What is the MUNGA and why do I like it?
THE MUNGA is a 1000-1200km MTB race in the heat of summer on wide open gravel district roads from BFN in the Freestate to Doolhof in Wellington in the Western Cape. It seems easy because you are essentially cycling downhill. But you are also cycling during the day, in the blistering sun, and at night, when it gets seemingly freezing cold. And almost always into a guaranteed headwind. And if you are feeling like a great holiday on the bicycle then you can start with us in Paarl near the finish line and cycle the route in reverse all the way up to BFN for a magical acclimation ride. Join us?
THE MUNGA route summary, rounded kms
- 230km to Vanderkloof
- 180km to Britstown
- 210km to Loxton
- 215km to Sutherland
- 215km to Matroosberg
- 90km to Doolhof
Let’s see what I can remember from previous years.
230kms to RV1 VANDERKLOOF
Start in BFN. During midday. At the Windmill casino. Where there is nervous energy aplenty. About 60kms to the first waterpoint. Dusty and many thorns. Soft sand. Before you get to district roads. That open-up and harden-up. Which means corrugation. Across the bridge. Pass the police station where there is no open shop anymore, but might be a hosepipe on the lawn if you are lucky. Pasop vir die aardvark gate. The last bit to the dam has a bit of a downhill and then a steep tar road climb to the top. Time for some melkies. MUNGA race village 1 at Vanderkloofdam.
180kms to RV2 BRITSTOWN
First through the nature reserve. To skip the 24hr shop we used when cycling up from CPT to BFN. Then through the outskirts of Petrusville and onto the large gravel roads that take you towards home. More fast and flat and windy into Britstown. Now this is way more fun. And the 400km mark at Britstown signals one third of the MUNGA done and a great place to recharge. However certainly no sleeping here because you arrive way too early. MUNGA race village 2 at Britstown.
210kms to RV3 JAKHALSDANS
Razzle dazzle. The road to Loxton can become a long one and the oasis that is Jakhalsdans awaits, on the far site of town. It is somewhere along here where we always fill up with water at the green lawn of the farmer who shot that buck right up on the top of the adjacent koppie. And the last zigzag into Loxton can sometimes be a menace, either in the heat of the day or in the dark of night where you lose track of where you are going. But this too shall en and than you arrive at the vast open space of the Jakhalsdans race village. Nice. MUNGA race village 3 at Loxton.
215kms to RV4 SUTHERLAND
Sutherland here we come. Containers here we come. But first a 100km straight to Fraserburg… and yes it can get very nippy down here, even in December. Getting to Sutherland might seem easier than expected. Or sometimes not at all. This is where the sleep deprivation have taken its toll one me twice before. Once I hid from the wind (to little avail) at the wall at the entrance of the SA large telescope before Sutherland. And another time I fell asleep while cycling on my way there. and ended up in a bush. It happens. But when you get to Sutherland there is a keen sense of ‘now we are going home’. Because the next section is pure bliss. And a different landscape altogether. MUNGA race village 4 at Sutherland.
215kms to RV5 MATROOSBERG
Lets not forget this is the longest section and also the one with the most vertical meters! A climb out of Sutherland leads to a massive long downhill before you turn through a farm an onto a steep climb that leads to the to top of the escarpment. And then down magical Ouberg pass into the Tankwa karoo. Pure bliss. Onto the Tankwa padstal and then aim for the R46 T-junction tar road before the Ceres split. Up Swaarmoed and into the Matroosberg waterpoint close to Klondyke cherry farm. We know this area all to well and I cannot wait to be back.MUNGA race village 5 at Matroosberg.
90kms to FIN at DOOLHOF
Easy on the descent to Ceres, then final water point, and the tar road down Michells pass where you will start te see other riders and people noticing what is going on. All that remains is the Bainskloof pass from the long side but by now your legs are turning by themselves and you can smell the finish line. Then drop down into Doolhof and grab a beer on the lawn with your mates. Home sweet home. Now for some sleep. Until we do it again. MUNGA out and back. Or MUNGA YOYO, whichever tickles your fancy.
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Or ignore cycling UP and DOWN and just send your bicycle to the start line in BFN. With #bicyclecouriers.
