SUMMERPLACE EXPANDS BEGINNER/NOVICE/INTERMEDIATE MTB TRAILS NETWORK

David Baber and his team have extended the trails network at Summerplace Game Reserve to better cater for Beginner, Novice and Intermediate mountain bikers and offer more distance for Advanced riders. Here’s what’s new and why you should ride it as soon as possible…

Summerplace Game Reserve has always offered exciting trails for Advanced, skilled mountain bikers. But during 2024, landowner and avid mountain biker, David Baber, has been on a quest to add more trails that appeal to Beginner, Novice and Intermediate mountain bikers. He’s also made some of the existing trails less intimidating.

Earlier this year, the Orange Route was built. A mostly singletrack 23 km trail that explores the northwest section of the reserve, including three ascents and descents of a hill that adds a decent amount of elevation and some special views.

There’s now a wide range of MTB routes for Beginner, Novice and Intermediate riders. Photo: Glacier Waterberg Traverse

Over the winter, David and his team have added trails to the Langwater section of the reserve – on the left as you drive from the main gate to the Summerplace Restaurant. This is primarily a savanna area with very gradual climbs and descents. This allowed for the building of trails that link the existing small game-drive roads to deliver a Brown Route, that measures 28.4km and a longer Yellow Route, that measures 39.2km.

The Brown Route is ideal for Beginner and Intermediate level riders, starting on Aloe trail and exploring the south eastern area of the reserve.

Aloe’s rocky roll-downs made it somewhat intimidating for many riders in the past, but the trails team has added loads of soil to ensure they’re now roll-downs and more accessible to a wider range of riders. These roll-downs deliver the required momentum to fully enjoy one of the most fun, flowy trails at Summerplace Game Reserve.

Mellow Miles, Killing Kilometres, Salad, Eco Mode and Great Gnu are all new trails, which take the Brown Route into the wild-life rich plains area of the reserve, where Giraffe, Zebra, Tsessebe, Kudu and Impala are regular sightings from the saddle.

The new Pink Route is 15km long on gravel roads and jeep track – perfect for Beginners. Photo: Glacier Waterberg Traverse

The Yellow Route follows much of the Brown, but is more appropriate for Advanced and Intermediate riders looking to add distance with some engaging features.  The Yellow Route previously included Marula Flow, Marula, Aloe and Rooibos trails. It still has those, but has a fresh trail called Chicken Legs, which is now the descent off Marula Hill. It includes some switchback turns that have been superbly crafted with packed rocks. The switchbacks only occupy a short segment near the top and near the bottom of this descent, which has stunning views of the Waterberg and is a load of fun to ride.

Baber has also designed additional Beginner, Novice and Intermediate routes on less challenging sections of the original routes. So there is now one Beginner route and Four Novice routes totalling 78km in distance and four Intermediate routes that offer a total distance of 94km. With 15km of jeep track and gravel roads, the new Pink Route is designed specifically for Beginners.

David Baber checking the rocky switchback turns on Chicken Legs trail. Photo: Glacier Waterberg Traverse

“With our gravity trails now well established and attracting both high profile events and recreational riders seeking a challenging trails network, we have spent this year focussing on adding trails that all mountain bikers can enjoy. We now have a total of 12 mountain biking routes – one of which is specifically for Beginners, four routes suitable for Novices, four routes for Intermediate riders, two routes for Advanced riders and one route for Expert riders,” said Baber.

Summerplace Game Reserve offers a wide range of self-catering accommodation as well as a restaurant that serves meals for hungry mountain bikers. To book your stay at Summerplace Game Reserve to ride the new trails, click here.

Many of the new trails will be incorporated into the two-stage Glacier Waterberg Traverse, which takes place at Summerplace Game Reserve from 9-11 May 2025. To find out more, or to enter, click here.

 

SUMMERPLACE GAME RESERVE: COMPANY YEAR-END GETAWAY SPECIAL

Looking for somewhere fresh for your end-of-year corporate getaway? Summerplace Game Reserve, just over two hour’s drive from Pretoria, offers an authentic fully catered bushveld experience in the Waterberg that will deliver a meaningful, memorable end-of-year send-off.

Whether it’s a celebration of a successful year; a strategic team-building exercise, an opportunity to entertain key clients; or a bosberaad, Summerplace Game Reserve is equipped to ensure you can focus on your objective in a tranquil setting that’s removed from the city hustle, but which has all the necessary modern amenities.

We are running a 15% discount on a midweek three-night, full-board rate if booking is done before 10 October 2024. We can accommodate up to 60 people in our various lodges and we have an on-site restaurant to manage all the catering.

