Explore, Experience & Ride the Mighty Matopos !
Sivadia Cycle Tours presents “Riding the Mighty Matopos”
The mountain biking tour is tailor made, with varying route distances and group preferences.
Getting there …
The group will gather at the airport for the flight to Bulawayo accompanied by some members of the Sivadia team while the other team members travel by road taking the bikes. Please note that British passport holders will require visas which can be obtained at the airport in Bulawayo at a cost of US$ 55.00 for a single entry.
The first evening is spent at a lovely venue in the historic town of Bulawayo were riders will be treated with true Zimbabwean style before heading off into the rolling hills of the Matopos.
The Ride…
Bulawayo – Camp Dwala
Day 1 – approximately 50km 3-4 hours
After breakfast the riders will get ready for their first day of exploring the magical Matopos.
The days riding starts off with a short ride through the town of Bulawayo before setting off down fast single track to an outlying suburb of Byo – Waterford. After Waterford the riders pick up another single track and head south to a high point with views of the great hill down hill, fairly technical, across a small weir and up to a dirt road that leads to Bonsa Mine, Matobo Hills as well as the Umsingwani river catchment area. From this point it is single track downhill.
After 1km the route veers off onto a fast flowing single track that heads down to the How Mine Dam– this piece can be tricky. From the dam the riders will ride Jeep track and head around to the back of the Dam Wall.
The route then turns back towards the Motobo Hills following single track as the riders work their way across the Umzingwane River and on to the Old Bulawayo Rd. Before heading towards the three main climbs of the day the riders will wind their way through a former Game Ranch. Once across the Umtshabezi River it is all up hill to the top of the Matobo escarpment. The views and surrounding scenery are surreal on the way up and even better once the climb has been conquered. From there the route takes the riders to Camp Dwala, the second night stop where lunch, showers and an afternoon of leisure awaits.
Camp Dwala – Camp Dwala
Day 2 – approx 92km 7-10 hours
Day two starts off by riding back off the Conservancy the same way that you rode on but soon after leaving the conservancy turning left and heading off on some single track over dwala and crossing over the Mtshabezi river, which is quite small at this stage. After crossing over the Old Gwanda Road you will get onto paths and head in a general westerly direction. You will enjoy some fast flowing single track and cross over one of the major rivers of the Matopos, the Tuli river although again it is relatively small. You will cross it again much further south and it will have grown quite considerably in size.
The route follows single track until it meets the old back route in to Toghwana Dam. You will follow this into the National Park and down to Toghwana Dam. Again pretty much downhill all the way but enjoy it as you know what will be coming later on. You then follow a dirt road over the Toghwana river and all the way down to the southern Matopos. You will turn in an easterly direction on single track again. The lowest point of the ride is the Tuli River at 1180m, and the highest point at the top of Mwazi at 1565m. The climb ascends 500m within 15km’s and is said to be the toughest part of the day.
The climb is tackled in three tough steps, with the first step involving a portage up a rocky path, but is rewarded with a refreshing swim in the Amadzimba Pearls before tackling the next step. The climb up the Dananombe Dwala, the second big climb of the day, is worth the views, before heading onto the final climb of the day up to the roof of the Matobo Hills, Mwazi. Riders are then rewarded with the first substantial descent down a “dwala” to the valley below.
Burbling streams will be found along these sections of the ride before Mwazi, where one can cool off and enjoy a well-deserved snack break. The route crosses over a dam wall before reaching the Old Gwanda road, with no major river crossings, and heads into the Dwala Conservancy where game can be seen. Riders will cross the high vlei’s of the eastern Matopos, which are home to 23 indigenous orchids. The days ride ends at Camp Dwala where one can cool off and enjoy a relaxing swim in the natural pools of the Mvuru stream.
Highlights of Day 2: Crossing the Mtshabezi river, Toghwana Dam, Toghwana River, Masiye Camp, CJ Rhodes Ndebele Cultural Village, Tuli River, Amadzimba Pearls, Amazimba Cave, Mangwa, Rushongwe, Bata, Bughwa, Sotcha – the longest single ridge of granite in the Matopos extending for over 8km’s, Mwazi, Matoppo Mission, Old Gwanda Road.
Camp Dwala – Camp Dwala
Day 3 – approx 70km 6-8hrs
Day 3 is another very interesting ride, crossing the Mtshabezi Gorge not once, but twice. The climb to the summit of Tshingengoma will be remembered along with the spectacular views. There are again lots of historic sites and views en-route.
The start of the day takes one down to the Mtshabezi River, where a few small portages may be necessary. The trail then heads into the Mtshabezi Gorge, which has a depth in excess of 300m and the Mtshshasha Falls, being the highest in the Matopos. The route descends for a short while before climbing out under the canopy of Brachystegia tamrandoides (Mountain Acacia) behind the Intukabeni range. Riders will have to push and carry their bikes for a short while in this section of the route. The route passes Shale School, a steady climb that takes the riders to Tshingengoma, a 350m climb from the gorge with spectacular views. The reward is a steep “dwala” descent that will test the skills, whilst heading to Diana’s Pool and onto Esibomvu. At this point the riders will have reached the eastern most point of the Matobo Hills World Heritage site after crossing the Nsezi river which marks the most eastern side of the Matobo Hills.
But this is not the end, as the end of the days ride is at Camp Dwala. The ride is then easy to the Mtshabezi valley and across the river once again. Then a few steady climbs and the last big “Dwala” ascent up Gorfinga and finishing off with a mild 5km ride to the end of the days adventures at Camp Dwala.
Highlights of Day 3: Mquilembegwe, Gorfinga, Horse Shoe Canyon, Sagonya Rock, Matsenyane River, Mtshabezi River, Mtshabezi Gorge, Silloti, Intukabeni Range, Bembi, Shale School, Pata, Tshingengoma, Tshingengoma 1896 Battle site, Rhodes Indaba site, Diana’s Pools, Orbicular Granite, Nsezi River, Esibomvu, Qama Dam, 1896 Pioneer Cemetery and memorial, Fort Umlugulu, Nsezi River, Mbezingwe B/C, Mbezingwe Hill, Adams Farm, Mquelembegwe, Mvuru stream.
Camp Dwala – Camp Dwala
Day 4 – approx 50km 3 – 5hrs
The last day is also the easiest day. You will set off from Camp Dwala again but this time heading south easterly through some private farms and then into communal lands on jeep track and single track. The route will take riders along the top of the Mtshabezi gorge coming out onto the Old Gwanda Road briefly at Silobi Business Centre. You will then get back onto single track on a very scenic route heading in a northern direction. At the end of this you will cross back over the Old Gwanda Rd and head back to Camp Dwala.
Highlights of Day 4: Chesterfield dam, Mtshabezi Gorge, Silobi Business Centre, stunning scenery, rare orchids, traditional African village.
Rides are subject to change but rest assured all rides in the Matopos will blow you away.
For further information email: david@sivadia.co.za / deidre@sivadia.co.za / amyjane@sivadia.co.za
