Hakahana Trails
Text and Photographs: Andrew Steer. Article from the November 2013 issue of Ride Magazine.
North of Pretoria is an ever-expanding and improving trail network that will leave you breathless. In a good way, as Andrew Steer discovered.
I’m sitting enjoying a nice bacon and egg breakfast, well earned after a four-hour ride round the soon-to-be-launched Hakahana Trails, and, despite my relatively poor post-winter fitness, I’m thinking to myself, when can I get back here next? The answer, of course, is pretty simple: whenever I want. Just over half an hour from northern Johannesburg and barely 20 minutes from Pretoria, Hakahana is situated just to the east of Hartbeespoort Dam, well within reach of Gauteng’s evergrowing mountain-biking populace.
The trail was conceptualised by Hakahana’s owner and mountain-biking enthusiast Johan Vorster and is the fruit of more than two-and-half years of trail building and careful negotiations with the local landowners. You may recall the area from the 2012 Nissan Hakahana TrailSeeker, which had many people searching for their granny gears and coming to terms with the Magaliesburg’s harsh terrain. A lot of work has since been done to improve and expand the trails, making them a lot more rider-friendly and ensuring much enjoyment for anyone privileged enough to make it out there. The TrailSeeker series returns this year to break in these new local treasures, but from the weekend after that, Hakahana will be open to the public.
The Routes
The park consists of five main loops:
■ the green Hakahana route, 7km (120 mclimbing) – not too technical but great fun to ride, regardless of your riding level
■ the blue District route, 19 km (270 m climbing) – some nice climbs, a mix of jeep and singletrack, with the odd technical challenge, ideal riding for your average mountain biker
■ the purple Rinkhals route, 15km (390m climbing) – an interesting mix of terrain, spectacular singletrack and a few truly awesome descents
■ the red Gomes route, 10 km (320m climbing) – running off the blue route and likely to become popular with the climbers, while providing the odd technical challenge
■ the orange Moot route, 15 km (120m climbing) – running off the red route and largely aimed at riders looking for extra kilometres and more time in the saddle.
For me, the Rinkhals route is the pinnacle of the trail and the thing that makes it unique. Although there is a fair bit of climbing to get through, spectacular scenery – there in spite of recent veld fires – awaits the riders: rocky outcrops, beautiful Wild seringa and 360-degree views of the terrain.
The routes are nicely configured to allow rides of various distances, depending on how you piece them together, and while not graded entirely on the technical challenge of riding them, the tougher Rinkhals and Gomes routes will challenge even the hardiest of riders, owing to the amount of climbing and the odd sampling of the tough terrain that is the forte of the Magaliesburg. Altogether, you can ride up to 66 km without ever recrossing your tyre tracks, and you may be lucky enough to spot some of the game that lives in the valley. The markings are simple: gum-poles are painted in the various trail colours, so it’s pretty easy to navigate from the saddle. There are trails for kids/beginners too, making Hakahana a great morning out for the whole family.
Accommodation nearby
If you want to make a weekend of it and enjoy the trails for more than a day, or take in more of the surroundings, the Oxwagon Lodge just down the road is an all-South African retreat with superb local cuisine. 078-075-0720
Facilities
There is secure parking for about 1 600 cars. The trails are run on an access card system. You have the option of either a multi-ride pass at R30 a ride for 10 rides or R40 a ride for a single entry. No bike, no ride. No helmet, no ride.
The catering is being done by StrEat Cuisine, whose owners themselves are athletes. They provide a specialist range of wholesome foods – not to mention great coffee – for pre- and post-ride meals.
Ablution blocks (including showers, which are under construction) and fresh water are readily available at the start/finish area.
Local is lekker
One of the key things about Hakahana is that it is very much a local trail: it traverses 51 farms in an area larger than 3 000 ha, employs many locals and relies heavily on the community’s involvement to make it a sustainable project.
A plea from the owner and from someone who has just recently discovered this jewel: please respect the trails and the landowners, and do not litter.
History
Hakahana House was designed and built from 1951 to 1953 by Johan’s grandfather, Helmut Stauch, a prominent modernist architect in South Africa.
‘Hakahana’ is a Herero word meaning quick-quick (the rear of the house was constructed in a matter of weeks).
Helmut and Carmen Stauch then passed the property on to Johan’s parents, Robin and Tosca Vorster, who over the years transformed it into a Simmental cattle ranch and, later, Hakahana Hanoverian Stud, an influential stud and the origin of the South African Warmblood Horse Society. Johan purchased the farm in 2004, and it is now the proud home of Hakahana Trails. !5SS
Directions to Hakahana
GPS: S25e46’30.27 + E28200’29.37
From Joburg:: Take the R512, past Lanseria to Crocodile River. Turn right (R104), pass Pelindaba, until you meet R511. Cross straight over. Go 3km. Turn left to Elandsfontein. Go 300 m (under highway). Stop. Turn right. 1 km to Hakahana on left.
From Pretoria: Take the N4 west from Pretoria towards Hartbeespoort Dam. Go through both tailgates. Highway ends. Take off-ramp left. Turn left. Go 500m. Stop. Turn left towards Pretoria (R104). Go approx. 2km. Stop. Cross straight over the R511. Go 3km. Turn left to Elandsfontein. Go 300m (under highway). Stop. Turn right. 1 km to Hakahana on left.
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