With more than a year and a half of reconstructing, felling and other such rehabilitation activities, the Tokai MTB Trails closure during 2015 left a massive hole in the lives of most Cape Town based mountain bikers. And with only a few alternative legal riding spots available during that time, the reopening of these trails were eagerly awaited (even if it meant riding on limited days). December 2016 finally saw the gates reopen, and the weekends-only trail period kicked off, during which Tokai MTB and SANparks have, and will continuously assess compliance and any environmental issues, to gauge whether the trails will be opened during the week also.
Seven months after the reopening, the Trail Daze crew saddled up to explore and sample everything on offer at the foot of the Constantiaberg mountains. Our aim was to ride trails specifically catered to longer travel trail bikes, typically used at the local Enduro events. Trials like Bridal Path, Cobra and DH 1 thru 3 seemed to fit the bill as it incorporated some properly tight corners, technical rock gardens and also high-speed flow sections. Even with 7 of the 21 trails currently still closed for maintenance or safety, there is still definitely more than enough riding to be done and something for everyone.
Starting things off at Bootleggers for the pre-ride caffeine fix and defrosting on a cold winters morning seems to be the tradition. It also serves as a safe parking spot, and the quick pedal along the tar road to the trails is perfect for getting the blood flowing before the main ascent.
R75 a pop for the Tokai trail permit is a bit more than what other places charge, but the TMNP permit includes Tokai (and all the other recently legalised trails around Table Mountain) and will only set you back about R600 annually.
Riding the Tokai MTB trails, you will inevitably encounter one or more of these fellas. They are synonymous with the greater Tokai area but other than being a nuisance do not pose any* threat to humans and usually get out the way very quickly.
This project is made possible by:
Tokai Forest GPS: 34°03'37.0"S 18°24'55.8"E
Riders : Mark Hopkins | Andrew Savage | Roman Kumpers
All images by Ewald Sadie
instagram: @ewaldsadie
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Captain Fastbastard Mayhem, Jul 31 2017 08:36
Love that place....
capediver, Jul 31 2017 11:03
Great pics!!
Headshot, Jul 31 2017 11:41
Awesome article and pics!
splat, Jul 31 2017 11:55
Amazing shots !
(great gap in the Cape winter weather)
tubed, Jul 31 2017 12:16
Great write up and pics.
One critique - sorry to say the baboons aren't "a nuisance", its simply a docile troop of baboons trying desperately to survive amidst of us removing most of their habitat. Perhaps a different choice of words, certainly your pics depict them in a dignified way.
Hairy, Jul 31 2017 01:06
Last pic made me hungry ... and I just finished lunch!
NicoBoshoff, Jul 31 2017 01:50
Hope the baboons' feelings weren't hurt when they read that...
Headshot, Jul 31 2017 03:16
Nah, they get it all the time.
popcorn_skollie, Jul 31 2017 11:01
Can I please get a hires copy of this image?
PLEEEEEEEZ
marko35s, Jul 31 2017 11:23
That is stunning isn't it.
Bibi, Aug 01 2017 01:24
Many many good memories over the last 30 or so years
Many good friends made ....
Jewbacca, Aug 01 2017 01:56
Some of those pictures make fairly mundane obstacles look so gnarly!
Like Bibi said, 30 years of goodness. I remember riding the old Elephants Eye hiking trails on my MB1 in the early 90's wondering if life could get any better.... the trails have and the current initiative is hopefully on track for amazingly awesome things to come.
fusion01, Aug 02 2017 07:52
"R75 a pop for the Tokai trail permit is a bit more than what other places charge, but the TMNP permit includes Tokai (and all the other recently legalised trails around Table Mountain) and will only set you back about R600 annually."
Daylight robbery. And 'only' R600?!!? Thank the lord! Cheap as chips eh?! I beg to differ. Cost of living right about now is high, 'ain't NOTHING cheap and for R50 a pop I'd be singing praises but this leaves a bad taste in my mouth. We live to pay (high) taxes in SA, even when riding a bike! Signing off, The Grinch.
MTB-Troll, Sep 02 2017 07:18
Tokai is a very expensive, a bit of a rip off if you don't own a card...
enduroist, Apr 24 2018 05:02
Where does one get a day pass?