Karoo to Kleinbaai

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Breede Valley Local Municipality, Western Cape, ZA

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Route Overview

Bicycle South

Discover South Africa’s top cycling destinations & adventures.

300 mi.

16,064 ft.

Wild open spaces, starry night skies, fascinating Cape heritage and warm South African hospitality make this route a perfect way to explore the Western Cape region. The route trans-verses a variety of landscapes, from the semi-desert region of the Klein Karoo with her smooth gravel roads, to the rolling lush farmlands and rugged coastline of the Cape Overberg.

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Route Details

This epic 483km route follows a network of smooth gravel and tar roads, through some of the most dramatic and challenging scenery in the Cape. Starting in Worcester, the route takes you deep into the Cape Winelands amidst sweeping vistas of mountains and vineyards before climbing a series of passes into the remote, semi-desert region of the Little or Klein Karoo. From here the route turns south and the landscapes get greener as you enter the Cape Overberg region. After crossing the Breede River it’s plain sailing all the way down to the coast.

The route is designed to enable you to be flexible and spontaneous – mixing up a bit of wild camping with staying in a guesthouse or motel. You can do the route over 6 days (cycling between 70-150km/day), or shorten the distances and extend the length of the trip. You should be reasonably fit to undertake this route and your bike should be able to handle gravel riding and have enough gears to cope with some climbs.

# FULL ITINERARY & RESOURCES

For the full itinerary, route details, more photos, bike rental options and detailed descriptions of the accommodations and dining visit [BicycleSouth.co.za](http://BicycleSouth.co.za) or [click here](https://bicyclesouth.co.za/2017/10/karoo-to-kleinbaai/).

# HIGHLIGHTS
* Amazing rock formations @poi[Kogmanskloof pass](5245089) and the quaint historic town of Montagu.
* The challenging @poi[Ouberg pass](4993647) with its smooth flowing decent.
* Vast, beautiful semi-desert Karoo landcapes and epic wild camping under starry night skies.
* The legendary roadside pub and oasis @poi[Ronnies Sex Shop](4993650)
* The warm hospitality at the @poi[Karoo Moon Motel](4993651) in Barrydale and @poi[Breede River Queen](5245097) near Malgas
* Fueling up on mouthwatering grub at @poi[Diesel & Creme restaurant](4993655)
* Crossing the Breede River by pontoon at @poi[Malgas](4993658)
* The rolling green farmlands of the Overberg with a variety of swimming and fishing spots 
* Serenity at the little seaside village of @poi[Kleinbaai](4993664)

# MUST KNOW
* **Best time to go.** The cooler months of Spring and Autumn are the best. That said expect high daytime temperatures and cold nights.
* **Accommodation** is in a mix of guest cottages, motels and wild camping with the route designed to allow the traveler to be spontaneous. 
* **Getting there.** The route starts in Worcester which can be accessed either by shuttle bus or by train. Check train schedule as the train usually arrives in the evening and you may need to overnight in Worcester.
* **Water & Food.** Take lots of water, especially when cycling through the remote semi desert Karoo area where water is scarce. Food and supplies can be found at various shops and restaurants along the route.
* **Gear.** Take warm clothes for the evenings and sun protection for the day. We found that cycling in a loose long sleeve cotton top is a good way to keep the sun off.
* **Navigation.** Take a good printed map showing the area in detail. There is not always mobile reception so you can’t rely on GPS navigation.
* **Road Conditions.** You will be riding primarily on roads with no bike lanes and car and truck traffic. You should be comfortable riding in some amount of traffic. Please ride responsibly and stay alert.

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Karoo to Kleinbaai

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