About five years ago, Mitzi Knipe and her husband Louis sold their house in Cape Town and moved to a plot bordering Anysberg Nature Reserve near Laingsburg. Her love of mountain biking has inspired a passion project that's taking the area's tourism industry by storm - The Klein Karoo Gravel Corridor!
What is the Gravel Corridor?
It's a web of gravel roads that can be used as an alternative to the tarred R62. The corridor is suited to SUVs, motorbikes, mountain bikes and gravel bikes.
How did it come about?
I've been a keen mountain biker for years and I have a mild obsession with maps! Since moving to this area, I've spent many hours exploring the countryside on my bike. Local guest farm owners would constantly reach out to ask for route recommendations for their guests, so I decided to make some maps.
About two years ago, an idea started to form: Perhaps I could put together a map of all the mountain-biking routes in the entire area. I had a vision of a Camino of sorts, but for cyclists - one where they could travel by bike and book accommodation for themselves at guest farms along the way.
I approached the ladies at the Montagu Ashton Tourism Association with my plan and they were immediately excited and keen to get on board.
They suggested I expand the scope of the project to include SUVs and motorbikes. It became a route for all adventure seekers who are looking for something a little different.
How do you see the map being used?
As a cyclist, I know how expensive events and multi-day tours can be, but there's no reason why you can't plan your own tour. Say you're a cyclist and you want to explore this part of the world. You can use the map to plot a route, taking daily distances into account, and book accommodation at various guest farms along the way.
I hope it will be a great tool and motivator for people to get out and explore.
What do you love most about this part of the world?
The Anysberg is incredibly special to me. I used to explore this area back when parts of it were still sheep farms - that's before it became part of the reserve. There are a few old jeep tracks that date back to that time, which are now marked as cycling routes.
The terrain can be tough and rocky, but you can cycle up to 80 km here and not come across another soul! Perhaps that tells you a little something about me…
Why do you like mountain biking?
Cycling is my refuge. When you're out on your bike, you have time with your thoughts. It's a chance to think about something other than work. You can dream and ponder and somehow, when you get back home, all your thoughts have organised themselves.
Where can we get the map?
It's available from the tourism office in Montagu, and at biking shops and farm stalls in the area. Some of the guest farms that advertise on the back of the map keep copies, too. We've tried to distribute them all along the R62.
Alternatively, you can download the map from my website - see the address below.
What's next?
We've just completed a map of routes around Ladismith. The goal is to do the same for Prince Albert, De Rust, Calitzdorp and Van Wyksdorp, eventually circling back to Montagu to form a loop.
With help from the Department of Tourism, we would like to erect boards along the R62 and even next to the N1, to indicate where people can turn off to access the Klein Karoo Gravel Corridor.
Read more about the Klein Karoo Gravel Corridor on Mitzi's website makadasadventures.co.za.
