Mariepskop in the mist!
Awesome views from Mariepskop. The runway at Hoedpruit can be seen top right.
So you've all ridden Sani Pass, but have you thought about doing SA's second biggest altitude gaining pass? The road climbs 1100m over 13,7 km and offers a variety of scenery which includes indigenous mountain forests, remote waterfalls, rocky plateaus and some of the finest scenery you will find anywhere in South Africa. Getting to Mariepskop is a bit of a mission and requires precise navigation. We explore the area and take a look at Hoedspruit, and unpack some of the folklore about wars in 1846 and skeletons littering the Mariepskop cliffs. Then there is the story about Steinhaeckers Horsemen, Harry Wolhuter and other dubious heroes of the time. Read the article, enjoy the videos - then set your dates and go and klap this one.
What makes this pass unique is that it is a dead-end and that means very few people take this road less travelled. We filmed the entire pass and the waterfall access road during April in fairly misty conditions, and have just released a brand new 8 part video set covering this big pass. It's no big deal for an experienced biker, but the visual rewards and sheer variety make this a bucket list pass.
Here's the link and it's open to BMW Club members till next Wednesday: https://bit.ly/2NIYQHa
It's a beautiful area. I didn't get as far as the top of the pass, ran out of time, but I did go down to the Blyde Rivier from that side
Start of Mariepskop pass.
Blyde Rivier camp.
Back up from the camp to the Mariepskop pass road.
This brings back fond memories - I rode up there almost exactly a year ago today - thanks Robby.
I have almost the identical photo, to your one above, as well 
Mariepskop really is well worth a visit. My approach was from the north-west, on the R531, so I did not have to negotiate the testing road through Bushbuckridge that you did.
| © BMW Motorrad Club Cape 2006 - 2020 | Back to live site | Site built and hosted by HoneyBadger.net |
