| For hikers, the Appalachian Trail at 2175 miles or the | | | | carry tents or sleeping bags. |
| Pacific Crest Trail at 2650 miles are both epic | | | | Meals along the way generally consist of South |
| journeys. For a musher, crossing the finish line of the | | | | African traditional fare such as marog (wild spinach), |
| Iditarod sled dog race at milepost 1150 is a | | | | wildspastei (venison pie), babotie (curry), potjiekos |
| monumental achievement. Now mountain bikers have | | | | (pot food) and they easily meet the basic dietary |
| their own holy grail-The Freedom Trail-a 1450-mile | | | | requirements (and the appetites) of multi-day cyclists. |
| mountain bike trail running across the interior of South | | | | In the morning you'll also leave with a packed lunch |
| Africa from Durban to Capetown. You can expect | | | | and ample water to keep you going. Water is |
| weeks on end of dirt road and dirt track riding that | | | | available at all accommodation stops and about every |
| runs through wilderness areas, national parks, nature | | | | 2-3 hours at points between the accommodation |
| reserves and conservancies. | | | | stops. |
| Conceived as a project to support rural economic | | | | The Freedom Trail is open to the public throughout |
| development and sustainable tourism, this | | | | the year. However, there are sections where it goes |
| long-distance mountain bike trail is already bringing | | | | through privately owned land as well as proclaimed |
| tangible benefits to the communities. But the trail also | | | | protected areas. Here you need to obtain a |
| offers riders entry into the rich natural and cultural | | | | Traversing Permit in advance so that the respective |
| heritage of South Africa, and provides a testing but | | | | land managers will be notified of the dates that you |
| rewarding way to explore the region. | | | | will be riding. |
| The Freedom Trail has been in existence for less | | | | You can ride the Freedom Trail in sections or as one |
| than five years and already it's a fully serviced trail | | | | continuous long-distance ride over several weeks. |
| with accommodation points typically 3-4 hours apart. | | | | Most itineraries are based on a daily riding speed of |
| The accommodation included nature reserve | | | | 6-10 mph. There are some sections which will be |
| cottages, village guest houses, refurbished caves, | | | | slower and others which are faster. However, every |
| farm houses, country hotels, game lodges even a | | | | day should offer mixed riding surfaces. They are also |
| occasional Boer War block house. With a little | | | | based on a daily riding time of either around 6 hours |
| advance planning and reservations you can ride | | | | riding which allows for an early start, a mid ride break |
| secure in the knowledge that a warm meal and | | | | and a mid-afternoon finish for generally comfortable |
| comfortable bed awaits you at the end of each day. | | | | touring. If you want to slow it down or crank it up a |
| And since all accommodation stops are fully serviced, | | | | bit, daily distances can be changed and planned |
| providing bedding and towels, there's no need to | | | | overnight stops shifted with relative ease. |