Umbumbulu valley

What I love about KZN is that there is no shortage of great riding topography. Besides having some of the best single track literally out my back door, which keeps us all entertained year round, sometimes we do venture a little further afield. A short 45min drive took us to Virginia Farm in the Umbumbulu valley. 45km of sumptuous single track adorn this sugarcane farm and conservancy. Cycling in sugarcane can be dead boring but thankfully the Stainbank farmers are environmentally inclined and have left large pockets of subtropical forest crammed with palms and aloes in many of the ravines while grassland slopes intersperse the cane fields. A clover-leaf of trails criss-cross this beautiful farm overlooking the Beaumont-Eston valley.

Sweeping views over the Umbumbulu conservancy. Vaughan and Karen followed a fabulous track which snuggly followed the edge of the gorge.( Unfortunately I forgot my camera, but my cellphone didnt do too badly).

 

Climbing through sugar can brought us to the edge of the Umbumbulu ravine, we skirted along the edge dropping down into dense sub-tropical ravines.

 

The Beaumont-Eston conservancy is one of the oldest in the Province

 

Karen, Vaughan and Ben ponder sugar: Sugarcane covers a massive percentage of KZNs land surface and is responsible for the destruction of most of our indigenous coastal forest. Green deserts! How many sugars do you want in your cup of coffee. Makes you think doesn

 

Virginia farm does however boast some stunning samples of indigenous grassland and forest.

 

Through wetlands like this one teaming with diversity, we enjoyed an immaculate trail maintained by the farmer simply because of a keen interest to share his gem of KZN.

Bridget Ringdahl

Pedaling has been natural to me since the tender age of three. Cycling is practical, fun, it gets you to the corner café, across countries, continents, keeps you fit and is by far the most efficient and environmentally friendly transport option around, being virtually carbon neutral.

I live in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal which is great cycling country, within 10 minutes I can be bouncing along some of the finest single tracks in the province.

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4 thoughts on “Umbumbulu valley”
  • kathfourie
    Commented on

    Cool blog Bridg! Been perving the Himalayas trip (although I am feeling brave in my pyjamas and slippers, with the last 15km of Sundays ride blocked out of my memory for self-preservation reasons)...will definitely subscribe to this one!

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    • Bridget Ringdahl
      Commented on

      Hey thanks for commenting ;-) Wait for the next up and coming post: Kath Fourie on the epic Mt Gilboa experience ;-) A beginner ride Ha! Would love for you to see those himals one day

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  • plant abundance
    Commented on

    Wonderful, Bridget. so glad you have posted something again! I love the way you manage to share a subtle eco message along with your stories of local adventures. Am very impressed with your cellphone pics. Love Nikki

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    • Bridget Ringdahl
      Commented on

      thanks Nikki, when are you putting up another post? have say I rather enjoy yours !

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