The consistent maintenance of our roads means that all vehicles can manage the drive once the route leaves the tar road. Most of the drive is on the N1 freeway with the final section on good quality tar and gravel roads through the towns of Modimole and Vaalwater.

Summerplace Game Reserve regularly hosts corporate functions. From Blue Chip companies to small and medium-sized businesses, we are able to customise your corporate getaway to your needs. With unlimited, always-on WiFi, solar power and borehole water, Summerplace Game Reserve is equipped to operate off the grid and ensure your corporate event runs smoothly from start to finish.

“As the word spreads, more and more companies are choosing Summerplace for their business breakaways. We are remote enough to be removed from the company premises and related distractions, but close enough that the travel time isn’t a challenge from Pretoria and Johannesburg,” said Simone Baber, Director Summerplace Game Reserve.

“Because we are able to customise our corporate breakaways to each client’s needs and don’t just offer a singular package, we have hosted quite a variety of company bookings in the past 18 months. The fact that we have luxury, self-catering lodges and also offer a fully catered package gives companies flexibility too,” added Baber.

“We needed a place where our staff could relax and be spoiled by us as a company.  We wanted comfortable, upmarket accommodation, good food, and a place where we could relax and play a few games.  We also wanted an option where we could bring our own drinks when we relaxed at the lodges. Summerplace offered all the above and more,” said Wilna van Heerden of DNA Outsourcing (Pty) Ltd, a HR and payroll solutions company that recently booked a company breakaway at Summerplace.

As one of the leading wilderness trails destinations in South Africa, Summerplace Game Reserve offers a network of engaging trails for mountain biking, trail running and hiking. We have a fleet of rental eBikes – ideal for those that don’t have their own bikes but who want a riding experience in the bush.

With over 40 species of large mammals and more than 140 bird Summerplace Game Reserve is a wildlife haven as well as a Waterberg region conservation hub for Roan Antelope, Sable Antelope, Tsessebe and Mountain Reedbuck. We also offer sundowner drinks excursions or game drives to bid a scenic farewell to the day.

To find out more about our corporate conference options, email bookings@summerplacegamereserve.com

THE HIDEOUT – A NEW GLAMPING EXPERIENCE AT SUMMERPLACE

Summerplace Game Reserve is pleased to officially launch The Hideout, our new ultra-luxury glamping experience where you can get the best of plush accommodation and gourmet food in the silence and sanctuary of the South African bush.

The Hideout features 10 brand new ultra-luxury glamping units, each privately located to ensure it’s just you and the Bushveld. Each unit sleeps two has been designed with glass doors and windows as well as a covered porch to offer unrestricted views of the bush and a feeling of serenity.

The Hideout glamping tents are ideal for couples in search of a romantic escape. Relaxation is the priority and meals are prepared by our gourmet chef and served in the on-site restaurant, a pleasant short walk away from each unit. Each glamping unit has a kitchenette with bar fridge and coffee station to ensure refreshments are close at hand. There’s also fine linen, electric lighting, power points and appropriately placed carpets to ensure optimal comfort.

There’s a private wood-fired hot tub at each glamping unit where you can enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas of the Waterberg bush while relaxing under the stars or savouring a sundowner with a difference. Each Hideout unit features an en-suite bathroom with a twin basin and a shower with internal and external doors.

“We’re excited to expand our accommodation options with The Hideout glamping units. We have steadily been growing our guest options over the past couple of years to ensure we cater for everyone that loves to spend time in the bush. The Hideout glamping is a dinner, bed and breakfast offering, which is ideal for those who don’t want to think about meal preparation during their stay at Summerplace,” said Simone Baber, Managing Director, Summerplace Game Reserve.

With a full-time chef at the Summerplace Restaurant, gourmet meals are prepared daily. The Summerplace Restaurant is the social hub of Summerplace Game Reserve. There’s a fireplace for when it’s cold and a swimming pool for when it’s hot. A drinks bar, uncapped WIFI, a big-screen TV and ample comfortable seating both indoors and on the veranda make the Summerplace Restaurant the ideal chill zone before and after meals.

There’s also the bike rental kiosk where you can rent regular mountain bikes and e-bikes as well as the Summerplace shop where you can find a range of Summerplace apparel and interesting mementos. Sundowner game drives can also be booked to ensure you get an opportunity to interact with a wide range of wildlife, including giraffe, zebra, Eland, Kudu, Roan Antelope, Sable Antelope, Tsessebe and much more!

While The Hideout glamping units are ideal for couples, they’re also appropriate for group or family bookings, able to accommodate up to 20. Although each glamping unit is private, they’re within a short walk of each other. The king size beds can be separated to two single beds on request.

To find out more or to book your special glamping bushveld break at Summerplace Game Reserve, click here.

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