge.org.za/
Freedom Challenge Race
Andre Britz’s account of his 2007 race
Wilderness Foundation
I rode the first ten days of the race in 2011 before having to withdraw due to a mechanical. The route is amazing, but quite tough. There are many portage sections and you’re often bundu-bashing. I rode on average 11 hours a day. As it’s in the middle of the South African winter mornings and evenings can get cold (sub-zero temperatures). We also had several very muddy days which were exhausting and morale depleting.
One nice thing about this trail is there are support stations where you can eat and sleep. One for each day if you ride to the cutoff (26 days). The hospitality at these support stations is amazing. We were welcomed into farm houses, guest lodges, and even a village hut. The food is incredible.
I was disappointed not to complete the event, and will definitely be back.