The route for the 48 km race is packed with a little bit of everything:

Starting with a long and steady climb up the district road to spread the field, the route chases down a slightly sandy new single track section all the way to the Umhlali river. After some great patches of single track and a fair bit of climbing, banana plantations and riding past crocodile rearing pens on a crocodile farm, we reach the first water table which is accessible to spectators.

This water table is a great spot to visit for spectators as it is set at the gates of Verbara Lodge a 5 bedroom lodge with awesome views over the famous Howard’s bush.

At this point the riders enter Howard’s Bush with the king of the mountain about 1 km from the water table at the highest point of Howard’s Bush with views all the way to the ocean.
After all the hard work the fun starts with the wild single track through the bush. After popping out of the bush there is a small but respectable climb over the Glendale road followed by one of the best sweeping downhill’s in the area. This takes the riders into the River Quad Trails 4 wheeler tracks. The trail building crew from Holla Trails have reopened a section of track that was closed and have now built 3 bridges so there is no need to get your feet wet. They tell us that this 4 wheeler track is riding so sweetly at the present. A lot of riders missed the new detour away from the un-rideable sandy section last year and thought they were suddenly riding the Ballito beach. The news is that it will be impossible to make the same mistake this year.

Another exciting addition after the four wheeler track is the loop through Rainfarm Game farm. This is where the second single track can be found which will also be open to spectators. A scenic stretch gives the riders a chance to ride alongside giraffe, emu, zebra, many buck species. Please take care of the ostrich which has been known to be aggressive. The fast dash down the historical Golovane track is followed by the trade mark scaffolding especially erected over the game fence by Forma Formwork and Scaffolding. This is followed by the last proper climb up the notorious Rupert’s Hill. The race ends with a fantastic and fast downhill back at Living Earth, a short section of single track and a quick easy last 2 km back to the Holla Trails

Total ascent app. 865 m

This route is a great fast flowing route, with only one major climb early on, thereafter it is very fast, there is some great singletrack but very doable for first timers.

Follows the start of the 48 km race, at 9.4kms the routes splits at the Umhlali river with the 20 km route taking the wonderful slightly downhill Golovane track along the Umhlali river – the reverse of the Holla Trails blue route and last years Golovane 20 km route.

Popping out at the hilo road there is a short flat and fast stretch with a long gentle climb past a dam and over the crest of a hill, a very quick rollercoaster descent is followed by another fast and flat historical stretch of Golovane track. The riders than ride up part of the Holla trails single track in reverse before popping out on another wide slightly inclining road heading back to the race finish. The route joins up with the 48 km at the Living earth dam and shares the same fast rewarding last few kilometres into the finish at Holla trails

Total ascent app. 275 m

6KM KIDS/ FAMILY ROUTE OVERVIEW
Only for children older than six years and geared bikes are recommended.

The 5km kids ride is an easy out and back course to the Living Earth Dam. Although not a completely flat ride, the course has been designed to provide a challenge for younger riders. The route has also been carefully laid out so riders who find they are overextending themselves can turn around and shorten their race at many places along the route. Remember, the idea here is that the adults get to do this race with the kids as warm up and to share the fun.

There is a fully supervised chaperone service in a specific kiddies area at Holla Trails where parents can leave their kids in a secure area whilst they do either the 20 or 48km races – they are requested to sing in and sign out their kids.