THE PANORAMA ROUTE

with more than 68% of the province’s land dedicated to agriculture, mpumalanga is arguably south africa’s most naturally endowed province.

For cycling, this means lots of fresh air, lush green scenery, and – due to low traffic volumes – empty roads and peace and quiet for kays on end.

The province is considered the spiritual home of SA road cycling, and if the measure of this is climbing, then that assessment is spot-on. The mountain passes are famous: Robbers Pass has ever-changing landscapes and is steeped in history, while Long Tom Pass is a 35km beast of a climb that winds up from the sleepy hollow of Sabie to its highest point at 2 150m.

All of this can be lived out on the Panorama Route, a scenic road trip that connects several landmarks and points of interest in the province – including the two passes mentioned above. But it makes you work hard straight out the gate, starting at the foot of Long Tom Pass; and it takes on several more passes as you make your way through towns such as Lydenburg, Sabie, Graskop and Pilgrim’s Rest.

The highlight of any trip on this route is God’s Window, which is considered one of the most scenic vantage points in the country and offers breathtaking views of waterfalls, mountain gorges and the stunning landscapes of the province. If you’re lucky enough to be there on a clear day, you could see as far as the border with Mozambique. Then, a mere 10km away you’ll find Graskop – a favourite haunt for local pros, who consider the little town one of South Africa’s best riding destinations.

The Panorama route, or parts thereof, form part of most road events that happen in Mpumalanga. These include the Mpumalanga Tour, the Bestmed Jock Tour and Classique, and the Panorama Tour; so if you don’t want to plan your own trip, simply enter an event. DISTANCE: 386KM (DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU START AND FINISH) ELEVATION: 13 864M (ALL MOUNTAIN PASSES) GRADING: INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED