Hanglip Cycle (Running) Trails

Where is Hanglip?

Hanglip is a plantation forestry area situated on the outskirts of Louis Trichardt in Limpopo Province.  Louis Trichardt is a town located 100km north of Polokwane and 100km south of Musina on the N1.  

How to get there?

Hanglip can easily be reached in two wheel drive vehicles.  All cycle routes start and end 2km beyond the plantation gate at the Hanglip Arboretum (23⁰ 00’34’’S; 29⁰ 54’06’’E). 

Directions:

At the traffic circle on the N1 on the northern side of Makhado, turn west into Stubbs Street.  At the Mt Fuji Nissan Dealer/ Kwikspar/ Church turn right (north) into Forestry road.  Follow Forestry road all the way to the Plantation Gate.  Collect a permit from the gate and then continue on the main plantation road to the Hanglip Arboretum, 2km beyond the gate on the left hand side. 

What facilities are available?

Hanglip Arboretum consists of a parking area, picnic site with braai stands and picnic tables.  There is no fresh water available at the parking area.

Costs

There might be an entry fee to the plantation are at the gate, but otherwise the trails are free to ride.

Description of the Trails

Five easy to moderate routes have been marked for cyclists and trail runners.  All trails start and end in the Arboretum Parking area.  Each trail and various sections of the trail are graded from Very Easy to Very Difficult using the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) guidelines and symbols.

GPX tracks of each trail can be found on www.soutpansberg outdoor.co.za and on STRAVA.  Do the Strava challenge and see if you can be the fastest on the routes.

4km Route – Easy

This 4km trail is recommended for small children (4 yrs and older) and beginner riders and trail runners.  It includes easy flowing single tracks and plantation roads.  Sections include Slangpad, River Route and Skilpad.

4 km GPX FILE

8km Route – Easy

The 8km track is an extension of the 4km route.  Perfect for beginner riders and trail runners who want to do a slightly longer route.  It includes easy flowing single track and plantation roads.  Sections include SLANGPAD, RIVER ROUTE, SQUIGGLY and SKILPAD.

8 km GPX FILE

12km Route – Moderate

This route starts with the 4km and 8km routes down SLANGPAD and RIVER ROUTE sections, before ascending up the mountain, via SKILPAD and LEOPARD SPOOR, past Camp Afrika and then contours around the mountain along GRASSPAD from where it descends back down to the start. The route includes spectacular views along the GRASSPAD section.

12 km GPX FILE 

13km Route – Moderate

The route goes up the mountain along the main forestry road past Camp Afrika and then turns off into excellent single tracks through indigenous forests in the BUSHPIG TRAIL section before descending back down to the start.

13km GPX FILE 

22km Route – Moderate

The 22km Route is an extension of the 13 km Route. It goes up past Camp Afrika, JACKAL BUZZARD section and then loops through Songodzwi Village.  It then descends BULBUL and follows excellent single tracks through indigenous forests in the BUSHPIG TRAIL before descending aback to the start.  

22km GPX FILE

Buysdorp Mountain Trips

Buysdorp Mountain Trips (BMT) is a community-based organization in Buysdorp who are laying out trails in the mountains beyond the village.  Buysdorp is a picturesque village situated on in the south-western corner of the Soutpansberg mountains.  At this stage only one trail is available with others to be developed in the near future.  The trails are guide by members of the community.

The Moutoon Trail 8 km trail takes you up and down the kloof.  The first part of the trail crisscrosses a clear flowing stream and is an easy walk through shady gallery forest.  The trees on the route are spectacular with large yellow woods, forest fever trees, tree ferns and water berry trees.  The last part of the trail goes up a steep slope, a rocky traverse and past some caves.  The spectacular view from the top of the slope looks back down the valley.  The last part of the trail drops down to a high waterfall and beautiful pool.  As the river is the main water source for the village, no swimming is allowed in the pool. 

The 8 km trail will take about 2 – 4 hours to complete depending on how fast you walk.  Please note that during the rainy season, the trail could be closed due to flooding.

Who do contact

You will need to make arrangements at least 1 day in advance so that a guide can be organized for your group.  Contact number is: 065 641 2844 (Official) or 063 034 5001 (Keannen).  The cost is R100 per person.

How to get there

Buysdorp 60 km west of Louis Trichardt on the R522.  At the signboard “Buysdorp” turn right.  The drive from this point (R522) to the trail head is +/- 4.7 km.  Drive though the village, past the graveyard (left) and school (right) then take a gravel road to the right and then keep left at the next fork in the road.  Stop at the top of the slope at a “T-junction”. The trail starts just beyond this point.

More interesting information

Buysdorp has a rich and interesting history of Coenraad de Buys and his decedents who settled in the Soutpansberg mountains in the mid 1800’s.

http://debuys.blogspot.com/2011/02/who-was-coenraad-de-buys.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDXF3I4yizc

Local Bird Watching Tours

Samson Mulaudzi

Samson Mulaudzi is a professional bird guide who specializes in birding in the Soutpansberg and Venda areas.  Samson is accredited with Birdlife South Africa and has many year’s experience in guiding.  He is a hop-on guide, meaning that he will travel with you in your car to the birding sites and then guide you in the sites themselves.  He offers full day and half day trips to birding hotspots such as Entabeni, Hanglip, Muirhead Dams, Sagole Big Tree and Thohoyandou Botanical Gardens. Top specials on his trips are Blue-spotted Wood Dove, African Broadbill, Eastern Nicator, Green Twinspot, Bat Hawk and many more. 

Contact Samson to tailor-make your birding experience!

Please visit his website: http://www.birdingsoutpansberg-venda.co.za

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mulaudzims

Email him on: [email protected]

Call or WhatsApp him on: 083 662 9960

Local Culture Tours

Musa Matchume

experienced and knowledgeable guide for cultural and rural lifestyle tours in and around the Soutpansberg, Limpopo province, South Africa.

I can take you on rural CraftArt tours to visit well-known woodcarvers, bead-workers and traditional clay potters in Venda or Tsonga villages. Or we can take trips deeper into the mountain villages to see the legendary lake Fundudzi and experience the holy Thathe Vondo forest. I have extensive knowledge of Tsonga and Venda traditions and know the best places to experience the authentic, colourful, rural life in Limpopo with our traditional craft, art, bead work and textiles.

I am open to discuss customized tour options and am available on whatsapp or can be called or whatsapp-called at:  +27 83 964 5186. My email address is [email protected]

Sagole Big Tree

The Sagole Big Tree is the biggest baobab in the world and therefore should be on everyone’s bucket list to see.  The tree is 34 meters in girth and is estimated to be about 2000 years old.  Although there are other estimations, take it from me, I helped with the carbon dating.  The tree is truly magnificent and has an incredible presence.  There is a huge hollow in the middle of the main stem which people often climb into. 

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