Mqeku Valley, Matimatola and Lelani

[JonW]

Thanks Cuzzy and husky

I have said it before, but we are so spoiled here in KZN.

I have been riding for over 10 years, have ridden extensively all over KZN, yet most of this ride was brand new to me, and right on my doorstop.

Where else in SA would this be possible?

 

[ianhogg]

On Saturday I went and pre-rode the Mqeku valley and had lunch at the Noodsberg Country Club before taking my wife. It was a busy pass that day, two guys had gone through before me and Jon came up later in the day. This pass out of the valley may be a graded road but it is no *****. Have a look at the gradient profile, this is about as steep as you can make a dirt road. As Jon observed, a bit of rain and this will be a different animal. The road follows the original animal tracks quite closely, I recognised a ravine where I had burnt quite a bit of cork off my clutch plates 4 years ago. 

The valley is quite spectacular and it is worth it to summit the pass and see the waterfall at Eagles' Rest in front of you and the valley behind you. I enjoyed it so much I went back and did it again after lunch before heading back through Montebello. I was wrong about the crack, you can see the crack from the bottom of the pass (pictures attached) but the crack you can see when you are riding around gun sight is in Kwasangwane, the other way down. For out of province people wondering why we have a hill called gun sight I've attached a picture.

 

[JonW]

Nice pics Ian

Sorry I missed you

 

[ianhogg]

While Jon was bouncing around on the rocks of Muden I eventually got round to taking my wife up the Mqeku valley to Noodsberg for breakfast and back through Montebello. What a magnificent day it was and the valleys look even more stunning in lush green. Here's a picture of my wife super impressed with herself for summiting the Mqeku pass without problem and a clearer picture of gunsight. Actual GPS tracks attached.

 

[TinusBez]

Thanks Cuzzy and husky

I have said it before, but we are so spoiled here in KZN.

I have been riding for over 10 years, have ridden extensively all over KZN, yet most of this ride was brand new to me, and right on my doorstop.

Where else in SA would this be possible?

Not in Johannesburg. Beautiful place.

I'm exploring farm roads around Heidelberg, Balfour, Greylingstad which is nothing like this.
Enjoy