Travel to Cape Town for the Golden Valley MTB Challenge

Taking place on 16 June 2018 at Golden Valley, Worcester Heaven and Hills MTB Challenge is an exciting fixture on the Western Cape cycling calendar, bringing together cycling pros and enthusiasts from across the country. If you’re planning to travel to Cape Town for the MTB Challenge at Golden Valley, we’ve put together the ultimate Cape Town travel guide!

Discover Worcester

Situated just off the N1 highway, the main route to travel to Cape Town from up-country, Worcester plays host to the 2018 Golden Valley MTB Challenge. A picturesque and historic town, the “best-kept secret in the Boland” is set at the foot of majestic mountains against a backdrop of luscious vineyards and sweeping green valleys.

Worcester is home to an exciting variety of experiences. Whether it’s cycling, food and wine tasting, or bygone architecture that tickles your travel fancy, Worcester has something for everyone to enjoy. And there’s no better place from which to launch your adventures into the Boland than the family-friendly Golden Valley - the starting point of the 2018 Worcester Heaven and Hills MTB Challenge.

Top 5 experiences in Worcester

1. Go on a Big 5 safari at the Fairy Glen Private Game Reserve. Alternatively, swap the 4x4 vehicle for a horse, and enjoy a galloping good game viewing experience.
2. Visit the Karoo Desert National Botanical Gardens, which are famous for being the only true succulent gardens in the Southern Hemisphere.
3. The Kleinplasie Living Open-Air Museum will allow you to step back in time and experience the lifestyle of the early Cape pioneer farmers.
4. Play a round of golf at the Worcester Golf Club, an 18-hole course designed by Gary Player.
5. Enjoy wine tasting along the Worcester Wine Route, which forms part of Cape Route 62 (the longest wine route in the world).

Explore the Cape Winelands

Once the dust has settled on the 2018 Golden Valley Casino MTB Challenge, head inland to enjoy world-class wine tasting in the Cape Winelands. Follow Route 62 towards Robertson to stop in at award-winning cellars, or travel to Cape Town via the N1 highway to visit the historic winemaking towns of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.

Home to South Africa’s grandest wine estates, you’re sure to find a vintage to suit your palate while wine tasting in the Western Cape.

Make Memories in the Mother City

Anyone giving you South Africa travel advice will tell you that Cape Town is a must-visit city. Set at the foot of world-famous Table Mountain and flanked by two oceans, the Mother City is a feast for the eyes - and the senses! Here, you can treat your taste buds to world-class cuisines, party like an inner-city local, embark on land-based or water-based adventures and indulge in art and history. Plus, it’s easy to travel to Cape Town from Worcester. Just keep following the N1 highway until you see the flat-topped 7th Natural Wonder of the World looming over the city - the one which locals casually refer to as “The Mountain”.

Your Cape Town travel guide

• Head to the V&A Waterfront for some retail therapy. As the most-visited tourist destination in South Africa, the hype surrounding this vibrant working harbour is real. Home to great restaurants, friendly pubs, designer stores and artisanal crafts - not to mention the Two Oceans Aquarium - it’s easy to spend an entire day here.
• Take the cable car to the summit of Table Mountain and soak up the breathtaking views of the City Bowl and its surrounding azure ocean. If you’re up for an adventure, you can skip the cableway and follow one of the exciting hiking trails to the top.
• Immerse yourself in South African history at Robben Island, the site where former President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. This hauntingly emotive museum is accessed by ferry from the V&A Waterfront.
• Go to the beach! If you’ve travelled to Cape Town for the June 16th Golden Valley MTB Challenge, don’t let the winter weather put you off a stroll along one of Cape Town’s famous beaches. The locals know that the Cape Town winter gets some of the best “summer” days, so when the sun is out, head to Clifton, Camps Bay or Llandudno for some Vitamin Sea.
• Explore the Southern Peninsula on a self-drive tour. From Cape Town, head along the coastal road to Hout Bay and then take Chapman’s Peak Drive (or Chappies, to locals). Be sure to stop at one of the viewpoints along the way - this drive is famous for its cliff top ocean views! Passing through the coastal villages of Noordhoek, Kommetjie and Scarborough, continue to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, where you can view the breathtaking rocky promontory that marks the point where the warm Indian Ocean meets the cold Atlantic. On return as you travel to Cape Town, stop to view the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach in Simonstown, and try to make some time for a stroll through the world-famous Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Newlands.

Go Whale Watching in Hermanus

Hermanus is a delightful coastal town famous for its land-based whale watching, which is considered the best in the world. Between June and November each year, thousands of visitors descend on Hermanus to view Southern Right whales birthing and caring for their calves. If you’re in the Western Cape for the Golden Valley MTB Challenge, you might be lucky enough to spot these gentle giants from land, on a cruise or from the air on a scenic flight.

Everything You Need to Know About the Golden Valley MTB Challenge

Starting at Golden Valley Casino, three thrilling cycling routes will see participants take on the rugged landscapes of the Boland to claim prizes from Aquila, ATKV Goudini Spa, Fairy Glen Game Reserve, Golden Valley Casino, Ceres Zipline and more.

A fun day out for families, the 2018 Worcester Heaven and Hills MTB Challenge will feature food stalls, kiddie’s entertainment and wine and beer stands. So, gear up, load your bikes, bring the kids and travel to Cape Town for some true-blue Boland cycling action at Golden Valley Casino!