Slow Bicycle Riding in Hogsback, Eastern Cape, South Africa

The Slow Movement advocates a cultural shift toward slowing down life's fast pace. It began as a protest against the fast pace of life and suggests a life style where people can again appreciate the environment as well as other aspects of our lives. Over time, this developed into a subculture in other areas, such as Slow food, Slow Travel, Slow gardening, Slow art and many more.

Slow riding in Hogsback developed from this concept to introduce the city guests to the scenic countryside of the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Slow Travel and Slow Riding have become a way of escaping the hustle and bustle and stress of the fast pacing city life. It is a way of connecting with nature again, taking time to stop, admire, take photos and appreciate the surroundings. All too often the end destination is what travelers have in mind instead of taking time to visit interesting spots along the road, and to engage with people traveling with you. Slow bicycle riding is thus also part of ecotourism.

Slow riding or slow bicycle riding is a concept that becomes very popular with bike riders and is now also one of the activities to enjoy in Hogsback.

Overnight facilities in Hogsback range from comfortable self-catering cottages to hotels, backpackers and camping. Good food is part of the experience and a number of small restaurants in Hogsback cater for the hungry travelers.

There are several routes for day trips. The dirt road to Cathcart is a 49km ride, another option is the road through the Yellow wood forest, which is a beautiful trip through the indigenous forest on the way to Stutterheim. There are also a number of shorter bicycle routes in the forests in and around Hogsback.

Following the road to Cathcart means an early morning ride starting at the T-junction in Hogsback. This is a dirt track through beautiful countryside. Watch the sun break through the early morning mist and painting Gaika's Kop, one of the koppies in Hogsback, in gold. Stop along the way and take pictures of the beautiful scenery on the Happy Valley route and look out for birds and flowers in the open countryside. Appreciate the rolling hills and beautiful farms on the way and decide when to turn around and be back in Hogsback in time for dinner at one of the small restaurants and relax in front of a fire - even sometimes in summer!

The routes around Hogsback wind through the beautiful country side, a few steep climbs here and there, and underneath the canopy of the indigenous forest where you could hear the louries, the gurgle of the little streams and the chattering of the monkeys watching from the trees.

Slowriding is an experience not to be missed. You have to live the experience.

Hogsback is the perfect place to experience nature through hiking, bicycle rides, mountain biking or just enjoy the magic of the indigenous forests, little streams and waterfalls.