Journalist Charlotte Sinclair came cycling in South Africa with us in February 2024, enjoying a slow journey through the epic mountains, farmlands and rainforests of the Karoo. In her piece for HTSI in the FT Weekend, she describes the rugged landscape of the Karoo as ‘an area uniquely suited for discovery by bicycle’. Here is an excerpt of her wonderful article.Â
“The feeling under the wheels as the uneven shale of a track smooths into red clay, or the hair-dryer-to-the-face experience of zooming through shimmering pockets of hot air that rise from the road like will-o’-the-wisps. By car, it would be easy to miss the cawing of a hadada ibis as it detonates into flight from the top of a eucalyptus tree, or the swish of an ostrich corps de ballet racing on tiptoe down the curve of a field.
The Slow Cyclist’s debut trip to South Africa’s Western Cape encompasses three distinct biomes: the sprawling desert of the Great Karoo, the semi-desert of the Klein Karoo and the temperate rainforests of Tsitsikamma National Park, the miles and route spiralling down to the Indian Ocean. It’s a journey of approximately 330km and a 4,500m climb – a startling ascent that is, in fact, barely noticeable (the bike’s internal motor makes short work of even the steepest incline).”
You can read the full HTSI article here.Â
If you’d like to visit the Karoo and its winding mountain passes, panoramic views and vast open landscapes, then come cycling in South Africa with us. Enquire now to find out more.Â
